▁As ▁with ▁the ▁previous ▁series , ▁Series ▁ 8 ▁consists ▁mainly ▁of ▁stand alone ▁episodes ; ▁the ▁series ▁finale ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁two - part ▁story ▁since ▁" The ▁Reb el ▁F lesh " ▁/ ▁" The ▁Al most ▁People " ▁from ▁the ▁mid point ▁of ▁Series ▁ 6 ▁in ▁ 2 0 1 1 . ▁ ▁Cast ing ▁ ▁The ▁show ' s ▁star ▁since ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁Matt ▁Smith ▁announced ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁that ▁he ▁would ▁be ▁leaving ▁Doctor ▁Who ▁following ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 3 ▁Christmas ▁episode ▁" The ▁Time ▁of ▁the ▁Doctor ". ▁His ▁replacement ▁was ▁announced , ▁after ▁several ▁weeks ▁of ▁spec ulation , ▁on ▁a ▁special ▁live ▁broadcast ▁called ▁Doctor ▁Who ▁Live : ▁The ▁Next ▁Doctor ▁on ▁ 4 ▁August ▁as ▁Peter ▁Cap ald i , ▁who ▁up ▁to ▁that ▁point ▁was ▁best ▁known ▁for ▁port ray ing ▁spin ▁doctor ▁Mal col m ▁T ucker ▁in ▁the ▁BBC ▁comedy ▁series ▁The ▁Th ick ▁of ▁It . ▁Cap ald i ▁had ▁previously ▁appeared ▁on ▁the ▁show ▁as ▁Ca ec il ius ▁in ▁" The ▁F ires ▁of ▁Pom pe ii ". ▁He ▁also ▁played ▁John ▁F rob isher ▁in ▁the ▁Doctor ▁Who ▁spin - off ▁Tor ch wood : ▁Children ▁of ▁Earth . ▁ ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁actress ▁Ne ve ▁Mc Int osh ▁stated ▁in ▁an ▁interview ▁that ▁rec urr ing ▁characters ▁Madame ▁V ast ra , ▁Jen ny ▁Fl int ▁and ▁Stra x ▁(