[Shoppy]

Originally Posted by Mulett

I must admnit I agree with those forum members who say season 7b feels more like a new season altogether.
It does feel to me that the BBC has halfed the length of a season of Doctor Who by the back door. Its 1986 all over again!

"Quick, Run, The sky's falling in!"

We got 60 episodes in 5 years from Russell,

By the summer we'll have had 42 episodes in 3 and a half years from Moff,

That's still the same average of 12 episodes a year

If the anniversary kicks off Series 8 we'll then be getting at least another 14 episodes in the 12 months following 7b.

Nothing to worry about from what I can see.

Does anyone honestly believe we'll get nothing for 6 months either side of the anniversary except the xmas special?

[The Gatherer]

Originally Posted by Shoppy

"Quick, Run, The sky's falling in!"

We got 60 episodes in 5 years from Russell,

By the summer we'll have had 42 episodes in 3 and a half years from Moff,

That's still the same average of 12 episodes a year

If the anniversary kicks off Series 8 we'll then be getting at least another 14 episodes in the 12 months following 7b.

Nothing to worry about from what I can see.

Does anyone honestly believe we'll get nothing for 6 months either side of the anniversary except the xmas special?

Yes, I should think most people do (apart from the Christmas special). 8 episodes April / May then nothing until November, and then nothing until April 2014 except for the Christmas special is a strong possibility.

And as for your maths - you've conveniently included 2009, which is fair enough, but that was announced in advance, but like the post you were replying to said, we keep getting told we're going to get more Who not less. So excluding 2009, which is equally fair, its 14 average for RTD and (if 10 episodes this year) 11 average for SM, which over 4 years is 12 episodes - i.e. nearly a whole series missing.

[DiscoP]

Originally Posted by Shoppy

"Quick, Run, The sky's falling in!"

We got 60 episodes in 5 years from Russell,

By the summer we'll have had 42 episodes in 3 and a half years from Moff,

That's still the same average of 12 episodes a year

If the anniversary kicks off Series 8 we'll then be getting at least another 14 episodes in the 12 months following 7b.

Nothing to worry about from what I can see.

Does anyone honestly believe we'll get nothing for 6 months either side of the anniversary except the xmas special?

Of course people honestly believe that we'll get nothing for six months either side of the anniversary special and possibly a Christmas special because that's all we've been told that we are getting. Why should people anything else?

I actually think that series 8 even starting as early as April 2014 is ambitious given that no filming for it has been announced for 2013. My money is on the first half being shown in Autumn 2014.

[Theophile]

Originally Posted by tomwozhere

But if Moffat is calling it series 7 that's what it is. I'm not trying to force my opinion down anyone's throat, it just seems like some people can't accept that it's one series with a large space of time in the middle. I don't think we fans should go calling 7.2 series 8 when Moffat, the production team, cast and the rest of the Internet refer to it as series 7. It would all get ridiculously confusing, especially to new comers who then might not know which series is which.

Yeah! Right on! Although it is Season 33 anyways.

[Mulett]

Sorry if this thread has started a bit of a row. That wasn't my intention. I'm just really missing the days when the season started in April and ran straight for 13 episodes, with a Christmas special to break up the gap in between.

I just worry that this unpredictable stop-start-stop scheduling will hurt the show long-term. A couple of years ago, Steven Moffatt made a clear statement that the move to autumn was simply a return to Who's traditional/classic home.

And that would be fine if the BBC was sticking to it. But in reality, it just feels (to me) like we've been diddled out of an entire season of Who. Otherwise, season 8 would be scheduled for autumn 2013.

[kyllerbuzcut]

It certainly does feel like the BBC are playing tricks and messing with scheduling. As for the reason why? Let's just hope it's not like in the 80s where some bosses messed with the scheduling because they wanted an excuse to ditch the show. I believe similar was done with primeval on itv in the last few years, when that was receiving decent ratings. Instead they now show things like 'splash' because they can run a phone in and get money for nothing basically. It saves on the time and effort required to produce the show, and the merchandise and advertising etc.

At the moment I'm living in hope that there has been some secret filming done already or something. I'm not 'expecting' extra episodes this year, just hoping that well get some. It would be nice if the anniversary was feature length or 3 episodes over 3 Weeks/days. Or maybe they snuck extra filming in when they were filming series 7 or the Christmas ep? So they can do a back to the future style watching themselves thing, seeing what they already did and fixing things while trying not to alter the course of events.would mean less filming required now to make more.

That is wishful thinking, I know, but when we get told e are getting more who than ever etc. it does Conjure up certain ideas of, you know, MORE, not less. As to how we get that, then that is what we are still trying to figure out. Unless of course the BBC just lied to everyone. Telling Moffat and the fans to expect something and now trying to flip flop on that by the looks of that. I believe that's what happened from the comments that Moffat truly believed he was going to make more episodes. But since then the BBC started seriously penny pinching.

Although, as I said before this could all mean there's secretive stuff going on, and we will be nicely surprised when there are extra episodes shown later this year. I can only hope.

[Sara_Peplow]

I think series 8 will be shown in autumn 2014. MS will film his last scenes later this year. Meaning in the middle of S8 we get a 12th doctor. Untill they tell us otherwise. Still we get 10 episodes to enjoy this year.

[OswaldBar]

Originally Posted by Shoppy

"Quick, Run, The sky's falling in!"

We got 60 episodes in 5 years from Russell,

By the summer we'll have had 42 episodes in 3 and a half years from Moff,

That's still the same average of 12 episodes a year

If the anniversary kicks off Series 8 we'll then be getting at least another 14 episodes in the 12 months following 7b.

Nothing to worry about from what I can see.

Does anyone honestly believe we'll get nothing for 6 months either side of the anniversary except the xmas special?

Oh isnt it odd, had I read that post a mere 10 years ago, I would have (quoting a line from Shirley Valentine) tickled my tits till Friday!!! I think as a life long Whovian, you and I and all of us should basque in this age of a plethora of episodes, series, specials, etc etc...I trust the Moff, just as I trusted RTD, 2013 will be an amazing year for us fans!!! I just dipped into the future.....we must be prepared for the...best!!!!!

[Shoppy]

Originally Posted by OswaldBar

Oh isnt it odd, had I read that post a mere 10 years ago, I would have (quoting a line from Shirley Valentine) tickled my tits till Friday!!! I think as a life long Whovian, you and I and all of us should basque in this age of a plethora of episodes, series, specials, etc etc...I trust the Moff, just as I trusted RTD, 2013 will be an amazing year for us fans!!! I just dipped into the future.....we must be prepared for the...best!!!!!

Jan 1990 - Feb 2005 .... what did we get?

Dimensions In Time
"Doctor Who" 1996 TV Movie
The Curse Of Fatal Death
Scream Of The Shalka

So in more than 15 years all we had was one cannonical story equivalent to about 4 classic series eps.

Since the show came back we've had an average of an episode a month, which is equivalent to 2 classic series episodes.

Consider all the recaps in the classic eps and also the extra length of new series special and extras and you'll find the revival has given us more hours of new Doctor Who episodes to watch yearly than we've had since the early 80s.

All I can say to those who don't think we'll get more than the 50th and Xmas specials between now and late 2014 is I'll see you in this thread next June and we'll see where we're up to.

Anyone want a few Grotzits on it?

[Mulett]

Originally Posted by Shoppy

Jan 1990 - Feb 2005 .... what did we get?

Dimensions In Time
"Doctor Who" 1996 TV Movie
The Curse Of Fatal Death
Scream Of The Shalka

So in more than 15 years all we had was one cannonical story equivalent to about 4 classic series eps.

Since the show came back we've had an average of an episode a month, which is equivalent to 2 classic series episodes.

I'm not sure that comparing post-2005 Doctor Who with a period when Doctor Who wasn't in production at all is useful or relevant.

Likewise, I don't think there is anything wrong with expressing concern about the scheduling of the show.

As a life-long Who fan, I'm questioning the validity of BBC statements about the reasons the show was moved to autumn - especially when it appears that an entire season (due to start in autumn 2013) has been put on hiatus.

I'm also not going to be made to feel grateful for any Doctor Who the BBC throws at me, when the gaps between seasons continues to get longer and the scheduling less and less predictable.

[nebogipfel]

The goal posts seem to be shifting. Any episodes between January and June 2014 will now be used as an "I told you so"? What happened to all the people wagging their fingers at us because 2013 was going to be jam packed with an unlikely number of episodes and it is heresy to think otherwise? And the people wagging their fingers because they thought series 7 was going to be shown over the winter of 2012 and early 2013.

Getting at least some of series 8 in the first half of 2014 is possible, but thinking it may not be shown until the latter half of next year is hardly an outrageous or silly thought. I'll wait until someone from the BBC actually mentions series 8 before making any serious guesses though.

[Mulett]

Originally Posted by nebogipfel

Getting at least some of series 8 in the first half of 2014 is possible, but thinking it may not be shown until the latter half of next year is hardly an outrageous or silly thought. I'll wait until someone from the BBC actually mentions series 8 before making any serious guesses though.

Maybe Moffatt's going to announce season 8 soon, and the 50th anniversary special is going to be a part of that. I have my fingers crossed but, timing-wise, its looking less and less likely.

[Collins1965]

No matter what way you dress it up we only got half a series in 2012 and there is no indication so far that we will do much better in 2013.

We know there will be a programme ABOUT the programme but I would prefer to see the actual programme myself.

If thats all we get, with perhaps a one off multi doctor special, I will think we got conned. Much as I'd like to see a multi doctor story......

[johnnysaucepn]

Originally Posted by nebogipfel

The goal posts seem to be shifting. Any episodes between January and June 2014 will now be used as an "I told you so"? What happened to all the people wagging their fingers at us because 2013 was going to be jam packed with an unlikely number of episodes and it is heresy to think otherwise? And the people wagging their fingers because they thought series 7 was going to be shown over the winter of 2012 and early 2013.

I have no idea. I saw no evidence of them first time round.

If you insist on planting the goalposts, don't complain that someone else is moving them.

[Shoppy]

Originally Posted by Mulett

I'm not sure that comparing post-2005 Doctor Who with a period when Doctor Who wasn't in production at all is useful or relevant.

I think it is relevant in that the Who-less years have contributed to the pessimistic mindset of the much of fandom and relevant in that it is said mindset we are dealing with when addressing many of people's concerns about the next two years' scheduling.

Originally Posted by Mulett

Likewise, I don't think there is anything wrong with expressing concern about the scheduling of the show.

Not at all.
But neither is there anything wrong with countering that with a more optimistic consideration of possibilities.
It seems that some fans are considering the worst case scenario as definite and shooting down the notion that we could get more than they expect as definitely impossible.

Originally Posted by Mulett

As a life-long Who fan, I'm questioning the validity of BBC statements about the reasons the show was moved to autumn - especially when it appears that an entire season (due to start in autumn 2013) has been put on hiatus

I really think the whole reason for nudging around of the show was to set things up for later this year to be honest.
What's happened is that last year, broadcast wise, was Moffs equivalent of the short year we got in 2009, and personally I think It was nicely timed.
I still trust that Moff's going to give us as much Doctor Who in 5 years as Russell did...

42 eps by the end of S7
Anniversary Special
Series 8 2013/14 (14 eps inc. xmas 2013)
August Bank Holiday or Halloween special in 2014
2-part xmas special for Moff's finale

or, should whole of S8 be broadcast in 2014, then maybe after xmas 2014 Moff may bow out with a 2-parter Easter weekend 2015?

Either way, the year you want to be looking at if you're anticipating getting short-changed is 2015, unless the whole of S9 gets shown in the Autumn of that year.

Purely speculation on my part of course, I don't claim to carry finite truths regarding what will or won't happen, and if I am proven wrong I shall admit so freely, and I will happily take on board any information (actual information, not lack of it!) you can offer that would directly contradict what I am speculating

(My money's still on Toby Whithouse to take over after Moffat too, maybe giving us a 6th series of Being Human in 2014 then beginning production on Doctor Who towards the end of that year, overlapping production with Moff's finale as Moff did with Russell's.

I wonder what odds ladbrokes would give me on this?...

Doctor Who (2005) Series 9, Episode 1 (episode 121 of the revived series)
Broadcast: Autumn 2015
Writer: Toby Whithouse.)

Originally Posted by Mulett

I'm also not going to be made to feel grateful for any Doctor Who the BBC throws at me, when the gaps between seasons continues to get longer and the scheduling less and less predictable.

It's hardly the long cold winter of 1985

[Mulett]

We had just six episodes of Doctor Who in 2012 and it looks like we will have nine in 2013 (seven episodes left over from season 7, plus the 50th special and the Christmas episode).

The 2009 'specials' were announced in advance, in an open and honest way.

The BBC is currently doing nothing to keep fans up to date with its constant schedule changes and gaps. In fact, some of the statements the BBC made about the show's move to the autumn now seem to have been false.

I think its OK to be concerned.

[davrosdodebird]

Well, series 7 did start in the autumn

[DiscoP]

Definitely more Doctor Who than we had in 1962 as well

[Corwin]

Originally Posted by Mulett

We had just six episodes of Doctor Who in 2012 and it looks like we will have nine in 2013 (seven episodes left over from season 7, plus the 50th special and the Christmas episode).

There's Eight Episodes left in Series 7.

[bgtension]

Originally Posted by Collins1965

No matter what way you dress it up we only got half a series in 2012 and there is no indication so far that we will do much better in 2013.

This sums it up perfectly.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by johnnysaucepn

I have no idea. I saw no evidence of them first time round.

If you insist on planting the goalposts, don't complain that someone else is moving them.

Oh right. They've been replaced by people wagging their finger at me for having noticed the first lot of finger waggers.



I don't think I've said anything particularly fanciful. I've pretty much said that we'd get a handful of episodes in 2012, around ten episodes in 2013 and some or all of series 8 in 2014 and that it is not about moving the show to a winter schedule. Not really planting any goal posts. More along the lines of observing reality and likely outcomes then commenting accordingly. I've been surprised at the number of people apparantly caught unawares as each of these things comes about. It's almost as if they've been misled to anticipate other things somehow.

Nothing wrong with hoping for more. It's just that it is not terribly likely, that's all.

[nebogipfel]

Originally Posted by Shoppy

.....What's happened is that last year, broadcast wise, was Moffs equivalent of the short year we got in 2009....

This is how it seemed to many people. It was also exactly the way Private Eye described it when they broke the news in early 2011.

It's hardly the long cold winter of 1985

Indeed not. The show has the full backing of the BBC and once they've got through this couple of years of mucking about they'll probably go back to normal length series.

[CoalHillJanitor]

It's not entirely unlike what they've done with Top Gear.

10 episodes in 2002
10+9 episodes in 2003
10+9 episodes in 2004
11+7 episodes in 2005
8 episodes in mid-2006
7+10 episodes in 2007
6+8 episodes in 2008
7+7 episodes in 2009
6 episodes in mid-2010
8+6 episodes in 2011
8 episodes in Jan-Mar 2012 + the Bond Cars special in October
6 episodes scheduled for Jan-Mar 2013

[CD93]

With the Christmas Special in February

Doctor Who 2013 Christmas Special - February 2014 confirmed

[CoalHillJanitor]

Originally Posted by CD93

With the Christmas Special in February

Doctor Who 2013 Christmas Special - February 2014 confirmed

Well, a Valentine's special might be more appropriate for Clara. We do love her.