'Doctor Who' finally begins to look his age.

From the youngest to the oldest, it is regeneration time again!

I have never really considered myself a die hard 'Doctor Who' fan, or a 'Whovian' as they are colloquially called. More a casual viewer who watches whenever possible and derives a mild sense of entertainment from the iconic British series. Yet last night I, along with most of the world it seems, eagerly awaited the announcement of the the latest incarnation of the near immortal 'Time Lord', currently played by Matt Smith in his eleventh form.

I must admit, despite him apparently being the bookies favourite, I never imagined them announcing 'The Thick of It' star Peter Capaldi as the as the latest actor to inhabit the 'TARDIS', preferring instead to pin my hopes on the likes of Bill Nighy or Tom Hiddleston. Despite this however, I am more than thrilled with the choice. As someone who has frequently criticised the ever decreasing age of the 'Doctor', seemingly as an attempt to cater to a younger generation of fans, the fact that Capaldi, who is at 55 the joint oldest actor to play the time travelling eccentric (along with original actor William Hartnell) is a gargantuan step in the right direction.

This is not to say that I have anything against current 'Doctor' Matt Smith, who I feel offers the best and most nuanced portrayal to date. In a role where with each regeneration requires not only a different appearance, but a different personality to match, it is important that each actor to take on the part brings something fresh, exciting and above all diverse to the table. Matt Smith definitely achieved this, he had a perfect blend of youth and age. As the series wore on his attitude increasingly became darker, that of a man who has lived too long and seen too much, and yet it is interesting to note that as his mind ages his body gets increasingly younger from 'Doctor' to 'Doctor'. Like Tennant he added a large amount of physicality to the role, using his body to great effect: Spinning, contorting, his movement was constantly erratic and it often made for very amusing viewing and contrasted nicely with the series' darker moments.

I highly doubt that Capaldi will engage in such antics, in fact I find it very hard to imagine what sort of 'Doctor' he will make, after watching 'The Thick of it' it is evident that he has fantastic comic timing, especially when utilising the sarcastic wit that made 'Malcolm Tucker' such a joy to watch, ergo fans need not worry the 'Doctor' will lose all sense of humour as he has done in the distant past. But at the same time I can imagine his portrayal being more somber than his predecessor, more world weary and aware of the consequences of his actions. After all if original continuity is anything to go by he bears the weight of being the last incarnation before he completes his cycle of regenerations and his body gives out for good, though I have no doubt Moffat will find away around that to ensure the series' longevity.

At the present one can only speculate what Peter Capaldi will bring to the role or how this choice will impact the direction the show takes current companion Clara, but with Capaldi being no stranger to the 'Whovian' universe, roles in 'Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii' and 'Torchwood: Children of Earth' I breath a sigh of relief to know
that the 'TARDIS' is in good hands.

Now all we need to see is his wardrobe!