The Doctor is in, but not for much longer.

"Doctor Who" star Peter Capaldi is ready to leave the hit BBC sci-fi series behind. The actor spilled the news while discussing the upcoming season Monday on Jo Whiley's BBC Radio 2. It turns out we'll have to say our goodbyes during the Christmas 2017 special. Some present.

"This will be the end for me," he said. "I feel it's sort of time for me to move on to different challenges."

Capaldi explained that his contract was running out, and while the producers wanted to extend it, he decided to move on while he was still able to give the show his best. His exit will coincide with that of showrunner Steven Moffat, who has spent more than 10 years of working on the series. Big changes are coming.

In the meantime, though, Capaldi still has more TARDIS time coming up. "I'm still Doctor Who," he said. "We're doing epic stuff."

Sad as it will be to see him depart, the series has survived plenty of change-ups in the past. Capaldi, who took on the role in 2013, is the 12th incarnation of the time-traveling Doctor. The show will go on, even without him.

[via: BBC]