It was going to happen sooner or later, but it still comes as a surprise that Peter Capaldi is set to leave 'Doctor Who' after three years following the completion of the upcoming series. The actor confesses that with the end of his contract approaching, he wants to move on to other projects.

Peter CapaldiPeter Capaldi is set to leave Doctor Who

Peter Capaldi made his first appearance on the show in the 2013 Christmas episode 'The Time of the Doctor'. He completed two seasons, with his third and final to be aired in the Spring this year. The new season will also mark Steven Moffat's final work on the series after seven years as the lead showrunner. 

'I suppose the big thing about it for me is that it'll be my last', Peter said on BBC Radio 2. 'This will be the end for me. I feel sad, I love 'Doctor Who', it's a fantastic program to work on and it's been a huge pleasure to work with a family and a can't praise the people I've worked with more highly. But I've always been somebody that did a lot of different things - I've never done one job for three years, this is the first time I've done this - and I feel it's time for me to move on to different challenges.'

More: Peter Capaldi in 'Doctor Who' spin-off 'Class'

The current Doctor also gives us a little insight into the forthcoming series, confessing that while the Timelord will face old adversaries in some of the episodes, he will be meeting mostly new faces. Plus, with the departure of Jenna Coleman as his companion Clara Oswald, we are introduced to Pearl Mackie who will play the new time-travelling assistant Bill. Yes... Bill.

'Doctor Who' returned over the Christmas period with the special episode 'The Return of Doctor Mysterio'. Episode one of the new series, 'A Star in Her Eye', will air on BBC One on April 15th 2017.