Blimey, what a sauce you've got. Sadly, I don't know anybody in the know, you know. I'm like Manuel. I know Naaahthing.

ETA Sorry, *source*.

If there's any truth to this, then I hope someone official confirms it soon. Or debunks it if it's not true.

I really hope this isn't true. We've just managed to recover from the production chaos of 2011, 2012 and 2013 with two full series in a regular time slot. It would be an immense shame to revert back to split seasons in irregular time slots.

If it's true that there won't be a full series because of Moffat's other commitments then I think Moffat should consider moving on if the only reason is because of him.

If it does happen to be true, I hope the BBC just comes clean and says this plainly like they did back in 2009 when they explained there'd be no full series and doesn't spin us propaganda and lies like they did the last time when they asserted that we would still be getting a full series though neglected to mention that this series would be spread over two years so in reality we were getting two much smaller series sold to us as one.


I agree. What annoys me isn't the fact that there's less Doctor Who than usual, it's the propaganda they keep spinning us trying to delude us into believing that nothing is wrong and the changes in format are solely due to "creative reasons" or whatever.

I'd much rather the BBC said "Look, we can't make a full series in 2016 so we'll give you 4 or so specials and Doctor Who will return as normal in 2017" than the sort of ridiculous faffing around which took place in 2012 and 2013 where they were more like "We've got a really exciting run of 14 cinematic episodes to look forward to in late 2016, complete with a 6 month break in the middle of the run to really let the ramifications of the game-changing mid-series finale sink in!!"


If there is no full series of Doctor Who in 2016, I think I'd like them to do a 3 episode mini-series a bit like Sherlock (maybe even with 90 minute episodes) perhaps even in serial style where all three episodes are part of the same story.
I'd get a lot more excited over that than I would over 3 specials with months between them and certainly more than I would over another split series spread over 2 years.

If true. It's hardly the worst that could happen to Doctor Who.

In the end, the end of Tennant era "specials" worked well because they helped preserve Doctor Who's status as "event" TV.

If 2016 ends up with just a couple of good, entertaining specials (say, Easter and Christmas 2016), then I'd be OK with that.

It's a hard thing for a fan to say, but there can be a danger of fatigue amongst mainstream audiences through over-exposure (even at 12 or fewer episodes per year). And it's mainstream, non-fan viewers that keep shows on air, not the fans, as they makeup the majority of TV audiences.

Doctor Who should take presidence over Sherlock as it's more popular and profitable. If Moffat can't do both shows, then he has to step down as DW showrunner.

Moffat wrote a script for Spectre...right...seems a bit far fetched that considering how much he has on his plate with DW/Sherlock. Makes me suspicious that your trying to seem important by having inside secret knowledge about stuff people didn't even think about while all your really doing is telling wild rumours that you have heard on some inane sight or more sadly are coming up with yourself, Moffat himself said after doing DW/Sherlock he would want to do something that is an original idea of his own so why would he be doing Bond of all things. I suspect rubbish and puts your earlier more possible claims into great doubt, even though they were suspect too.

The Private Eye rumour I think is most likely true as they were correct the last time we had a shortened year.

Sorry, but you don't seem to understand or acknowledge the issues around getting Freeman and Cumberbatch together for a series filming schedule. take your route and Sherlock would never get made.


And yes, I love both programmes, so I like to think that I have an unbiased view from that perspective.


Furthermore, it has been suggested that, with the increasing demand for the two Sherlock stars in Hollywood, the programme might not last much longer anyway as it is getting more and more difficult to get everyone together (i.e. free from other commitments) at the same time. I get the impression that the BBC have had to be very fluid in their schedules in order to get Sherlock under way (fitting it in as & when everyone is available).


And, to put things into some sort of perspective (I'm likely to get slated for these views, and I might be mentioning the "entitlement" word soon ) when DW fans seem annoyed or disappointed when they have to wait more than 12 months for a new series (and then call for people to go when they do), Sherlock fans have to be content with a new series every two years at best, and even then it's only three 90-min episodes as against 12 or so 45-min episodes for DW.

Answer is simple - Moffats quits DW. He would then be able to concentrate on Sherlock.

I have added auite a few lines to my earlier post.

If this is true then it should be like in it is in any other form of employment ie if you can't commit fully to the job and it is having an impact on it then you need to go.

Its not secret knowledge Iv imparted and seeming important? on a forum? about Dr Who? Im not that insecure.
Moffat did indeed write a spec script for the current Biond which was truned down in favour of the current one being filmed. That hasnt come out yet but as with these things , it will in time.
Re: what Moffat says in public. Moffat lies.
Look at his recycling of his ideas from Coupling, Jekyll, characters, plots, names and short stories. and Im not against that at all. In fact S9 will recycle a lot of ideas from Jekyll.
and to be clear. Im simply putting out there whats discussed privately. Not my claims at all. and of course, no one is under any obligation to believe a thing, or believe everything.

My initial post was to state, not allude to . that S10 would not be out
in 2016 but 2017.
and as people are quick to blame Moffat and Sherlock, Capaldi wants a break as well. and seeing As Peter is practically an exec producer on it now as well having final say on stories, costume, scripts etc. Hence why the sub par S9 scripts being heavily re written by Moffat, so much so they are no credited as co writes, even though theres nothing left of the original writer.

Again, allow time to clarify.

I really don't think that it works like that in the creative arts industry (especially where you are having to compromise in order to accommodate availabilities of other creative members)


And let's be honest here - even if Moffat decided to chuck in his DW responsibilities today, there would likely be "not a full series" next year (and probably nothing until 2017) whilst a new EP is sought - one who is likely to be good at the job, have a keen interest in DW, be free in the coming months, be available for the next three or four years, and crucially, want to take it on.

As an old boss of mine used to say - we are where we are

They aren't going to confirm the article, as it also says, about BBC Wales head of drama Faith Penhale-


Ouch.

Capaldi's virtually an executive producer, has script approval AND picks and chooses when he wants to have a rest from his dream job?! After one series?! Never mind Moffat, let's get rid of this egomaniacal control freak! He makes latter day Tom Baker look modest and reasonable!!

(Might not be *entirely* serious there.)

Im for anything that makes Capaldi stay on the longest as the doctor.

BUT Moffat should not be handling both shows

Ouch indeed you would think a quick google search of a programs basic fundamentals wouldn't be to difficult to do if your about to ex-produce the thing, heck if your high up in the BBC maybe you should know the basics of one of its flagship programs anyway haha

One things for clear there was some serious problems going on behind the scenes between 2011-13

I wonder what actually happened with C.Skinner .... (perhaps G Sales has something on that too)

Somebody probably said that in 2011

Yeah he joined DW and made himself at home, making himself King Capaldi and everyone must do what he wants, series 9 has Mondas with the original Cybermen don't you know

Hillarious indeed

Funny is PC has so much control..yet he says he has no idea if he will still be the doctor after the xmas special! LOL

Given that there won't be a series airing in 2016, Capaldi's agent will be looking for work for him. And the dates of those productions will then impact on when Series 10 can start filming. And who knows what will happen for him in the interim? His agent won't show any loyalty to the BBC after they've effectively left him in the lurch. So he can't say what he'll be doing. It's nothing to do with ego-tripping … it's what it is.

The whole Series 10 fiasco has been waiting to blow for a few weeks. The story about the DW/Sherlock clash is true - it was originally flagged with the BBC's outgoing head of drama Ben Stephenson, who signed off on resting DW for a year. Unfortunately (for viewers), he didn't clear that with anyone else, so Danny Cohen, Charlotte Moore and BBC Worldwide are now freaking out about it - no DW means gaps in the BBC One schedule plus also a blow to Worldwide's profits.

And appalling timing, given that DW is one of the few programmes singled out for praise in the debate about the Licence Fee.

What a mess …

Good grief, so in 2016, when the Beeb's charter renewal is up for renewal, when the very future of the broadcaster will be heavily debated, when the Tory and tabloid knives will be out in full force, there will be no Doctor Who, no Sherlock (at least not a full format of each) and Top Gear is dangling by a thread! No wonder there are rows going on amongst the big chiefs...

Looks like the Tory's may well get their wish and the BBC will have to stick to public service broadcasting as they'll have naff all else to show.

Honestly, I would not blame PC(dream role or not) If he up and quit.

And Honestly PC will have no trouble getting other offers.

Well that certainly puts a different take on things. Thanks for the info. I don't know any people in the know to double check but I'll keep an open mind and see what transpires... I guess we will all know as soon as the credits roll for series 9 and we see if Capaldi is credited as an exec producer or not...

So we have now gone from the Private Eye quote of "no full series of Doctor Who in 2016" to an apparent DS Forum statement of fact " there won't be a series airing in 2016".

A leap of faith to say the least. Unless I have missed something?

Private Eye have been pretty accurate about Doctor Who production in the past and a more reliable source of info than BBC PR muppets.

Besides the BBC haven't denied it, just said that it's too early to talk about 2016...