There are some big changes coming to Doctor Who, and fans will almost assuredly not be happy about all of them. Particularly the news that Doctor Who season 10 is being pushed back until 2017. In fact, the only new episode of Doctor Who that’s coming in 2016 is the Christmas special that won’t be released until December 25!
The other big news is that Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat has announced that season 10 will be his last year on the series. Moffat has written for Doctor Who since the first season of the revived series in 2005, and served as the showrunner since 2010. The new Doctor Who showrunner will be Chris Chibnall, who will take over the series in 2018. Chibnall has written for Doctor Who before and he co-created the spinoff series, Torchwood. Chibnall also created Broadchurch, the hit mystery series starring former Doctor Who actor David Tennant.
“Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out,” said Moffat in a statement released by BBC. “While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”
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“Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC program: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world,” added Chibnall. “So it’s a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore. Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who’s creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult.”
Because of the long delay between seasons, it may be some time before a new companion is cast for season 10. Jenna Coleman played the Doctor’s companion from the second half of season 7 all the way to the end of season 9. Peter Capaldi is signed to reprise his role as the Twelfth Doctor through the tenth season.
How do you feel about the Doctor Who shakeup? Share your thoughts below!
