More Doctor Who drama? Or just a case of mismatched schedules?

Yesterday, Big Finish announced Timejacked, a new audio adventure featuring the Twelfth Doctor. However, the announcement noted the audio drama won’t feature the voice of Peter Capaldi, leaving some reports speculating on behind-the-scenes drama at the BBC.

The rumors swirled because of a recent Capaldi interview during which the actor was asked about working on radio plays.

“[I’ve done] radio plays, but I find them quite dreary,” Capaldi said on The Chris Moyles Show. “I think they’re very good to listen to, but they’re always in the basement of The BBC with like pipes and stuff like that. There’s no windows and everyone’s saying, ‘Darling, it’s the most visual of mediums.’ They say because the audience has to conjure it all up. But it’s absolutely a glamor free zone.”

This interview, which occurred almost back-to-back with another in which Capaldi said he didn’t want to return to television Doctor Who in a multi-Doctor special, added fuel to the rumor fire.

But let’s throw some water on that blaze before it gets any bigger, hmm?

Capaldi definitely doesn’t hate Doctor Who, ok?

peter capaldi doctor who

First, Capaldi’s comments on The Chris Moyles Show in no way indicated he doesn’t want to ever participate in a Doctor Who audio for Big Finish. He’s simply indicating the process of actually recording them isn’t the most exciting… which is just sort of fundamentally true.

Second, Big Finish announced the audio drama in question on August 5. So it’s not really accurate to say the Twelfth Doctor was “recast,” since we don’t know if Capaldi was ever attached to this specific project in the first place.

Given how Big Finish often records projects long before they’re officially announced, it’s perfectly reasonable to assume Capaldi was just busy with other projects. (He’s in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, which these recent interview appearances were intended to promote.)

So basically, let’s all take a deep breath and stop looking for drama. Capaldi is a longtime Doctor Who fan. It seems pretty unlikely he would suddenly decide to wash his hands of the Whoniverse. 

The current Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, returns to TV in series 13 later this year. Big Finish’s Twelfth Doctor story Timejacked arrives February 2022.

So, what do you think of this Capaldi drama – accurate or overreaction? Let us know in the comments below.

Meanwhile, check back to THS for more Doctor Who news and updates.