August 23rd confirmed for season 8 - according to a caption on the trail after the Wombledon coverage. Teaser: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIzgoB8pXuc&feature=youtu.be
BBC America says that "Deep Breath" is "feature length." I don't know how to interpret that. A 75- to 90-minute episode sans commercials? That could be why we're only getting 12 episodes instead of 13; the premiere is actually double-length.
This is hardly shocking news, with an August release date scheduled I think many if not most expected it to air the saturday preceeding the Bank Holiday.
Perhaps it is technically speaking, at least according to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feature_length according to their rules a feature length motion picture must have a running time of more than 40 minutes. So is a 60 minute TV show feature length? Or are we saying that because a TV show a different rule applies? ,
The whole "I don't know who the doctor is anymore" line really does hint at The Valeyard. C'mon Moffat, make some magic!
I don't see them doing commercial free again, unless they do another simulcast. And I'm pretty sure that won't happen again until the 100th anniversary, or at the very least the 75th. But anyway, a 90-minute episode would take up a two-hour time slot once commercials are added. which could easily be pulled off as a telemovie-type episode.
Doesn't even have to be telemovie - there are a number of cinematic release movies that tick in a 90mis or less.