Doctor Who: The Clock Strikes Twelve As The Newest Doctor Is Announced

As of Sunday August 4, 2013, the clock struck twelve for the Doctor. Peter Capaldi was announced as the actor who will be portraying the newest Doctor, which is the twelfth incarnation of the role. He will be taking over the infamous part that is currently played by Matt Smith, who has portrayed the beloved character for the last 3 series as the eleventh Doctor. Smith will make his final appearance as the Doctor on this year’s annual Christmas Special.

He will also appear alongside the tenth incarnation of the Doctor, played by David Tennant, in the 50^th Anniversary Special that will air in November. The newest Doctor, Capaldi, is a Scottish actor most known for his role as the ill-mouthed Malcolm Tucker in BBC’s The Thick of It. Capaldi also won an Academy Award in 1995 for his direction of Franz Kafka’s It’s A Wonderful Life.

At 55, Capaldi will be the oldest actor to play the Time Lord since the first portrayal of the Doctor, played by William Hartnell. Capaldi admits he is a lifelong fan of Doctor Who, and even appeared in an episode alongside David Tennant and the wonderful Catherine Tate in the Series 4 episode The Fires of Pompeii.

During the reveal of the new Doctor on BBC One, they unveiled a letter that Peter wrote when he was 15 about how much he loved the show. A fun fact about Capaldi’s youth is that he was in a punk rock band called Dreamboys with comedian, talk show host and well known Doctor Who fan, Craig Ferguson. Ferguson hosted the 2013 San Diego Comic Con Doctor Who 50^th Anniversary Panel (video below).

It will indeed be a sad moment when we say farewell to Matt Smith, but we are all impatiently waiting to see what the newest Doctor, Peter Capaldi, can bring to the role. Personally, I am most excited to see his interactions with the amazing River Song, played by Alex Kingston. On Christmas Day 2013 eleven will fall, and twelve will be born. Geronimo!

The 50^th Anniversary Special will air on November 23, 2013 on BBC One, and it will be simulcast on BBC America. Peter Capaldi’s first appearance, and Matt Smith’s last, will take place during the 2013 Christmas Special on December 25, 2013 on BBC One and BBC America.