Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has called for “lots more kissing” in the hit BBC1 show but ruled out any romantic storyline between the Time Lord and his companion.



Capaldi, who will return for his second full series on Saturday, said there was “no romance, but deep love” between the Doctor and Clara, played by Jenna Coleman.

“It would have been completely creepy,” the star told the Radio Times. “It’s fine if you have handsome young men like Matt [Smith] and David Tennant, but as a father I felt it would be inappropriate.”

Capaldi laughed off complaints that his first full episode last year was promoting a gay agenda after it featured a kiss between a lizard woman and her human wife. “I think it was good,” he said.

“Actually it’s not just lesbian. It’s across species, which is even worse, presumably. It’s crazy if people get up in arms about it. There should be lots more kissing in Doctor Who. So long as it’s not the Doctor and Clara.”

Capaldi said it was a “difficult show to act. It goes from B-movie sci-fi to Freudian drama and tragedy. There’s romance, pantomime, humour and sadness, so you’re kept on your toes”.

The former Thick of It star added: “I try not to be too romantic or sentimental. Sometimes Jenna will run down a corridor shouting, ‘Doctor, there’s a monster,’ and stuff.

“Part of the tradition is that sets wobble and you have to fight a giant spider made of rubber. I enjoy that. It’s not so well budgeted as viewers might think [each episode takes 12 days to produce], but it looks great because of the talent of the people working on it.”

Neither of the show’s stars would estimate how much longer they think they will be in their roles.



“It depends whether viewers like me, and you never know,” said Capaldi. “We’re conscious of the fact the show will go on without any of us. Life is full of surprises, and there is the cosmic sledgehammer.”

Coleman added: “You never feel you’ve arrived, which is a good thing. It would be quite scary to feel safe. You’re in Doctor Who knowing it will never last. It’s constantly regenerating, so you want to make your time count and enjoy the adventure for the fleeting time you’re here.”

Capaldi said the Doctor’s relationship with Clara had “no equivalent in TV or fiction, a friendship between an alien creature and an extremely bright, clever and brave young woman. It’s unusual for a man of my age to be friendly with such a youthful lady”.