I hope Capaldi outlasts Moffat, if only for variety. Be interesting to see his Doctor/era under two different showrunners. I'd hate for them to get into a routine of Doctors arriving/leaving along with their respective showrunners.

I'd be surprised if Capaldi doesn't leave at the same time with Moffat but him with a different showrunner would be interesting though.

If Doctor Who is such a big cash cow for the BBC, then why was it put to rest for 18 months in 1985/6, leading to it's cancellation in December 1989? The show can't have been making that much money for the BBC.

One of the reasons DW is still on the TV today, is the merchandise that comes out. The action figures, books, DVDs, Calendars and so on.

I was getting the action figures every year, but when they were downscaled to 3.75 inches I stopped buying them. The likeness isn't as good, plus they don't work with the already established 5 inch range.

I did get two of the smaller figures though. The 11th Doctor as he was dressed in Series 7, and Clara, as she looked in the Rings of Akhaten, with her red handbag.

Um, you've sort of answered your own question.


It makes more money for the BBC now, obviously.

But I think it's also seen as a bit more prestigious nowadays. In 1985 the BBC executives hated science fiction, the producer was a neurotic prima donna has-been and it was never exactly seen as a vehicle for top talent. It's now associated with some of Britain's most successful and acclaimed TV writers, the current Doctor is one of our foremost actors and so are many of the guest stars. It's a flagship programme. In 1985 it was an embarrassment they couldn't scrap quickly enough.

Yeah, NEW Who is a big cash cow for the BBC. That's an undeniable fact. Classic Who's status doesn't come into it.

Who wants a Doctor Who crossover with Earth's Mightiest Heroes for a Christmas special when The Doctor meet Iron Man instead of a crossover with Sherlock.

No thanks. No point in wanting such a thing anyway, it'll never ever happen. Except maybe in a comic I'll never buy or read.

Great to hear!

After a great start with series 5, imo Moffat made huge mistakes overall with 6 and 7 which he's learned from, was largely back to form for the Specials, and relished the clean slate with Peter to much-better, if more low-key in some ways, effect.

I've been very critical of parts of his era but I'd be happy to give him a couple more years to see what he can do now he's 'matured' into it and has Peter at the helm, Missy lurking etc.

I would like to see him have the confidence to bring two-parters back. Done badly they suck (padding, not enough depth or action, or just weak stories that don't deserve the time) done well they remain the best for me (SitL, The Time of Angels etc).

I think Capaldi would rock at cliffhangers


Wasn't he that tiny Mr Whatnots character in The Crimson Horror?

First paragraph. Mostly agree with this:
Series 5: Brilliant
Series 6: Pales compared with series 5 but not too bad.
Series 7: Pretty poor. Poor 5 episode run for Amy and Rory. Overplayed the "Clara is an ordinary girl" angel for Clara prior to her becoming The Impossible Girl.
Series 8: Back on form. Capaldi brilliant. Clara with a nice story arc. Capaldi-Doctor and Clara working great together.


Capaldi got one cliffhanger in series 8, in Dark Water. And yes, he rocked at it.

We also had Brian Minchin saying he wants to make a full run of the show every year for as long as possible.

I hope he sticks around as long as possible, too. A very positive influence, by all accounts.

I hope Who is like the big three soaps! It just keeps going on and on

Minchin has been a great influence on the show.

Now on the BBC site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32202633

It sounds like they've worked out a rough plan of 5 years in advance. Who knows if this plan includes another 2009-esque year, or whether they've planned 5 full unbroken series or what. We also don't know whether or not they've planned for Moffat's replacement (I think they may've done).

Regardless, the show seems very secure which is great!

My guess is Moffat will have stepped down by maybe 2017 and then 2018 onwards, it'll be a new showrunner/Doctor etc.

I hope someone like Russell T. returns to run it TBH. Russell had the passion and interest in the series!
Steven Moff has made a few mistakes - but he has rectified them with Peter C's series!
Looking forward to this years series anyway!
(sorry for abbv of names - but you know who I mean....unlike quoting series like JITCOTT or TCOA etc!!)

I think they need a fan of the show to run it. Moffat and RTD were, it will be difficult to continue to get top producers who are fans of the show. Moffat has had his critics but no one can deny that it hasnt been sucusseful.

This news was confirmed in todays sun.

The logical choice for next show runner would be Mark Gatiss.

That was 30 years ago. It's a cash cow for them NOW.