Speaking to US chat show host Larry King, the British actor, currently in the middle of his second series as the Time Lord on the BBC, admitted he felt that the government was posing a serious threat to the future of the broadcaster.
He said: “The BBC is one of the great organisations of the world, the most special, special organisation.
“With the new government that we have, the organisation that makes our show, the BBC... [is] under threat. I think it's seriously under threat from the government.”
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Peter Capaldi
Explaining why he thinks the government wants to involve itself in the BBC, Peter added: “I think the government doesn't think that the BBC supports it... because it is not answerable to shareholders and it entertains ideas - all kinds of ideas about Britain and about history and about the world and about art - that I think the government would rather not... they don't want to pay for it.”
However, he was insistent that the BBC should remain as it is, claiming: “The BBC represents the spirit of our country. It is so important that people don't let this magnificent thing vanish. It is that dangerous.”
Over the weekend, it was reported that the BBC were considering a shake-up for the future of ‘Doctor Who’.
‘Doctor Who’ continues on Saturday night, on BBC One.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(01 of09)
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The new Doctor Who is a Patron of the Association for International Cancer Research, and of a Scottish children's charity, the Aberlour Child Care Trust.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(02 of09)
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Peter Capaldi is 55. That's 25 years older than Matt Smith, the 11th Time Lord, and the same age as the very first Doctor Who William Hartnell.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(03 of09)
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As well as all his BAFTA award and two British Comedy Awards for his portrayal of Malcolm Tucker in 'The Thick of It, Capaldi has an Live Action Short Film Oscar on his shelf - for his 1995 film celebrating the work of German author Franz Kafka.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(04 of09)
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Capaldi lives in North London with his wife Elaine and daughter, from whom whom he had to keep it secret that he was to be the next Doctor Who. "She was looking at the internet, and getting upset when there was no mention of me," he revealed. "I had to say, 'Rise above it, darling.'"
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(05 of09)
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In a 30-year career, Capaldi has appeared on small and big screen, as well as the stage. His face will be familiar from all sorts of things, from 'The Vicar of Dibley', to 'Prime Suspect 3', 'Skins', 'Midsomer Murders', 'Psychos', 'Peep Show', 'Waking the Dead'. even a 2008 episode of 'Doctor Who: The Fires of Pompeii'. He will be co-starring with Benedict Cumberbatch in the forthcoming film about Wikileaks, 'The Fifth Estate'.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(06 of09)
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As an arts student in Glasgow, Capaldi was the lead singer of a punk band, Dreamboys, whose drummer was future comedian Craig Ferguson. Picture: rsanews.com
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(07 of09)
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He got his big break in the 1983 film 'Local Hero', where he played Oldsen, distracted from plans of empire-building by the sight of Jenny Seagrove swimming.
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(08 of09)
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Peter Capaldi recently appeared in Brad Pitt's apocalyptic blockbuster 'World War Z'. Spookily, Capaldi played 'W.H.O doctor' - just a suitable World Health Organisation acronym, or did they know something we didn't?!
Peter Capaldi: 9 Facts in 90 Seconds(09 of09)
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Until now, Peter Capaldi's most celebrated role is that of government spin doctor Malcolm Tucker, a man who can turn the Cabinet Room blue with his stream of personal invective. Example: "When I want your opinion, I'll give you the signal, and the signal will be me being sectioned."