Peter Capaldi Goes Malcolm Tucker And Turns Air Blue At Sweary Letters Live Performance

His beloved spin doctor Malcolm Tucker’s insults will go down as some of the best swearing of modern times.

Peter Capaldi channeled the spirit of The Thick Of It’s sweary political manipulator at his Letters Live performance – to convey how Tucker would have reacted to abuse if he’d been alive hundreds of years ago.

The Doctor Who actor, 57, showed the audience how Tucker would sound in the 17th century as he read out a letter from Sultan Mehmed IV, saying: “What the devil kind of knight are you, that can’t slay a hedgehog with your naked a**e?”

Capaldi also performed a poignant letter from Captain Reginald John Armes to his wife from December 24, 1914, which told of his fears of war.

Capaldi in less sweary mode during a promo shoot for his role in Dr Who.

He was joined at the event at London’s Freemasons’ Hall on Monday night by Olivia Colman who couldn’t suppress giggles during Capaldi’s performance – and when she conveyed Tina Fey’s responses to online commentators before reading.

The actress also read a note from Eric Idle to John Major sent before their 50th birthdays.

Olivia Coleman couldn’t hold back laughter at Letters Live.

Shami Chakrabarti, Jack Dee and Miriam Margolyes were among the other performers on Monday night.

The annual event – which concludes on Tuesday – has welcomed stars including Sir Ian McKellen, Carey Mulligan, Jude Law, Benedict Cumberbatch and Oscar Isaac, who read out a letter from Sir Alec Guinness detailing the actor’s true feelings about playing Obi Wan Kenobi.

All photographs Getty Images