Peter Capaldi hints at Doctor Who exit: 'This could be my final year... I do want to do other things'

'I was thinking about my regeneration scene from the outset. That’s my terrible melancholic nature'

Peter Capaldi, aka Doctor Who (BBC)

Following the airing of Doctor Who's Christmas Special, 'The Husbands of River Song', Peter Capaldi has admitted he could be entering into his final year in the role. 

The actor revealed to the Telegraph, "This could be my final year. I love Doctor Who but it can be quite an insular world and I do want to do other things. There will come a time when this is over. But I knew that when I started. I was thinking about my regeneration scene from the outset. That’s my terrible melancholic nature. When you accept the job you know there’ll come a day, inevitably, when you’ll be saying goodbye."

This would also follow long-time companion Jenna Coleman, who plays Clara Oswald, making her departure from the show in the series 9 finale. Executive producer Steven Moffat has admitted the task of finding a new companion is in its "very, very early stages", meaning Coleman might be the last and only companion to work alongside Capaldi. 

That said, Capaldi's departure after the next series would stick in line with previous doctors. Both David Tennant and Matt Smith left the show after three seasons in the role (specials discounting), though Christopher Eccleston's doctor only stuck around for Series 1 before jumping ship. 

The actor's certainly expressed nothing but admiration for his time in the role, even showing his frustrations towards criticisms hurled at his casting: "Every Doctor should be different from the last one. If you want exclusively young, sexy guys, to me that’s not Doctor Who. You want occasional ones like that — but then some other eccentrics. I always think that if you’re Doctor Who, somebody somewhere’s going to love you. That’s comfort. But if people don’t like me there’ll be another one along in a minute. It’s only Doctor Who — and I say that with the greatest of respect and affection."

Series 10 is set to air late 2016.