Capaldi Defends Whittaker, Gatwa Doctor Who Casting
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- Peter Capaldi defended Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa in The Times, telling Doctor Who fans who take the show 'so seriously' that when he was a kid it was 'just a monster show in the corner of the room' and has 'become a bit too big, too important for the BBC.'
- Jodie Whittaker, who played the Thirteenth Doctor from 2018 to 2022 as the first female Doctor, said her casting ruffled some feathers but for many people 'felt like a really wonderful moment.'
- Ncuti Gatwa became the first Black Doctor in the Disney+ refresh, which ran for two seasons before ending last May; the source says MAGA backlash is believed to have factored into Disney's decision not to renew for a third season.
- Gatwa said landing the role felt 'really powerful' as a Rwandan immigrant, citing Doctor Who's deep roots in British culture and its meaning for 'people of color, for marginalized people.'
- Russell T. Davies said he has 'no time' for critics of the show's inclusivity, declaring 'what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.'
Why it matters: The casting of the first female Doctor and first Black Doctor drew fan backlash that the source links to Disney's decision not to renew the Disney+ era, giving Capaldi's defense stakes beyond nostalgia: he's effectively defending the franchise's commercial viability and the cultural direction that made the show meaningful to new audiences.
