More likely they tried to get a special or two done so that there isn't a complete lack of DW bar Christmas this year but couldn't work out the schedule.

There is absolutely no way they could afford to produce the 20+ eps of the show in a year as the US networks do. It's a very different process and incredibly expensive - if anything the BBC need to make savings on the show, not spend more.

As Columbo might have said:

"Excuse me sir, just one thing doesn't make sense to me."

There seems to be two story elements which are contradictory.

tsccope says the BBC asked for more episodes: When was this? Was this for broadcast in 2016 or much earlier or for the series in 2017? Was it to extend a "normal" series beyond 10-12 episodes? Was it in response to SM shortening a series from 13 to 12, or something like that?

Abomination says SM offered the BBC more episodes: When was this? Was this for broadcast in 2016?

Why would the BBC have said "no" to this offer when they'd already been asking for more episodes?

I can only think these two statements are both correct is if they're not referring to the same point in time (or series/season) OR when the BBC asked for more episodes that was for a "normal" new season "commission".

Any thoughts?

Spot on. They couldn't afford it, nor could they even produce that many. I've even seen suggestions that clearing the show from the 2016 schedules is due to both availability (of Moffat and Chibnall) and budget's being slashed at the Beeb. The gap year seems to suit all parties involved (apart from the viewer).

@GDK Exploratory talks with only with no changes actually planned to the regular season. The BBC committed to fund Doctor Who to/through 2020 Moffat's inital rejection of the idea was qualified by saying if the BBC wanted more Doctor Who episodes from him that would be at the expense of Sherlock.He could do more of one or the the other but not both.

@Sam_Gee1 The usual Doctor shooting schedule is January to end of July to finish the Christmas special. Last year was unusual in that the special wasn't the one planned had Moffat been finishing with that Christmas Special.

@Claire2281 I agree with you that the BBC could not afford to do 20+ episodes of Doctor Who a year. The BBC would need a co-production deal that share the costs. I think to interest a major US networkin 2016/2017 with a deal to do just that the BBC would need to have 20 -22 episodes in the bag- either shot or scheduled, which means the BBC would need to find extra money to do those specials. And having announced the plans not to shoot in 2016 except for the Christmas special there a limited amount of time before the crews and actors find other shows I wouldn't be surprised if the BBC were trying to shave money of the planned episodes, either to do that as a cost cutting exercise or try to fund those specials in house.

tsccope: Ah, OK. That clarifies it. Thanks!

They are shooting in 2016. Production is set to begin in about May. There are no episodes screening this year, they'll be shown in Spring 2017.

The Christmas Special will be shown in 2016. I never wrote that any regular episodes would be shown in 2016 and, yes, I read the bit about season 10 airing in Spring 2017 in the Radio Times article I referred to in a previous post.

BIB: Surely they will simply continue production of series 10 this year sometime after completing the Christmas 2016 special? Maybe even run straight on into it for series 10? When is the latest they could start production for series 10 so it can air Spring 2017? Don't they have to start production this year for series 10 to be ready to air in Spring 2017.

Shooting starts Mayish for Series 10. The 2016 Xmas Special included.

You are correct they will. They will not be broadcasting any regular season episodes in 2016 - that's the plan as stated in the radio times.

@slayer2012 stated the production run would start around May. I think that sounds about right.