Exclusive: Peter Capaldi reveals real reason he won’t return to Doctor Who

Peter Capaldi was incredibly popular as the 12th incarnation of The Doctor in Doctor Who, but despite his popularity, the actor has revealed how that part of his life is behind him.

Although previous Doctors appeared on special anniversary episodes, Peter exclusively told HELLO! nothing would convince him to return to the BBC show. “I’m still a huge fan of Doctor Who,” he said. “It’s not that I have anything against it, but there comes a time when you have to leave things alone. I can’t imagine the situation in which I’d be able to go back into it with enough influence over how it was going to be.”

During the chat, Peter also revealed how a trip to Mexico inspired one of the show’s Christmas specials. “They’ve had the show since the 60s, so they had a very deep kind of relationship with it that’s aligned to the Latin connection with the supernatural, time and death.

“That’s where we got Dr Mysterio from, as they call it Doctor Mysterio. I said to Steve [Moffatt – former executive producer] that I have to be Doctor Mysterio.”

Doctor Who isn’t the only actor’s notable role with the 66-year-old due to appear in new series of shows like Black Mirror, The Devil’s Hour and Criminal Record, the latter of which also involves his wife, Elaine Collins.

Speaking of their filming experience, the star shared: “It was lovely to work with her. We did a film years ago and a play – we met doing a play – but this was the first time I’d acted in a show that she’d created, so it was nice.”

And despite rumours linking him to the role of Dumbledore in the upcoming Harry Potter series, the actor dismissed these, saying he didn’t “think I’d be quite right for that”.

Peter was speaking to HELLO! as part of the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge as he promoted the work Magic Breakfast. “Magic Breakfast supplies breakfast for kids who don’t have breakfast,” he explained.

“They go into schools, set up kitchens, make sure all the equipment is there and get the food delivered. They essentially set up a system whereby youngsters who, for whatever reason, are not able to start the day with a decent meal.

“They can go in a little bit earlier, and they will find that there’s cornflakes, porridge, croissants, beans, toast, all kinds of things that are made there in the school, in an area where they can relax.”

Peter continued: “It’s a calming environment generally that these breakfasts are served in. If kids can’t have breakfast, that can be because of a financial issue, and obviously one doesn’t want to stigmatise them. If kids don’t have breakfast, they tend to develop difficulties in concentration and other health issues further down the line; so it’s just supplying kids who need it with breakfast and a little bit of time where they could get themselves together and set off into the day.”