[Article] Doctor, why? Actor's exit puzzles fans

Your Name

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Feb 3, 2017, 9:04:43 PM2/3/17

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From the New Zealand Herald newspaper (3 February, 2017) ...

Doctor, why? Actor's exit puzzles fans
--------------------------------------
When Peter Capaldi revealed this week that he would be
leaving Doctor Who after the next series, it came as a
surprise to many fans. "I've never worked the same job
for three years, and I feel like now is the right time
to move on," he told BBC Radio 2.

Capaldi's portrayal of the character has been met with
widespread acclaim from the critics - so why is he
quitting a job he so clearly loved? Here are some
possible reasons:

* The show's ratings were falling
During Capaldi's time on the show, its overnight
ratings have fallen considerably: only 6.1 million
people tuned in to watch the live broadcast of the
last Christmas special, while the David Tennant-era
episodes were regularly drawing more than 10 million
live viewers.

The rise in online catch-up viewing is partly
responsible, and this is undoubtedly the case with a
show like Doctor Who, that skews towards a younger
demographic; consolidated viewing figures for the
show tend to be much higher.

But there's another number that matters just as much
to the BBC: the Audience Appreciation Index, or AI,
a score out of 100 which measures viewers' enjoyment.
If a cult sci-fi show is drawing a smaller audience,
but that audience adores it more than ever, the
public service broadcaster can justifiably call it a
success. Sadly, this isn't the case for Doctor Who.

In recent years, the average AI for a BBC or ITV
drama has been in the mid-80s. But in the last series
Doctor Who's AI dipped below 80 for the first time
since 2005 with 'Sleep No More', a particularly knotty
episode written by Stephen Moffat's Sherlock
co-creator Mark Gatiss.

As the viewing figures had already begun to decline in
the previous Doctor Matt Smith's final series, it
would make more sense to lay any blame at Moffat's
door, rather than Capaldi's.

* He'd been ready to leave for along time
Was Capaldi's resignation really a shock to anyone?
The Sun has claimed he: said he would be staying in
the role "for a long time," misquoting an interview
the actor gave to The Andrew Marr Show in December.

Referring to fans who recognise him on the street,
Capaldi mused, "I won't be [The Doctor] forever. There
will be a day when people don't come to say hello."
Asked when that day would be, he replied: "Oh, not for
a long time, I hope."

In the context of the interview, he was referring more
to how long public recognition would last, rather than
commenting on his future in the role.

In fact, the supposed U-turn follows several other
interviews in which the actor sounded far less certain
about his tenure in the Tardis. Back in 2015, ahead of
that year's Christmas special, he told the Telegraph:
"This could be my final year - it's terrifying. I love
Doctor Who but it can be quite an insular world and I
do want to do other things."

Now aged 58, Capaldi was the oldest to take up the
role since the first Doctor, William Hartnell (setting
aside John Hurt's one-off cameo). Capaldi may simply
feel exhausted with the job.

* Steven Moffat is leaving so Capaldi has to follow him
It's possible that Capaldi would have been written out
anyway, when long-serving showrunner Steven Moffat
leaves after the next series. The new Doctor Who chief,
Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, will undoubtedly be
keen to put his own stamp on the show. The simplest way
to do this would be to introduce a new Doctor - and
some fans have been hoping to see his Broadchurch
colleague Olivia Colman in the role.

Even if Chibnall were happy to work with Capaldi, he
would still want to mark a clear divide from the
Moffat-era of Doctor Who - which, like his work on
Sherlock, has been criticised over-convoluted writing.

* He wanted to avoid typecasting
When Capaldi took up the role, he was in a very
different position to David Tennant and Matt Smith.
Unlike the younger actors, he already had a
career-defining role under his belt, as foul-mouthed
spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in Armando Iannucci's
political satire The Thick of It.

Stepping into the Tardis was a smart career move for
Capaldi, allowing him to dispel the ghost of Malcolm,
and demonstrate his range as an actor. But staying too
long would risk replacing one obvious source of
typecasting with another.

* He was fed up with the BBC
In the past, Capaldi has accused the broadcaster of
taking Doctor Who for granted, blaming the show's
falling ratings on poor scheduling. In the last series,
the show was moved from its family-friendly teatime
slot, Shunted around the timetables to suit the Strictly
live shows, and frequently finished post-watershed.

"It's not being looked after," he complained last year.
"I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the
show was seen as a thing they could just push around.
It's not. It's a special thing." It's unlikely poor
timetabling alone was enough to make Capaldi, quit, but
it's indicative of a wider problem: by prioritising
Strictly, and aiming for easy reality TV ratings, the
BBC accidentally damaged a 50-yea old institution.

- Telegraph Group Ltd

The Doctor

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Feb 3, 2017, 9:05:58 PM2/3/17

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In article <040220171506162300%Your...@YourISP.com>,

Looks like the complaints are in!
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http://www.fullyfollow.me/rootnl2k Look at Psalms 14 and 53 on Atheism
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Tim Bruening

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Feb 3, 2017, 9:11:00 PM2/3/17

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And tme for the fans to march on the BBC with signs saying "Show Doctor Who in Prime Time!"?

The Doctor

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Feb 3, 2017, 9:12:45 PM2/3/17

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In article <32fcf00e-b5fd-4d3f...@googlegroups.com>,

I think yur point is very well taken.

Sylvia Else

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Feb 10, 2017, 10:06:22 PM2/10/17

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I don't know why anyone should be surprised at Capaldi's departure,
given that this is very much how Dr Who has always run.

Sylvia.

Your Name

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Feb 11, 2017, 12:28:11 AM2/11/17

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In article <eg7ddc...@mid.individual.net>, Sylvia Else

<syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote:
>
> I don't know why anyone should be surprised at Capaldi's departure,
> given that this is very much how Dr Who has always run.

The puzzle, apparently, is because he wasn't the Doctor for very long.
Despite being given the role a few years ago, he's actually only done a
couple of seasons. The reality is that, like Quitopher, he was never
really interested in playing the role and simply wanted to add a big
name to his CV. :-(

The real puzzle of course is why they even gave the silly old fart the
role in the first place. :-\

The Last Doctor

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Feb 11, 2017, 2:47:30 AM2/11/17

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Your Name <Your...@YourISP.com> wrote:
> In article <eg7ddc...@mid.individual.net>, Sylvia Else
> <syl...@not.at.this.address> wrote:
>>
>> I don't know why anyone should be surprised at Capaldi's departure,
>> given that this is very much how Dr Who has always run.
>
> The puzzle, apparently, is because he wasn't the Doctor for very long.
> Despite being given the role a few years ago, he's actually only done a
> couple of seasons. The reality is that, like Quitopher, he was never
> really interested in playing the role and simply wanted to add a big
> name to his CV. :-(
>

He will have done three seasons over four years. Same as Matt Smith. Same
as David Tennant, though David did do an extra 3 extended episodes. Same as
Sylvester McCoy. More than Peter Davison. More than Colin Baker. More than
Pat Troughton. Same as William Hartnell (Hartnell lasted 2 stories into the
fourth season, but had no "specials" in between).

So Capaldi has lasted as long or longer than NINE of the first eleven
Doctors. Only Pertwee and Tom Baker have had longer tenures, and that was
35-45 years ago.

The puzzle is why anyone thinks that Capaldi's run will have been a short
one.

Tim Bruening

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Feb 11, 2017, 6:12:45 AM2/11/17

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Why hasn't anyone tried to break Tom Baker's record?

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Feb 11, 2017, 4:43:24 PM2/11/17

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Whom do you nominate in his place?

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Feb 11, 2017, 9:28:01 PM2/11/17

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What kind of roll (dinner, cinnimon, Tootsie, etc.)?

The Watcher

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Feb 11, 2017, 9:46:37 PM2/11/17

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"Tim Bruening" wrote in message
news:0dcd6742-c4be-45b5...@googlegroups.com...

>The Last Doctor wrote:
>>So Capaldi has lasted as long or longer than NINE of the first eleven
>>Doctors. Only Pertwee and Tom Baker have had longer tenures, and that was
>>35-45 years ago.
>>
>>The puzzle is why anyone thinks that Capaldi's run will have been a short
>>one.

It's silly to look at just the time from when they started in the role until
the time they finished it. By that standard, Sylvester McCoy lasted longer
than any other Doctor.

In terms of screen/broadcast time, Capaldi appeared as the Doctor for less
than Matt Smith, who was the Doctor on TV for less time then David Tennant.

>Why hasn't anyone tried to break Tom Baker's record?

Apart from fear of typecasting, one of the biggest problems is the way the
show is being managed by the BBC, which has apparently only budgeted about
one full series every 18 months, leading to involuntary hiatuses.

The Doctor

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Feb 12, 2017, 8:16:58 AM2/12/17

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In article <f8308cdc-1a17-4e78...@googlegroups.com>,

His decision to leave DW.

The Doctor

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The Doctor

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Feb 13, 2017, 10:24:40 AM2/13/17

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In article <13958c59-551d-40bc...@googlegroups.com>,

Bt you slip up too much.

The Doctor

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Feb 13, 2017, 10:35:56 AM2/13/17

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In article <o7s6ij$lms$3...@dont-email.me>,

BBC Mgmt may not be that rational.

Daniel60

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Feb 16, 2017, 8:51:42 AM2/16/17

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On 14/02/2017 2:35 AM, The Doctor wrote:
> In article <o7s6ij$lms$3...@dont-email.me>,
> Daniel60 <Dani...@eternal-september.org> wrote:
>> On 12/02/2017 1:46 PM, The Watcher wrote:
>>
>> <Snip>
>>
>>> Apart from fear of typecasting, one of the biggest problems is the way
>>> the show is being managed by the BBC, which has apparently only budgeted
>>> about one full series every 18 months, leading to involuntary hiatuses.
>>
>> I would have thought the BBC would be wanting stable program
>> schedules/budgets ever year, not trying to do things over eighteen months!
>>
>> Daniel
>
> BBC Mgmt may not be that rational.
>

Sorry! You're suggesting the BBC Management might not be rational!!

Pot ... Kettle ... Black!!

Daniel

The Doctor

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Feb 16, 2017, 9:10:58 AM2/16/17

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In article <o84alt$6a8$4...@dont-email.me>,

Given Jonahtan Poweel, I reat ny case.

paul.i...@gmail.com

unread,

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Feb 17, 2017, 3:04:18 AM2/17/17

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On Friday, February 3, 2017 at 6:04:43 PM UTC-8, Your Name wrote:
> From the New Zealand Herald newspaper (3 February, 2017) ...
>
> Doctor, why? Actor's exit puzzles fans
> --------------------------------------
> When Peter Capaldi revealed this week that he would be
> leaving Doctor Who after the next series, it came as a
> surprise to many fans. "I've never worked the same job
> for three years, and I feel like now is the right time
> to move on," he told BBC Radio 2.
>

>
> * He was fed up with the BBC
> In the past, Capaldi has accused the broadcaster of
> taking Doctor Who for granted, blaming the show's
> falling ratings on poor scheduling. In the last series,
> the show was moved from its family-friendly teatime
> slot, Shunted around the timetables to suit the Strictly
> live shows, and frequently finished post-watershed.
>
> "It's not being looked after," he complained last year.
> "I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the
> show was seen as a thing they could just push around.
> It's not. It's a special thing." It's unlikely poor
> timetabling alone was enough to make Capaldi, quit, but
> it's indicative of a wider problem: by prioritising
> Strictly, and aiming for easy reality TV ratings, the
> BBC accidentally damaged a 50-yea old institution.

I suggest that Capaldi offer scripts for the show.

Tim Bruening

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Feb 17, 2017, 6:50:07 AM2/17/17

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I am now imagining a mutiny on the set of Doctor Who!

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Feb 17, 2017, 1:58:52 PM2/17/17

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I propose a black Doctor!

The Doctor

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Feb 17, 2017, 7:01:02 PM2/17/17

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In article <de6bd0e9-5278-4766...@googlegroups.com>,

Tim Bruening <tsbr...@gmail.com> wrote:
>I propose a black Doctor!

Patterson Jospeh.

Daniel60

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Feb 18, 2017, 6:47:32 AM2/18/17

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On 17/02/2017 10:43 AM, The Doctor wrote:
> In article <ETppA.225491$FC4....@fx19.am4>,
> The Other Doctor <stephen.wils...@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>
>> <paul.i...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:485e726c-bebb-44b0...@googlegroups.com...
>>> On Thursday, 16 February 2017 14:10:58 UTC, Binky bleated...
>>>
>>>> In article <o84alt$6a8$4...@dont-email.me>,
>>>> Daniel60 <Dani...@eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>>>> On 14/02/2017 2:35 AM, The Doctor wrote:
>>>>>> In article <o7s6ij$lms$3...@dont-email.me>,
>>>>>> Daniel60 <Dani...@eternal-september.org> wrote:
>>>>>>> On 12/02/2017 1:46 PM, The Watcher wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> <Snip>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Apart from fear of typecasting, one of the biggest problems is the
>>>>>>>> way
>>>>>>>> the show is being managed by the BBC, which has apparently only
>>>>>>>> budgeted
>>>>>>>> about one full series every 18 months, leading to involuntary
>>>>>>>> hiatuses.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I would have thought the BBC would be wanting stable program
>>>>>>> schedules/budgets ever year, not trying to do things over eighteen
>>>>>>> months!
>>>>>>

>>>>>> BBC Mgmt may not be that rational.
>>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry! You're suggesting the BBC Management might not be rational!!
>>>>>
>>>>> Pot ... Kettle ... Black!!
>>>>

>>>> Given Jonahtan Poweel, I reat ny case.
>>>

>>> And that's supposed to be a rational reply...?
>>
>> It's about as rational a reply as you can hope for...
>
> Jonathan Powell sent to BBC downwards.
>

There has to be a response to that gibberish .... but buggered if I can
think of one!!

Daniel

Daniel60

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Feb 18, 2017, 6:49:37 AM2/18/17

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NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Daniel

The Doctor

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Feb 18, 2017, 8:04:48 AM2/18/17

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In article <o89c52$bg4$2...@dont-email.me>,

You forgot the 1990s?

The Doctor

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Feb 18, 2017, 8:05:09 AM2/18/17

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In article <o89c8u$bg4$3...@dont-email.me>,

I will disagree Daniel60!!