The 12th actor to play the time-traveling character will leave the cult sci-fi show, calling the experience ‘cosmic’

Peter Capaldi has announced that he will be leaving the cult sci-fi show Doctor Who after the 2017 Christmas special.

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The actor, who has been the 12th person to play the role, first played the time-traveling character in 2013 and his decision to leave coincides with the exit of showrunner Steven Moffatt.

“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best,” he said during an interview on BBC Radio 2. “From our brilliant crew and creative team working for the best broadcaster on the planet, to the viewers and fans whose endless creativity, generosity and inclusiveness points to a brighter future ahead. I can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been cosmic.”

Capaldi will return as Doctor Who for a final season before his joint swansong with Moffatt in December. In an official statement, Moffatt referred to it as “the best job I’ll ever have”.

While the recent Christmas special was a ratings hit for the BBC, the previous seasons suffered a dramatic loss in viewership. In an interview last October, Capaldi blamed the decision to show the family-focused show at a later time slot, saying the broadcasting company had “undoubtedly” taken the series for granted.

“It does frustrate me,” he said. “If you’re going to have a family show, I think you have to build up a little ritual around it – and that ritual usually starts with having it on at the same time [every week]. Even I didn’t know what time it was on because it got later and later and later.”

Capaldi’s first role away from the series will be a return to another franchise as he rejoins the cast of Paddington for a sequel out later this year.