The ; the 12th Doctor is .
The actor was introduced during a live broadcast on the BBC Sunday. He'll be the next in a long line of actors to play the quirky Doctor since the beloved British sci-fi show began back in the 60s.
Brits know Capaldi as foul-mouthed political operative in the BBC comedy The Thick of It. American fans might recognize Capaldi from the zombie pandemic flick , where, interestingly, he played the role of a W.H.O. doctor.
Leading up to the announcement, only about 10 people knew who the newest Time Lord would be. That's a feat nearly as stunning as a time-traveling phone booth, considering the frenzy surrounding the decision since Matt Smith, the current Doctor, announced he was stepping down in June. Bookies put odds on a number of British actors (stopping after Capaldi's odds reached 5-6), and that the 12th Doctor would be a woman, black, gay — or all of the above.
Capaldi will get the keys to the Tardis from Smith in a special episode on Christmas Day. But, as , Capaldi's selection is not the only cause of excitement for Doctor Who fans this year.
"...there's the small matter of a 50th birthday to celebrate. Alongside a drama about the creation of the show, Smith joins forces with previous Doctor David Tennant in a special 50th anniversary episode on 23 November. The special episode, also starring John Hurt, will be broadcast around the world exactly half a century after the show first put kids behind the sofa one momentous Saturday teatime in 1963."
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