I didn't see the showbiz announcement of the new Doctor. I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it very much, but that's by the by. The method of the announcement is largely irrelevant, the important thing is we now know who will be playing the twelfth Doctor and I am rather pleased with the choice, so far.
I do wish Matt Smith had stuck around for a little bit longer as he has turned out to be my favourite Doctor of the modern era, and also because each regeneration brings us a step closer to the final end of the show. The Doctor after Peter Capaldi will be the last, and as much as I will be sad to see the show end I hope that there won't be some some clumsy contrivance to drag it onwards.
This is all, hopefully, a good few years away though. Peter Capaldi has been on our stage and screens for ages and is fine actor. His final scene in Torchwood Children Of Earth is probably the most dramatic, heart stopping moment of the series, and all the emotion is conveyed quietly and perfectly by the actor.
I've seen a few posts about some people being put off by his age and deciding, without even seeing him in the role, to abandon the show. This is a shame because I think that as wonderful as Matt has been and as popular as Tennant was, Peter Capaldi can bring an extra depth and potential darkness to the character that was hinted at with Ecclestone, while still being able to carry off the quirky alien in the time-travelling box aspect. I hope he sticks around as long as ten and eleven did, longer if he's enjoying himself and the show remains strong.
I am full of mixed emotions now for the regeneration at Christmas. I'll be sad to see the end of eleven, but anticipating the arrival of twelve. And all this is before the excitement of what the 50th Anniversary in November will bring!
