will he? or will he be there for a few more years?

i personally would love Mark Gatiss to take over when SM steps down him or Toby Whithouse is another id like to take the reign .

i think RTD doing 4 years was enough and it wasnt drawn out but im starting to feel that SM could looks his touch if he keeps going

RTD actually did 5 years though as he did the Tennant specials too. So far RTD and SM have both done the same amount of series but I don't think they have run the show for the same amount of episodes yet.

I kind of hope so. I have mixed feelings about his tenure and would like a new take on it. I hope he still stays to write stand alone episodes though. I think that's where his strength lies.

Someone suggested Charlie Brooker for the new show-runner, which might be interesting choice.

I think the show is badly in need of a refresh at the top. I'm not Moffatt's biggest fan and his decision to keep Clara for season 9 rather than go for a new companion really was another poor decision, in my book.

That said (and Clara aside) I did enjoy season 8. It's probably my favourite season since Moffatt took over. It just feels for me too little too late.

Same here i hope that series 9 is his last series that doesnt mean i wouldnt like him to continue to write for the show . the only thing i didnt like about season 8 was that Moff had far to much input than other seasons he pretty much wrote every single episode :/ i know he gives the writers the general Arc that the season is heading to but i hope that in season 9 he writes just the season opener and the finale

Moffat sees every script and rewrites as necessary in tadem with the other writers. RTD did the same (except for Moffat's, so he says). It's his job to keep the series in order, after all.

Don't let writing credits fool you - RTD & Moffat could have had their names next to the majority of episodes.

"Every single episode"

I maintain my belief that his co-write credits on Episodes 2, and 4-6 were for the Clara/Danny storyline and the establishment of the Twelfth Doctor's character. There's no such thing as too much input from the boss to make sure the new actor has the Doctor's characterisation settled in (which ironically explains the sudden Malcolm Tucker-ness of Gatiss' interpretation in Robot of Sherwood, which really did need Moffat to keep check on it).

I agree. In fact, I think a big detraction in Moffats run, is that he didn't do enough to keep the show cohesive. "A writer's room would work against Doctor Who" "Treat it like you own the show, that's the only way you can write Doctor Who."

One thing I'd really love for the show's future, is a small, closely-knit unit of four or five writers working together to create a well-planned series. Something that can be enjoyed equally as thoroughly episodically, and as a full show.

A writer's room can work very well, with a variety of ideas and viewpoints getting thrashed out in debates and in terms of sharing the workload when it comes to writing the scripts, but in the end, one person has to be in charge; the one who makes the final decisions.

Said before, personally think Series 9 will be his 5th and last and c21 Who will have someone new in place as it enters it's second decade. Brian Minchin could still be there, though.

Blimey, second decade! Doesn't time fly.

One more series should finish it nicely. Tie up lies ends give Clara a good exit and go out on a high either in an explosive two part finale or the 2015 Christmas special. Giving the doctor and new producer a fresh start with a new companion.

I'd like to see Moffat leave after the upcoming season, but Capaldi stay on, so that way we get at least one familiar element amidst the reshuffle as opposed to a complete refresh like last time.

RTD Era, so Series 1-4 and the Specials was 60 episodes.

Moff Era, Series 5-9 so far totals 70 (if he stays for next years Xmas Special, or S9 is thirteen episodes), 57 of which have already aired.

I'm happy to see Moffat and Coleman go out nore-or-less together at the end of 2015. Clara is my second favourite companion but she'll have run a very good course by the end of Series 9.
Moffat has had a good run also, and like him or not he's kept the show on popular ground and it's still growing internationally. But a show so much about change, needs change itself - and I feel that Coleman's departure is a perfect platform of justification to see him succeeded by someone else for Series 10 (wishlist: Whithouse).

I'd love to see Clara's exit at the end of Series 9, and maybe bring back Georgia Moffett as the Doctor's Daughter for a one-off companion role in Moffat's last story next Christmas...call it Twelfth Night or something. (And as a nice little nod, Jenny came from the planet Messaline, just as the lead woman in Shakespeare's play of the same name came from a place called Messaline!).

It was, definitely. Clara's story is over as I'm concerned, as her boyfriend is dead, and we know how she is the 'Impossible Girl'. Clara has got no reason to stay now, really.

It is time for someone else to travel with the Doctor. I'm not so ecstatic about Clara returning later this year. I like the character, but seriously? SM really likes both storylines and characters to drag on for a long time, doesn't he?

Now, that's something I'd like to see!

The problem with Steven Moffat is that he is a writer, not a producer. He's let his cleverness get the better of him, something which is coherent in his storylines.

His episodes from S1-4 were some of the best. Perhaps he just needs to stick to writing.

I do believe this will be his last full series. Though the bigger question is...will the BBC commission a new 'era' of the show? As popular as DW is the world over, the ratings are not what they could/should be. There are two choices they have - give the show a kick up the arse, or give it the boot...

Toby Whithouse should be the next showrunner. Or Phil Ford. Both of them have what it takes.

Broadly speaking, the consolidated figures suggest otherwise.

I really do wish that people would begin to accept the point that viewing habits are changing, and that people are using timeshift opportunities to tailor their viewing so that it suits them rather than the broadcasters.

I hope so. Not because I don't like his work, but because I think he's been there long enough now. To be brutally honest, whilst I have enjoyed most of series 5-8, I was expecting better of him . His work in the RTD era was just SO good, and he's kind of let himself down a bit at times.

As a replacement, I want Mark Gatiss. I know how polarizing his episodes can be, but I've always liked them. They are not really fan pleasers, they are just decent family episodes, and my family, most of which are casual viewers, tend to love his episodes.


And of course, it would be lovely if Moffat kept writing for the show, as a guest writer. Listen proves that he can still write excellent standalone stories.

Only if Philomena Cunk and Barry Shitpeas are the new companions

That sounds... uncomfortably sexist. Because her boyfriend is dead, she no longer has anything to offer the Doctor?


Show me one ten-year-old modern show that hasheld audience figures as consistently as Who has...!

You should know by now that Doctor Who is immune to changing ratings. If it gets over 7m instead of 8m, it's a failure.

I recall quite a number of complaints that Clara doesn't need an intrusive "story" and just get on with travelling with The Doctor. Now it's the opposite. It's a shame that cast members are shown the door so soon with this show. It's not Jenna's fault her tenure has been split up so much. The breaks and the 50th has dragged out a 1.5 series role. Not exactly stretching the limits of credibility. I doubt a year of consistency will harm the show in the way some have implied. It hasn't happened once under Moffat Who. That in itself makes a change

Plus we don't yet know of any new arrivals along the way. Which would be nice.

To be fair, I think it reflects the issue I have with Clara - that she's more storyline than character. Once a storyline is exhausted, there's just not enough depth to Clara to justify her continuing as the companion (in my opinion, obviously).

In all honesty, I thought it was a stretch to keep her on for season 8 once the 'Impossible Girl' storyline was resolved.

For season 8, it felt like Moff tried to completely reinvent the character to make her seem more rounded (job, family, boyfriend etc). But, as tiggerpooh has indicated, the 'boyfriend' storyline took over and I was still left feeling no real connection with her as a character by the end of it.

Knowing how Moff and his team work, I can only assume there is an outstanding storyline for season 9 that will only work if Clara continues as the companion. Which is a shame, because I think it would have given season 9 a much needed boost if episode one had introduced a new companion.

You can live in hope - we only know that Peter and Jenna are in it. They either haven't left the studio or have done a good job of hiding.

I would like to see another show runner. I had really high hopes for Moff when he took over since I felt he was the best writer under RTD (and I loved Coupling too), but I find the show quite dull under him (didn't watch much of the last season) where it was must see TV for me under RTD (even if I generally thought he couldn't do season finales to save his life). I find Moff's skills are better as a writer on DW.