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Peter Capaldi will leave ‘Doctor Who’ at the end of the year

Peter Capaldi, "Doctor Who's" titular character, is shown outside the Los Angeles Bradbury Building where Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" was shot.
Peter Capaldi, “Doctor Who’s” titular character, is shown outside the Los Angeles Bradbury Building where Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” was shot.
(Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times)
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The latest Doctor is out. Peter Capaldi, who joined the BBC’s “Doctor Who” back in 2014, will be stepping away from his fancy waistcoat and jacket and retiring from the role by the end of 2017.

Capaldi made the announcement on the BBC Radio 2 show. And the BBC has since confirmed the Twelfth Doctor’s departure with a statement from Capaldi himself.

“One of the greatest privileges of being Doctor Who is to see the world at its best,” Capaldi said in the statement. “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.”

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The 2017 “Doctor Who” Christmas special will be Capaldi’s last episode. The Scottish actor (who kept his accent for his time on the series) took the reigns over from Matt Smith (the 11th Doctor), who coincidentally was the subject of a set of his own “will he return to ‘Doctor Who’” rumors that were quickly squashed by the actor himself.

However, it should be noted that the long-running rule of the British series has always been: “The doctor lies.”

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meredith.woerner@latimes.com

Twitter: @MdellW

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