In the modern era of Doctor Who, no actor has remained in the title role longer than three full seasons. Tom Baker’s seven season record as the Fourth Doctor appears to be safe. But with the pending departure of Jenna Coleman from Doctor Who, the popular speculation has been that current Doctor, Peter Capaldi could depart the series at the end of the ninth season.
Fortunately, that won’t be the case. During a recent interview with Variety, Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat confirmed that Capaldi will remain in the TARDIS in the upcoming tenth season. “Peter Capaldi is going nowhere,” he added.
With Capaldi in place for his third season as the Doctor, the role of the new companion will probably need to be filled sooner rather than later. There is also the chance that someone has already been cast, and BBC is simply keeping the announcement quiet until after Coleman’s final episode later this season.
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While speaking with Variety, Moffat also shared his thoughts on the longevity of Doctor Who, and he assured fans that the series has at least another five years planned by the BBC…if not more.
“Most shows have a built-in mortality,” explained Moffat. “But here is a show that sheds us all like scales; a show that can make you feel everything except indispensable. It will carry on forever, because you can replace every part of it…It is definitely going to last five more years, I’ve seen the business plan. It’s not going anywhere. And I think we can go past that. It’s television’s own legend. It will just keep going.”
Doctor Who Season 9 continues this Saturday on BBC America and BBC One.
