http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016-...chris-chibnall


Confirms:
Just a Xmas special in 2016
Spring start for S10 in 2017
Moffat's final season
Chibnall to take charge for 2018

Blimey!

Just saw this on FB. Opened the story in a new tab but came here first to let everyone know! WOW!

Wow...that's a surprise.

I'm glad that Moffat is leaving, not because I don't like his work, but because I think that six years is long enough.

I'm very upset about the airdate of series 10, though.

Would have preferred January as ratings would have been better but if it gives it a settled timeslot it will better than what we have got now.

No surprise that series 10 won't feature this year and we only get a Christmas special. Sounds like they're moving it back to its old slot.

Relieved Moffat is going - the show desperately needs a refresh.

Won't be at all surprised to see Capaldi go. New companion may not last beyond a series either.

I don't want to be so negative but I can't help feeling a little disappointed as I've never been impressed with his work on Doctor Who or Torchwood or anything else really. Maybe he can surprise me but his other efforts I feel aren't particularly impressive. I had my hopes set a little on Whithouse.

So: thoughts.

Firstly I'm glad that S10 is confirmed for Spring 2017; we'd all guessed it anyway but it's nice to have confirmation and I actually (surprisingly) don't think that this will hurt the show.

I imagine that Capaldi will likely leave either at the end of series ten or during the 2017 Christmas special ready for Chibnall to completely refresh the show. This would also fit in with series ten becoming 'an event.'

I wonder if Chibnall will write any episodes for S10 to allow himself to start setting things up? IE, Moffat's River Song appearing in S4.

Chibnall (in my opinion) hasn't written a bad episode (bar The Hungry Earth although as I enjoyed the second part of this two part story I won't count it) and although none of his episodes have been outstanding I do have some faith here. It's worth noting also that his episodes certainly have that 'RTD era' feeling to them. I wonder if the tone will shift back slightly once he takes charge?

Anyway, as much as I have loved Moffat's run (and I owe to him my love for Eleven, in Matt he introduced my favourite Doctor and created my favourite era of the show) I do feel it's time for change. The show has begun to feel stale in recent years and it's become clear on screen that Moffat has been running short of ideas (why else change everything so often?) and I think some new blood will do it good.

Roll on 2017!

Good luck to him - he'll certainly need it. Hope Moffat goes out stronger than the likes of The End of Time / Hell Bent. Can't imagine what a final Moffat series will involve

Brilliant news about Chibnall. Absolutely thrilled!

And the BBC takes a bullet for Moffat by taking the blame for the air date of season 10.

Still, a return to the Spring is superb. Just a shame Chibnall couldn't take over in time for season 10.

I think even his most vociferous fans would struggle to argue it isnt the right time for Moffat to go. I am glad he has one more series left and that his departure has been planned. Here's hoping he can go out with a bang and throw everything he has at one last amazing hurrah. I get the impression that like RTD once he has gone he will stay gone (though I might be wrong) so no diubt he will want it to be something very special.

I shall say very little on his successor because I dont really have a view. I didnt watch Broadchurch or anything else he has done so only have his DW episodes to go on and well...theyre not great. But then many would say Moffat had the best track record prior to becoming showrunner and then let some people down so you never can tell. It doesnt excite me I will say that much. I would have preferred Whithouse or Gatiss or even someone totally out of leftfield. Chibnall seems like a safe option though maybe thats what the BBC want right now. He has proven he can command massive audiences in prime time. I would suspect we will see a shift back to a more populist vision of the show which takes fewer risks. And that's fine. I would prefer not but I've had many years of Moffat to enjoy and have loved most of it so it cant last forever. And the show should always change.

Do we think Capaldi will stay though? I have a feeling he might jump ship leaving another clean slate for the new showrunner.? Time will tell.

Oh and at last the Ming Mongs will have a new hate figure to stick on their dartboards. That'll keep them happy no doubt.

I'm looking forward to what Chibnall has to offer. I think his era will be quite similar to RTD's, a prospect that will mortify certain parts of the fandom and make others very happy

Well The Chib (Is that his new name?) wouldn't have been my first choice for the role but I'll wait and see what he brings to the table in 2 years time.


Pity there's only the Christmas Special this year, would have been nice to have a bit more.


I'm guessing Capaldi will leave at the end of Series 10 (or the 2017 Christmas Special if the Moff is doing it), the new companion will probably stay on till Series 11.

Oh dear. Chibnall is one of my least favourite writers currently working in British television. He wrote some of the worst Doctor Who and Torchwood episodes: "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship", "Cyberwoman" and "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood". I am very disappointed to hear he is taking over the show.

To be fair, he also wrote some of the best episodes of "Torchwood" too.

Apart from the confirmation of who is taking over, this is pretty much what the rumours have been saying for the last few months. No 2016 series, well over a year between series. Is this the longest gap since the show returned in 2005? I think the news about Moffat has masked that long gap in episodes.

Looks like were moving back to the Spring!

That's a good point re. the Xmas special in 2017. It isnt remotely clear on that is it. So it could be 1 series and 2 more Xmas specials for Moffat resulting in a Xmas special farewell. Or else they use the Xmas special as the first proper episode of the new era and maybe thats when they introduce a new doctor if Capaldi goes. I think on balance I would prefer this. It makes sense for Moffat to be able to end with one final season that closes his era neatly (as if). I dont think Xmas specials are the best place for pivotal changes.

I only remember Cyberwoman and Countrycide. The first was dire. The latter was very good indeed.

Why the heck has the Moffat series aired on such a random basis? A series one
year, a half series the next... At least with RTD and the pre-1986 classic Series, you could be sure each DW series would arrive on a fairly regular schedule.

I think he wrote fragments and exit wounds too, both very respectable episodes.

Yup. What he said.

At last! Steven Moffat's unbridled and unrivalled arrogance - which is now so much it leaks through into everything he writes - has really soured me on the show these last few years. I used to think he was a brilliant writer. Loved his episodes when Russell T. Davies was in charge, loved the first season of Sherlock and even, going way back, Press Gang. I was really excited when he took over the showrunner position but since series eight I've absolutely loathed how he's handled Doctor Who.

I'm disappointed he's being given one more series because his arrogance about getting a swan song will be such that no doubt he will have to leave a huge mark on it, but at least there's exciting times ahead.

When it comes to Doctor Who, change is what keeps it alive.

On the pulse.

Yeah could be either scenario (or even no Christmas Special at all) from what was said in the Article.

With Series 10 running in the Spring I think it being filmed as part of Series 11 to be the most likely.

So probably Chibnall's first episode and probably with a new Doctor (unless of course Capaldi stays).



At least in the Moffat era it never moved to weekdays (with the day in question changing each season).

You never know. He might choose to leave in the same fashion as RTD ie really quietly with almost zero publicity or hype and with a quiet, thoughtful meditative character piece as his last episode.