PETER CAPALDI has risked biting the hand that feeds him as he criticises the BBC’s inconsistent scheduling of Doctor Who.

The programme shifted about in the timetables several times last year, as the lengths of Strictly Come Dancing’s live shows fluctuated from week to week.
At the time, he called for the corporation to go back to airing the sci-fi series in one regular slot, and has now re-enforced those claims once again.

“The BBC is an incredible organisation, but… sometimes people there think, ‘That’s looking after itself’. And it’s not being looked after,” he told Newsweek.
“I think maybe their eye was taken off the ball, or the show was seen as a thing they could just push around. It’s not. It’s a special thing.”

The programme’s ratings were up and down last year but its catch-up numbers remain strong.
The actor continued: “I have to pay attention to ratings – I’d rather not – but it’s the way the business is. I think overnight ratings are a thing of the past.

“You can’t really measure the success of the show by its overnight ratings, which is what the papers do. But there’s still a place for families to sit down and watch the show – that’s still a great, fun thing to do.”

He added: “That’s what the show’s success has been based on. That has to be protected.”

There will be no full new Doctor Who series this year, although the next proper run – due to air in 2017 – will be the last under current head writer Steven Moffat.
Broadchurch mastermind Chris Chibnall will then take over in 2018.

In the meantime, a Christmas special will air at the end of 2016.