Production issues and clashes with other schedules.

This time it's due to Sherlock filming delaying DW, wanting to move it away from a time where ratings have been shaky to a time with less competition and (apparently) because they couldn't get a new show runner in place for s10.

Hm... I did have my heart set on Whithouse, but Chibnall is capable of writing really good stuff. Life on Mars, Broadchurch, and, er, bits of Torchwood were all pretty good so I'll go in with an open mind.

Can't say I'm remotely impressed with this news. It's nothing personal of course, but Chris Chibnall has just not impressed me with Doctor Who. Of the five episodes he's written I've enjoyed one - his first way back in Series 3. But it was hardly a highlight of the series and was followed by a long slur of episodes that were all better. His subsequent efforts for Series 5 and Series 7 rank as some of my absolute least favourite stories in the past ten years. His characters bore me (the same is true of other shows he's run/written for), his storylines don't intrigue me. His Torchwood contributions are a mixed bag, and even his stronger ones left me feeling like he didn't quite have a grasp of the characters. Combined with a slightly longer wait for Series 10 than I'd have hoped (I guess I was holding out for a January 2017 start) which isn't so much an issue but nonetheless unwelcome news all the same, and resulting in the biggest gap of no Doctor Who in the last decade (just as soon as they'd got into a regular routine again) and I can't hide my disappointment.

Equally I guess there's a need to try and not be too presumptious. I've said myself plenty of times that showrunner ability and episode-writing ability don't necessarily go hand-in-hand, it's just when one has already been proven to not be to my personal liking I find it hard to get enthused.

All the same, I'm still loving Capaldi in the role (and really hope he stays past Series 10...or that'll be a huge loss as well) and as much as I loved Series 9, I think it is the right time for Moffat to go now.

Yes absolutely. Classic PR strategy - hide the bad news by releasing it on the same day as a bigger story. Clearly they are hoping no one will notice yet another Moffat-Gap. This is the worse one since Moffat took over too. Not even some held-over season 9 episodes to plaster over the cracks this time.

Yeah I think that will be it- unless as you say they scrap the Xmas special which is unlikely. If they do get a new Doctor then that Xmas day special might be a good way of ensuring a big audience and it certainly did Tennant no harm.

I think its best if Capaldi does leave with Moffat. Much as I could watch him endlessly I think it is appropriate that the new show runner gets a chance to really put their stamp on it and start again in many ways. And I think Moffat writing the exit for Capaldi would be very fitting not to mention brilliantly exciting.

She

I'm just surprised it's running until 2018, I don't know anyone still watching it.

I think this is the key thing. We really will have to all wait and see. Which I guess is quite right. Those who have disliked Moffat will be celebrating merrily and crowing away regardless but lets be honest its more because he's going than excitement about the new era. Most anti-Moffat people would prefer ANYONE but Moffat...and the more extreme end even wishing the show would be cancelled if it meant no more Moffat episodes (this was the extreme dark sub-section of Ming Mongs of course). But I would love to hear anyone getting excited about the prospect of Chibnall and if they are I would be fascinated to know how and why considering his awful track record on DW.

In fairness Moffat said himself that he'd been asking for "more" than the standard 12+Xmas routine. I'm guessing he's not got it, but credit where it's due he's definitely been conscious of the desire for more than we're actually getting and actually seemed up for the idea.

I still think this year's Christmas special should aim to be something truly special - I can still dream of a two-parter directed by Peter Jackson and split across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Ah, you've regenerated again have you?

I think we need to overlook "Cyberwoman".

For me, it was as if a partially converted "Cyber" was always going to feature and having it as a metal bikini-clad woman certainly reached the tone the programme was aiming for. Even the very best writers would struggle from that starting point.

And to be fair, there was some significant underlying character development (Ianto).

I knew it would be controversial, but it was time for a female 2shy

thrilled about the spring
huge mistake leaving it in the Autumn slot.
No idea who this new guy is never watched Broadchurch
Also pleased Moffat is moving on, Some of his stories were just bordering on bizarre
and its not helped PC transition as the doctor. I know Critics and various websites have rated the lasted episodes some of the best, But they need to appeal to a more General audience also.

Give the nature of this announcement I suspect the "suits" at the BBC have been on the move. I wonder how Gattiss feels?

Those that dont like Moffat arent going to start being fair now. Theyve spent 6 years complaining about him so you can be damned sure they will follow it through to the bitter end and will probably get even more vocal for his last season. In some peoples eyes the guy can do no right.

Agreed entirely. My friends actually messaged me with "Moffat's gone!" because it means that much to them (and yet I'm the fan on a DW forum ). I think they get so carried away with what's to go that they don't quite figure out whether what they've got is potentially any better. They're really not a fan of Moffat.

I've been split down the middle over the years. Series 5 left me cold, but I appreciated the good writing he put into it. I became more disillusioned for Series 6 and Series 7, hit a low with the 50th anniversary but he turned things around for me with Series 8, and even more so with the brilliant Series 9. All the same, in the same way that some films just don't need any more sequels I was quite satisfied with Series 9 being Moffat's swansong and didn't feel strongly about him staying.

I guess I just feel a bit taken aback that I'm not fussed about the current showrunner leaving, nor am I enthused about the one coming in. It's worrying that the best I can hope for is a 'pleasant surprise' regarding Chibnall when usually I'm as enthusiastic as can be about the show, and am usually more easily pleased by its output.

I think Chibnall is a good get.

Been around the show long enough, written some good stories for Doctor Who and Torchwood. Overall i am happy.

Certainly go along with the last bit, as Broadchurch 3 is apparently filming in May so CC is busy with that. The appointment of a new Showrunner doesn't get decided overnight, so think its very likely that Steven was asked to do another series rather than finish at Christmas 2015, until, ahem, Chibbers was available?

Indeed I've faced this attitude from some close friends as well - who went as far as to say that Moffat ruined the show because the music wasn't as good in Series 8 or something. They hold him responsible for everything to a shocking degree. I was happy to hear - for their sake too - that they actually enjoyed Series 9 a lot more and struggled to find fault, even if they still want him gone with a fiery passion.

Yeah I know what you mean. I love Moffats work but I wouldnt say he should stay. I dont think he should. I am happy he's got S10 but again I dont think I would be that upset if he was going after the Xmas special. As for Chibnall it inspires neither anger or excitement. I'm not sure thats a good thing really. I just am not excited at all especially if Chibnall does represent a move backwards. Who knows. Maybe I'm just suffering post-season blues! I am just so unbothered about the whole thing at the moment. I think the prospect of a year with no new episodes proper is not helping my enthusiasm.

Chibnall is the person I wanted least

I've not enjoyed a single one of his episodes. Still, I live in hope I'll be surprised.

Some people don't like Moffat's take on Who and are therefore pleased to see him go, just as some people didn't like RTD's take and were equally pleased to see him go.

Don't know why this causes such angst in certain posters.

I expect the new companion will bridge the show runner transition, while Capaldi will likely leave at the end of Series 10, regenerating into

...The Thirteenth Doctor.

Chibnall's screwed.

I would not describe the latest gap in production as a Moffat-Gap.

Moffat's on record as saying that he expected the Christmas special just broadcast to be his last, and he'd already signed up for Sherlock.

Chibnall's name has been doing the rounds for ages now so I guess that was the main person that the BBC wanted for the job (not sure why myself but there we are) and I guess they had to wait for him to be finished with Broadchurch (or save up enough shiny coins to lure him away). 2018 seems to be the earliest that they had could get him.

So without Moffat agreeing to do one more series there would actually be no Doctor Who until 2018!

(At least that's my take on it anyway).

I guess for me some of the excitement came back with Capaldi, Jenna Coleman and especially with Series 9 in general. As the writers got announced I was so pleased when certain names didn't crop up, and though I don't like to pinpoint very often in such a critical way I'll admit Chibnall was one of them. It's been nine years since I saw something of his I liked, and since then I've not only been unbothered by what he's written it's ranked as some of my all-time least favourite stuff. RTD and Moffat already hold the spots for my two least favourite episodes, as is somewhat expected when you contribute as many episodes as they both do. It's a little disconcerting (for me, not speaking for anyone else) that before he's even got the job Chibnall holds the spot for the my third and fourth least favourite episodes already - if I were to go by how I rank them. Put more simply, Chibnall's easily one of my three least favourite writers for Who. He's utterly uninspiring so far, and not someone I envisioned even writing another episode - let alone running the joint.

It's a hell of a job trying to remain optimistic when there's a chance your joint-favourite Doctor may be going out sooner rather than later too, and there's also a post-series blues period that isn't going to be relieved by a new series on the horizon any time soon. I guess I'll just have to fight the cynicism!

Well, I'm prepared to wait and see what Chibnall actually does when he takes over stewardship next year. Once I've seen what he does with the show, only then will I decide whether I like it or not.
I know that's a rather strange viewpoint round here, but I'm an old fashioned sort of chap.