He may be The Doctor now, but back in the mid nineties Peter Capaldi says he turned down the chance to audition for the time travelling character’s eighth incarnation.

peter capaldiPeter Capaldi could have been The Doctor much sooner (maybe)

Speaking during an event in London to launch the new series eight DVD, Capaldi a long time 'Doctor Who' fan said, "I never campaigned to be Doctor Who. In fact, I turned down the opportunity to audition for an older Doctor Who, in the one that Paul McGann did.”

Paul McGann played the eighth incarnation of The Doctor for a TV movie which was intended to lead to a US resurrection of the series. However it would end up being nine years before 'Doctor Who' finally made it back to our screens, with David Tennant in the lead role.

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“I just didn’t want to have the disappointment and all the palaver of jumping through hoops for something I would never get,” Capaldi continued. "[Partly] I knew I wouldn't get it, but I loved the show so much that I didn't want to ever have anything to do with it unless it was going to be me. Plus I knew it was an American reboot pilot thing, and the job would go to somebody who was well known, which Paul was, and he was fantastic. So I said 'No, I won't come along for anything.’"

"I loved the show so much that I didn’t want to have anything to do with it unless it was, unless it was gonna be me!" the actor concluded.

But now that Capaldi has landed his dream role the actor thankfully won't be giving it up anytime soon. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter during the London event, showrunner Steven Moffat revealed that Capaldi will indeed be returning for the show’s ninth season. "Yes, he’s confirmed,” Moffat said.

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However things are less certain for Jenna Coleman a.k.a. Clara Oswald who Moffat said had not yet signed on for the next series. The omission will only fuel rumours that the actress is set to leave the show after the upcoming Christmas special.

peter capaldiHow long has she got left? Capaldi on set with Jenna Coleman

Released on November 24th, the eighth series DVD also includes the documentary Earth Conquest: The Doctor Who World Tour, which premiered at the event. The film chronicles the cast’s 12-day promotional tour in August which covered seven cities across five continents.