Peter Capaldi and Jemma Coleman star as the 12 Doctor and his companion in Deep Breath, the first episode of the new series of Doctor Who
Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman star in Deep Breath, the first episode of the new series of Doctor Who BBC

In just 24 hours, the eighth series of Doctor Who will be back on TV starring Peter Capaldi, one of the oldest actors to take on the mantle of our favourite time lord.

Apart from the rumours that companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) will be leaving the show at the end of this year, there has not been a great deal of information out there about the 12<sup>th Doctor (or 14<sup>th Doctor, if you're being pedantic), but Capaldi, 56, has dropped a few hints.

The actor, who has over 30 years' experience in TV and film, has already hinted that there will be no flirting with his companion, meaning it will be goodbye to Clara's power over the Doctor and hello to a whole new relationship dynamic, whether she leaves the show or not.

It looks like Doctor Who and Clara will be off to the Victorian times
It looks like Doctor Who and Clara will be off to the Victorian times BBC

"Often when he regenerates, he loses himself," Capaldi told CBBC Newsround. "He stumbles around in the ruins of his personality, trying to find out who he is, so you're going to see him struggle to find out if he is as good a person as he hopes he is."

Although some fans think Capaldi is too old to play the Doctor, the actor says that many of the elements that fans liked about Matt Smith and David Tennant's incarnations about the Gallifreyan will still be in the 12<sup>th Doctor.

"He's sort of fiercer than Matt, but he's not grim; he's actually very funny and passionate," Capaldi told USA Today.

"He loves the universe and this job that he has, this freedom to travel through time and space. He's a guy who's passionate about life and art ... and he gets impatient with people who don't recognise how fantastic the universe is."

We won't be publishing them, but TV Guide in the US has some spoilers about the new Doctor Who series, according to Blogtor Who.

What do the fans think?

Although Capaldi is a huge Doctor Who fan himself, has seen all the seasons and even made his daughter watch it, of course the show's fans have their ideas about the new Doctor.

Some fans on Twitter are excited and cautiously hopeful about the new Doctor Who:

Excited about Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor - and really hoping that Moffat can find a fresh new direction for the show. Tomorrow!

— Caleb Woodbridge (@CalebWoodbridge) August 22, 2014

drifted away from Dr Who with Matt Smith but can see Peter Capaldi drawing me back in.

— Griff (@thebloke) August 22, 2014

So hyped for Peter Capaldi right now, I'm sorry but he's going to be 10 times better than Matt Smith as much as I loved him

— Tarrynnnn. (@IfYouSeeTarryn) August 22, 2014

Glad he's an actor that loves and knows the show#DoctorWho #PeterCapaldi

— sam logan (@samtweets33) August 22, 2014

An ageism row blew up last summer on social media as some fans were dismayed by the choice of Capaldi, but many other Whovians have chimed in with support for him:

Exactly how I feel about Fangirls and their moaning about Peter Capaldi being too old. pic.twitter.com/wqc6GHc54s

— atruedrwhofan 🏳️‍🌈🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🎃 (@atruedrwhofan) August 6, 2013

Already posted this on Facebook , but it's too precious not to share. Peter Capaldi's 40 year old letter to the RT. pic.twitter.com/i7IXkpx1YA

— Dave Bloustien (@i_before_e) August 5, 2013

Doctor Who Premiere

The eighth series of Doctor Who returns on Saturday 23 August with season opener Deep Breath on BBC One at 7:50pm.

Fans who would like to meet the stars on the red carpet but don't have tickets to the Dr Who premiere screening at Leicester Square can queue up to see the stars from early afternoon, but be warned, you'll have to catch the show after everyone else.

You can also prepare for the new series by rewatching the 2013 Christmas special, The Time of the Doctor, where Smith regenerates into Capaldi on BBC iPlayer.