Peter Capaldi has previously directed episodes of a BBC sitcom (Picture: Getty Images)
Peter Capaldi will take a step back from the limelight and give it a whirl behind camera for a new parenting comedy series.
The Doctor Who actor will direct programme They F**k You Up for Sky, which is based on Sarah Naish’s memoir, But He Looks So Normal: A Bad-Tempered Parenting Guide for Adopters and Foster Parents.
Like the book, which is a self-confessed guide for bad-tempered parents, the show will follow a mother who adopts five children.
The Thick of It star, 64, joins the project having starred in Amazon’s sci-fi thriller The Devil’s Hour, about a time-jumping murderer, along with Jessica Raine and Ted Lasso’s Phil Dunster.
The Scottish performer, who is a distant relation to Lewis Capaldi, has directed before, including several episodes of the BBC Four sitcom Getting On in 2009 and 2001 film Strictly Sinatra, which he also wrote.
They F**k You Up is being written by Thomas Eccleshare, who said the project will offer a ‘funny, honest and caustic’ look at parenting.
Peter Capaldi was the twelfth incarnation of the Time Lord (Picture: PA)
Speaking about the main character to Deadline, he explained: ‘She’s sort of like the best mother in the world and the worst mother in the world.
‘She will leave her kids on the side of the motorway to make their own
way home but also fully support them through their quite extreme
difficulties.’
Sky Studios have yet to commit to a full series but the writer told
the trade publication he has been commissioned to write an additional two half-hour episodes.
Peter Capaldi won plaudits for portraying spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It (Picture: BBC)
The F You Up will be executive produced by Peter’s wife, Elaine Collins, and Anil Gupta for Sky Studios.
Made by Tod Productions, the non-broadcast pilot will shoot early next year and was originally developed for the BBC.
In November, Peter was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution to Film & Television at the Scottish Baftas.
Peter Capaldi won a big award at the Scottish Baftas in 2022 (Picture: Getty Images)
Accepting the prestigious gong, he said: ‘It’s been so amazing to work with so many heroes, Terence Davies, James Gunn, James Gandolfini, but it’s all about people and the people you love and the people who are around you.’
During his speech, the actor also paid tribute to Ncuti Gatwa, who was cast as the 15th Doctor this year, and who will be taking over in the role at the end of next year, after David Tennant’s stint in the 60th anniversary specials.
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‘Ncuti knows this already, because I can see it in his heart and see it in him, but he’s about to discover how beautiful and wonderful and cosmic the human race can really be,’ he said.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Sky for comment.
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It’s not the first time Peter has been behind the camera.
