Peter Capaldi says some BBC staff "don't really understand" Doctor Who
On the Half the Picture podcast, former Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi said the show needs people who love it and that some in the BBC don't understand it. Capaldi also said they had declined invitations to join bids to make the show.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Peter Capaldi, who played the Twelfth Doctor, said on the Half the Picture podcast that Doctor Who needs to be overseen by people who love it, and that people in the BBC "don't really understand it". Radio TimesN “Speaking on the Half the Picture podcast, the Twelfth Doctor star said that the iconic sci-fi needs to be overseen by people who love the series rather than BBC executives who "don't really understand it".” Read at Radio Times ↗ ColliderN “Capaldi explained that there is only "a small group of professionals" that could take charge of Doctor Who during an interview on the Half the Picture podcast.” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1Capaldi said: "It needs love. I sometimes think people in the BBC don't really understand it. I think that's kind of a problem. People don't really know what it's supposed to be." Radio TimesN “"I sometimes think people in the BBC don't really understand it. I think that's kind of a problem. People don't really know what it's supposed to be.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Capaldi pointed to former showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, who made the show because they loved it from childhood, and said no BBC executive had "a checklist of things that should be in it", so it had to be left to Davies. Capaldi added that "there'll be someone like that now". Radio TimesN “I don't think there were any executives in the BBC [who] had a checklist of things that should be in it. It had to be left to Russell to do that. And there'll be someone like that now."” Read at Radio Times ↗ ColliderN “So they knew what it was [and] they knew what to bring to it.” Read at Collider ↗
Centre · 1Capaldi also said they had been repeatedly asked to join production companies' tenders for the show, not to appear in it but to help create a version of it, and had declined because the show is so hard to make and because of other projects. Radio TimesN “"I haven't joined any of those because I know how hard the show is to make. And also because I have other things I want to pursue.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Capaldi said the show consumes whoever makes it: "You can't do it as a distant executive or a part-time role." Radio TimesN “You can't do it as a distant executive or a part-time role."” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1The comments come after Doctor Who was put out to tender earlier this year, with the BBC inviting production companies to pitch their plans for the series. Radio TimesN “Earlier this year, Doctor Who was officially put out to tender, as the BBC invited production companies to pitch their visions for the future of the sci-fi.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times reported that Hat Trick Mercurio, the company of Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, and World Productions were said to have submitted separate proposals, and, citing Deadline, that BBC Studios and STV Studios are also interested. Radio TimesN “Last month, some of the production companies bidding for Doctor Who were revealed, with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio's company, Hat Trick Mercurio, and Line of Duty's own production company, World Productions, said to have submitted separate proposals.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Collider said nothing is confirmed, but reports suggest a return in 2028 or 2029 with Hat Trick Mercurio most likely to take over. It quoted Davies as saying production with a new Doctor and companion would be seen "summer next year". ColliderN “According to reports, the series is eyeing a 2028 or 2029 return to the BBC, with Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, through his production company, Hat Trick Mercurio, most likely to take over control of the TARDIS.” Read at Collider ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets report Capaldi's podcast remarks as a warning about BBC stewardship. Radio Times keeps to the interview and the tender process, while Collider places the remarks within a wider account of the show's troubles.
- Emphasis
- Radio Times adds Capaldi's refusal to join bids and the list of bidders. Collider stresses the show's recent turmoil and the possible 2028–29 return.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet includes a BBC response to Capaldi's comments.
- Charged language
- “chaos”“disappointing Disney era”“controversial exit”“sour relationship”
- For example
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“Peter Capaldi has shared his thoughts on the future of Doctor Who and what he thinks is one of the biggest "problems" the BBC faces.” — Radio Times
“Years before a disappointing Disney era, Ncuti Gatwa's controversial exit, declining ratings, and a new sour relationship between fans and returning showrunner Russell T. Davies saw the timey-wimey series put out to tender” — Collider
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Capaldi made the remarks on the Half the Picture podcast.
- Capaldi said only a small group of professionals could run Doctor Who and that people in the BBC don't really understand it.
- Doctor Who has been put out to tender and Hat Trick Mercurio is among those reported to be involved.
Peter Capaldi person
Capaldi says the BBC lacks understanding of Doctor Who, that it needs love from people who grew up with it, and that they declined to join tenders.
“"It needs love," he said. "I sometimes think people in the BBC don't really understand it.” — Radio Times
“"I haven't joined any of those because I know how hard the show is to make.” — Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi says the BBC "doesn't really understand" the show: "It needs love"
Neutral Reports Capaldi's comments and his refusal to join tenders, with background on the bidders.
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Peter Capaldi Warns the BBC About ‘Doctor Who’: “They Don’t Really Understand It”
Mixed Presents the remarks as a warning against a backdrop of the show's troubles, and looks ahead to a possible return.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Nov 10:38 First Radio TimesN Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi says the BBC "doesn't really understand" the show: "It needs love"
- 3 Nov 11:30 +48h 52m ColliderN Peter Capaldi Warns the BBC About ‘Doctor Who’: “They Don’t Really Understand It”
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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