Doctor Who series 8: Peter Capaldi thought his audition was 'a disaster'

The Scottish actor also says he feels closer to the character of the Doctor than his The Thick of It alter ego Malcolm Tucker

Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi at last night's screening of 'Deep Breath' at the BFI in London (Getty Images)

Doctor Who and The Thick of It star Peter Capadi has admitted that he thought his audition for the role of the twelfth Time Lord was “a disaster”.

Capaldi made the admission to the audience and showrunner Steven Moffat during a Q&A session after the London premiere of ‘Deep Breath’ last night.

“The funny thing I didn’t tell [Steven Moffat] is I thought that when we did it, I thought that that was a disaster. I’d done it so badly and I was so out of the loop,” the star said.

“But I’d enjoyed the experience so much that I thought that, 'well, if that’s as far as it goes, that was worth it',” he added.

The 56-year-old Scottish actor, best known for playing foul-mouthed spin doctor Malcolm Tucker, went to Moffat’s house to audition for the role. He was given three different scripts based on ones from Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith’s eras.

Despite Capaldi’s misgivings about the experience, he was announced as the Doctor in August last year to much adulation from the public and Doctor Who fans alike.

The star also explained that he kept his Scottish accent for the role to bring the Doctor closer to him.

“He had an English one for years, so the idea that he doesn’t have an accent is just ridiculous. I just felt that it was important to […] bring the Doctor to me.”

“A lot of actors who I enjoy don’t become the part, the part becomes them, so you pull it in more closely to yourself."

Along with the premiere in London, a screening of ‘Deep Breath’ was held earlier in the day in Cardiff, where the show is filmed. Reviews for the first episode of series eight have been generally positive.

The new series will be broadcast on BBC One and in cinemas on Saturday 23 August.