Peter Capaldi writes comforting letter to distraught 9-year-old Doctor Who fan: 'everything ends'
On Christmas Day, Doctor Who fans tuned in eagerly to watch the time-travelling alien "regenerate" into a new body once again, as Peter Capaldi ended his four-year stint in the title role, passing the baton to the 13th Doctor, Jodie Whittaker.
But one lucky nine-year-old fan, worried about seeing his favourite actor leave the show, received a comforting message from the Doctor himself.
English teacher Brian McGilloway today tweeted a picture of a letter that Capaldi, 59, had written to his son, David, reassuring him that his Doctor "is always there, somewhere in time and space".
In a charming flourish, the letter is dated November 23, 1963 – the date the BBC show was first broadcast – and came in an envelope decorated with a hand-drawn Dalek.
#PeterCapaldi is my 9 year old son’s fav #DoctorWho and he was dreading his regeneration. And then he got this letter with some words of comfort from the Doctor himself among his Santa presents. Such a kind man. pic.twitter.com/Dki37Wt6Er
— Brian McGilloway (@BrianMcGilloway) December 27, 2017
The letter reads in full:
Dear David,
I hope you are having a very merry Xmas. Xmas is always good fun. Well not always. Not every single second. Regenerating is not completely good fun. And it usually happens about Xmas-time. But you know what? Even though it can be a little bit icky (like really bad flu) it has always, always turned out good for Dr Who. The new Doctor always becomes your favourite and the one that goes... well, he never really goes, he is always there, somewhere in time and space, and if you think about him hard enough you'll see him, and he'll see you.
It's like the Doctor says, "Everything ends and it's always sad. But everything begins again, and that's always happy. Be happy."
So, have a brilliant Xmas, a happy new year and a wonderful life - I'm sure you will.
All the best,
Peter Capaldi
Doctor ?
It is no surprise that Capaldi sympathises with young fans of the show, having been one himself: at 15 years old, he had a letter about the Daleks published in Radio Times magazine.
McGilloway wrote that the letter was his son's "favourite present ever". He told his Twitter followers, "Many thanks for all the kind words, good wishes and sharing of stories today. I wasn’t sure whether or not to share the letter but it was such a wonderfully kind thing of him to do and I’m glad it struck a chord. He embodies everything that makes the Doctor so special."
Many thanks for all the kind words, good wishes and sharing of stories today. I wasn’t sure whether or not to share the letter but it was such a wonderfully kind thing of him to do and I’m glad it struck a chord. He embodies everything that makes the Doctor so special.
— Brian McGilloway (@BrianMcGilloway) December 28, 2017
