Peter Capaldi was almost eighth Doctor Who

Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi has revealed he turned down the chance to play the TV Time Lord when he was offered an audition years ago, because he couldn't bear to lose the part.

The Scottish star, who has just signed on to return as the 12th Doctor next season, admits he was considered for the role Paul McGann eventually scored in 1996’s TV film flop - as the eighth Doctor.

He says, "I turned down the opportunity. I loved it so much that I didn’t want to have the disappointment of going for something that I would never get."