Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi

Peter Capaldi thinks he's fiercer than Matt Smith.

The 56-year-old actor - who is set to make his debut as the titular Time Lord in the eponymous BBC One sci-fi series 'Doctor Who' tomorrow night (23.08.14) - thinks his take on the infamous character is 'fiercer' than his predecessor, Matt Smith's.

He told USA Today: "He's sort of fiercer than Matt. But he's not grim; he's actually very funny and passionate.

"He loves the universe and this job that he has, this freedom to travel through time and space. He's a guy who's passionate about life and art ... and he gets impatient with people who don't recognize how fantastic the universe is."

Peter will be joined on the show by his on-screen sidekick Clara - played by Jenna Coleman - who admitted she wasn't prepared to see such a stark difference between the portrayal of the new Time Lord and her previous co-star.

She explained: "I feel like Peter came in with such a strength and idea and was really brave.

"(I'd be) expecting a reply from maybe what the 11th Doctor would say, and suddenly this new Doctor does not respond in the same way. I suppose that's what's jarring, is realizing, 'OK, what are the rules now, and how does this dynamic work?' As an actor, that was a great, great thing."