Peter Capaldi

“I've been really terrible in a lot of things because I learned by making mistakes. That makes you a different kind of actor, because you have to figure out for yourself what you do.”

“I love Hugh Laurie, but I don't want to be a guy who goes to work every day for nine months of the year in a corner of Burbank. I really don't. I like doing a bit here and a bit there and strange things, and I think that's held me back.”

“I've lost count of the times I've been asked to 'be' Malcolm Tucker: to go on a political program on television, presumably in order to be the character and give opinions as him.”

“I don't want to find myself at the age of 60 waiting by the telephone for someone else to decide if I am capable of being in what might be a crummy TV production.”

“Why can't jazz musicians just leave a melody alone?”

“The Americans just have a great sort of wit about them.”

“My childhood growing up in that part of Glasgow always sounds like some kind of sub-Catherine Cookson novel of earthy working-class immigrant life, which to some extent it was, but it wasn't really as colourful that.”

“What I've learnt being an actor is that you've got to be lucky. I got less lucky, and nobody was interested. If a part came up, it would be for the main corpse's friend's brother who was having problems with his marriage.”

“I can't imagine I'll be the new George Clooney. That's not really on the cards.”

“I don't remember 'Doctor Who' not being part of my life, and it became a part of growing up, along with The Beatles, National Health spectacles, and fog. And it runs deep. It's in my DNA.”

“Being asked to play 'The Doctor' is an amazing privilege. Like the Doctor himself I find myself in a state of utter terror and delight. I can't wait to get started.”

“Nothing compares to being in a room full of politicians screaming abuse at each other all night. It's hilarious but also a bit terrifying.”

“I wake up in the morning, and I go, 'I'm Doctor Who! I'm playing Doctor Who. I'm Doctor Who.'”

“Shouting at people keeps you alive, healthy, young, fresh.”

“I suppose I just like being arty. That's all. Arty.”

“I think the truth is always interesting, but with politicians, you don't get to see much of that.”

“I've only lost my temper three times in my whole life.”

“My family know not to get me any tech for Christmas. I can never get it to work, and it all becomes very tearful and pressurised.”

“The nurses' job is emotional and distressing. Their day-to-day work is dealing with people withering and falling to pieces. So black humour is essential for them cope with that. It's just a consequence of their environment.”

“Real heroes are all around us and uncelebrated.”