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I've been a fan of the show since 83-84. It's strange to see how much the show has caught on in the U.S. I was wearing a Doctor Who T-shirt one day in the spring and these fairly cute high school girls were telling me "I like your shirt". You would have told me 30 years ago that fairly cute girls would eventually like Doctor Who, and I wouldn't have believed you.

I only picked it up in 2005, but it's quickly become my all-time favorite show. I have umpteen shirts, jackets, mugs, etc. It's a little sad.

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It will be interesting to see how Capaldi does. Based on the couple of clips I've seen, it looks like this will be the closest we get to Hugh Laurie as the Doctor.

I think I'm going to like Capaldi. I loved Smith's childish Doctor, but it will be fun to see a grown up, more serious Doctor.

I'm sad to see that Jenna Coleman has already announced that she'll be leaving the show at Christmas, though.

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I think all the Doctors since 2005 have been excellent -- they've hit a home run every time with casting. I used to think David Tennant was possibly the best Doctor ever, but Matt Smith was even better. As far as classic Doctors go, Tom Baker is the gold standard. I like Pertwee and McCoy quite a bit. Davison was let down by terrible writing (Human Nature/The Family of Blood was on yesterday evening. Peter Davison would have KILLED IT had that been a Fifth Doctor story.) Colin Baker was let down by terrible writing and a worse costume. I've tried to get into Troughton, because everyone raves about him, but those old slow black and white episodes are a chore to watch.

Each of the new Doctors made me mad when I had to switch to them.

When Eccelston departed, I hated Tennant. Then I loved Tennant. Then when he left I hated Smith. Then I loved Smith.

I think I've been a fan long enough now that I can accept Matt's departure and embrace Capaldi. I'm ready for him.

The old B/W episodes can be a chore, but I'd suggest watching Hartnell's "Edge of Destruction" story arc. It's very good and what made me love him.