So, the latest issue of DWM finally confirms Steven Moffat is already planning Series 9 and even has the finale cliffhanger planned out.

"Sitting here, right now, just before the (Series 8) finale shooting block, i've figured out the cliffhanger to the penultimate episode of the next series. And it's a whopper. Ohh, i don't think you'll see this coming!"

Get ready for the gnashing of teeth and wails of despair from all the Moffat-haters out there. As for me, i'm delighted. Besides, who the hell could follow RTD and Moffat? Who would even be willing to try? They'd be like lambs to the slaughter...

Reaches for tin hat....

Actually, I'm quite suprised. Always thought it would be 4 full series and out for some reason. There's no real template though in C21 Who. And Letts did five and JNT did, um, too many really back in the day. Still, fan of Matt's era and looking forward to Capaldi so there we go. It's all good. As I hope Series 8 will be....obviously.

Then again, my 'instinct' was that Matt was going to do a 4th series. So it's a bit rubbish.

I don't mind, but I'm hoping for something different from the next two series. I don't want another series-long story arc about the Doctor's impending death.

I hope that means we are back to a 12-month cycle rather than the 18-month cycle we've had for since 2011. i.e. the next series being late 2015 rather than early 2016.

I'm very hopeful that we could get a much improved season 8. We've got:

1/ a new Doctor
2/ all those messy '11th Doctor' story arcs tied up (in Time of the Doctor) and put to bed permanently (I hope)
3/ Brian Minchin on board as Executive Producer
4/ production back on track and so no more 'mid season gaps' or long breaks between seasons

If so, then I don't mind so much if Moffat stays on. He's proven what a superb writer he can be through Sherlock. I just hope with some of his fanboy excesses toned down he can prove the same through Doctor Who.

Series 8 will judge how this news affects me. I mostly enjoy Moffat's work, but I hope he makes good on his promises of change.

There are strong beliefs that S9 will be his last, however. Whether Capaldi stays on, only time will tell.

@Rooks - Moffat confirmed Series 9 will follow the same format as S8. Whether that means August start or 12 episodes or both...

I agree. I have not enjoyed the Moffat era but I will give series 8 every chance. I'm hoping I will love it and if that is the case I won't mind him staying for series 9 at all. If I hate it then it will just be my bad luck and I will grin and bear it. He surely won't stay beyond that one way or the other.

Two part finale, series nine! Excellent.

I'm happy for more Moffat. He's written a couple of his worst episodes in the last year, but also one of his very best - and Moffat on a bad day is still about level with any of his others writers on a decent day.

At S9, Moffat will have beaten RTD's record. Neato!

I do feel maybe it's time for him to step down and let someone else take over. Doctor Who needs to be re-invented and refreshed every few years to prevent it going stale.
However, I'm not actually too fussed over whether he stays a few more years or not. The new Doctor alone may be enough to refresh the show enough for the next couple of years. It's also entirely possible that he'll shake up his story-telling style a bit so the Capaldi era actually feels different to what has come before.

And maybe it's a good sign that he's already planned well in advance. Despite what he says, it definitely felt like he was making it up as he went along with the past two series; especially with the "Of the Doctor" trilogy.

So basically what I'm saying is that we shouldn't get the pitchforks out just yet.

If he actually delivers on his promises of real changes next season then he can stay as long as he likes.

I agree a lot with this. I don't hate Moffat or anything, but I just want him to get the excitement back in the show. If he makes lots of changes to that effect come the New Series, I'd be happy for him to stay on, but if not, I really would want a new show runner asap.

I'm also concerned at having one person in charge for too long. It's not good for the show. Look what happened with JNT in charge for all that time.

I'd be up for it...


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Once Moffat had a new Doctor Action figure to play with it seemed likely he would stay a bit longer

So we get another series. Good if he keeps his promises. If S9 is his last he should make it a good one. Needs a good doctor, good companion or companions and good villains human and non human. Long as DW is on will be happy to watch .

In the same article Moffat answers a question about the Time Lords trying to return to the universe in Time of the Doctor after they were supposedly frozen in a pocket universe in Day of the Doctor, his answer is intriguing:

"In case you hadn't noticed, the Doctor is regularly wrong. We only have his word that they're frozen in that other dimension - clearly it's not so simple! Oh, those slippery Time Lords. I wonder where they'll pop up next?"

Is that a hint?

Also, he confirms that the Clara echo that the First Doctor met was Gallifreyan and not a Time Lord. Which would lend credence to the belief that all Time Lords are Gallifreyan but not all Gallifreyans are Time Lords.

oh bugger

Hyping up S9 already? By the time we get to it I'll be so hyped for it, it will probably be a let down for me. I'm already running wild thinking about what it could be lol

He probably is aware of that too and just wants a couple of years to establish the Twelfth Doctor. Moffat has talked about his fear of being 'the one who killed the show', so he will surely be looking towards a resignation date.

If it is to be his grand finale, I'm glad he's thinking about it

Oh, there's gratitude for you. And just who added Miss Coleman to the cast?

That was meant in the sense that he should be thinking it all out in advance

I'm fed up of listening to all his hype. I'm sure he believe it but it's frequently a big let down for me. I'll remain open minded cos you never know it might be as good as he thinks

Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!

Hope so, especially if this New Series runs along the same as the last few.

I always think a showrunner is the same as any Doctor, there needs to be a maximum of five years tops before it should change to keep the show evolving.

But everyone was in love with him on 14 November.