Forget about Moffat and Chibby. Who's ready to wait 12 - 20+ months for a new series of Doctor who?

[The Borgified Corpse]

It's a nice idea, Christopher, but Moffat has explained why he thought such a thing wasn't feasible -- there would be the risk that the past Doctor would be more popular with audiences than the incumbent Doctor.

I understand Moffat's perspective. But I still think a smattering of past-Doctor specials each year would help to create additional content beyond what the main production unit can handle. And it's something that the franchise already has a lot of experience with, what with the many lines of Big Finish audios featuring various Doctors ranging from Tom Baker to David Tennant. Also, Titan comics has ongoing comic lines for Capaldi, Tennant, & Smith running simultaneously (and I seem to recall hearing that they wanted to add an ongoing Eccleston series as well).

Actually, I wonder if the problem isn't so much brand confusion as financial. Spin-offs often don't get the ratings of the parent show-- Agent Carter didn't get the ratings of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., right? (I seem to recall it was dubious that it would get a season 2.)

Shame that. Few shows have charmed & excited me as much as the bits I've seen of Agent Carter.

^^According to the rumour mill, BBC did approach Toby Whithouse about being an interim showrunner while Moffat took a break, which Whithouse refused. RTD wants no more involvement with Doctor Who and supposedly turns down an annual invitation from Moffat to come back and write an episode.

I have heard that Whithouse has turned them down, saying that he doesn't want to produce any show that he doesn't create.

Has RTD explained why he doesn't want to come back? Is he just out of Doctor Who ideas? (It would make sense that after 4+ years of running the show, he might be spent on that front. It took him no time at all to run Torchwood into the ground.)

 

[Ithekro]

I thought for RTD it was something to do with liking to be surprised each episode.

 

[Christopher]

Has RTD explained why he doesn't want to come back? Is he just out of Doctor Who ideas?

More likely he just wants to devote his efforts to new works. Nobody likes to be typecast. And a lot of creators don't like to dwell in the past. They like to seek out new challenges. Something like Doctor Who is bound to overshadow your career for the rest of your life, so it's natural enough that he'd want to resist that, to put it firmly behind him and return to doing new things.

 

[The Wormhole]

Has RTD explained why he doesn't want to come back? Is he just out of Doctor Who ideas?

It is covered in The Writer's Tale, basically he feels he's done everything he's wanted to do with the show and sees no need to come back.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I understand Moffat's perspective. But I still think a smattering of past-Doctor specials each year would help to create additional content beyond what the main production unit can handle.

While a series of past Doctor specials would be nice, it's possible that the past Doctors who could realistically reprise their roles wouldn't be interested in doing so. I also think these specials would have small-ish budgets and would almost certainly "look" cheap.

Also, Titan comics has ongoing comic lines for Capaldi, Tennant, & Smith running simultaneously (and I seem to recall hearing that they wanted to add an ongoing Eccleston series as well).

Titan is launching an Eccleston series in the spring. They'll actually have five series running simultaneously through early summer -- the ongoing Nine, Ten, Eleven, and Twelve series, plus the Four mini-series. I'm skeptical that the comics market can support these many series; the sales figures on the current ongoing series have crashed dramatically in the last three months.

 

[StCoop]

When picking up his OBE Moffat confirmed that he's got 14 episodes of DW left to make. So it looks like Xmas 2017 will actually be his (and Capaldi's?) last one.

 

[Starkers]

That would seem to make sense, starting your tenure as showrunner with a Christmas special might be a tad strange, that said it would be nice is the Doctor regenerated at a time other than Christmas, you know just to vary things a bit (ok I know Ten regenerated New Years Day really but still...)

 

[Christopher]

That would seem to make sense, starting your tenure as showrunner with a Christmas special might be a tad strange, that said it would be nice is the Doctor regenerated at a time other than Christmas, you know just to vary things a bit (ok I know Ten regenerated New Years Day really but still...)

Well, it might be kind of iffy to have him regenerate at Easter...

 

[StCoop]

The bizarre part is, assuming they do start shooting in May by this time next year Capaldi could be an ex-Doctor (as far as shooting the series goes).

 

[Starkers]

Well, it might be kind of iffy to have him regenerate at Easter...

The bizarre part is, assuming they do start shooting in May by this time next year Capaldi could be an ex-Doctor (as far as shooting the series goes).

I wonder when they'll announce #13? Actually I wonder when/if they'll concretely confirm that Capaldi won't just stay on?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

That would seem to make sense, starting your tenure as showrunner with a Christmas special might be a tad strange, that said it would be nice is the Doctor regenerated at a time other than Christmas, you know just to vary things a bit (ok I know Ten regenerated New Years Day really but still...)

If Moffat and Capaldi do leave at the same time, there's a part of me that would really like to see their era end without a regeneration. The Doctor walks off the stage, and when the show resumes it's a clean break like 'Rose" -- we're some indeterminate point in the future, the Doctor has been around for who knows how long, and it's a jumping-on point for new and lapsed fans because the past is in the past.

It's unlikely to happen, I know -- Moffat made "Night of the Doctor" just to check off the "regeneration" box -- but it's a nice dream. Some producer someday will have the testicular fortitude to change Doctors in this way. I actually thought RTD would be the one after watching "The End of Time, Part One" as Rassilon was clearly narrating the story from some point in the future, but then RTD chose to tell the conclusion in a more conventional style. Someone will, though. Someone will.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Well, it might be kind of iffy to have him regenerate at Easter...

Lol! And people though that RTD overdid the Doctor-as-the-Messiah imagery!

 

[Starkers]

If Moffat and Capaldi do leave at the same time, there's a part of me that would really like to see their era end without a regeneration. The Doctor walks off the stage, and when the show resumes it's a clean break like 'Rose" -- we're some indeterminate point in the future, the Doctor has been around for who knows how long, and it's a jumping-on point for new and lapsed fans because the past is in the past.

It's unlikely to happen, I know -- Moffat made "Night of the Doctor" just to check off the "regeneration" box -- but it's a nice dream. Some producer someday will have the testicular fortitude to change Doctors in this way. I actually thought RTD would be the one after watching "The End of Time, Part One" as Rassilon was clearly narrating the story from some point in the future, but then RTD chose to tell the conclusion in a more conventional style. Someone will, though. Someone will.

I really don't see what's gained by this, you're just creating gaps future producers could stick additional Doctors in ala the War Doctor, and potentially confusing everyone even more. I get the notion of a clear jumping on point for people, but I'd argue you can have that and still follow the tried and trusted pattern. Eleventh Hour is every bit as good a jumping on point as Rose, and besides I think anyone thinking about jumping on is going to imagine it's some kind of continuation, even if it's not. One thing I would like to see is dialling down the post Regeneration hangover next time. I think they got it about right with 11, but no more Doctors spending half the story out of it (5, 10) Their first story or two certifiable (six) or having a complete existential crisis that lasts pretty much their whole damn first series (12)!

I know Eleven in The Eleventh Hour was quite the Doctor he'd become, but the transition was a whole lot smoother than immediately before/after.

 

[The Wormhole]

^^I wouldn't worry too much. If Chibnall's premiere is indeed the introduction of a new Doctor than he'll know he'll need something a lot more exciting for both his first episode as showrunner and the first episode with a new Doctor than having the Doctor sleeping for half of it.

 

[Green Lantern]

In an ideal world, I'd prefer at some point the doctor to regenerate mid-season. It just seems a bit stupid that doctors always regenerate or debut around Christmas time. Tennant debuted on Christmas and left on Christmas/New Years Day. Then Smith left on Christmas, it just seems silly that Capaldi will do the same yet again. Plus with Moffat, there's always some illusion to Christmas somewhere. However as some have pointed out, it would be even more bizarre for Chibnal to debut on Christmas, although I suppose it could be the gift of a new Doctor or something. But with the 14 episodes statement, it seems likely. A part of me wishes that the additional episode is a one off special for this year to bridge the gap though.

 

[The Wormhole]

^^14 episodes = 2016 Christmas special, 12 episode season 10, 2017 Christmas special

 

[Christopher]

Theoretically, is there any reason they couldn't do a special that airs on Christmas, but whose story contains no internal references to the holiday? I mean, only some of the specials focus heavily on Christmas as a story point. Stories like "Voyage of the Damned," "Planet of the Dead" (for Easter), "The End of Time," and "The Husbands of River Song" are more just stories that happen to take place on the holiday and could've easily been rewritten to exclude the references. So why not just omit them completely? Maybe have a story that's only thematically linked to Christmas, rather than actually taking place on December 25.

 

[StCoop]

Radio Times confirm shooting starts in May and also that auditions for the new Companion haven't even started yet.

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2016...in-may---but-new-companion-is-yet-to-audition

 

[The Wormhole]

My understanding was back when the show regularly had spring premieres they typically began in the summer, usually around July. Does the fact they're filming earlier perhaps indicate they might premiere earlier than Easter (or at least earlier than March)? Could we might actually get Doctor Who on the dark and cold winter nights Moffat promised five years ago?

 

[Steve Roby]

Speaking of shows that take long breaks...

plus in the meantime, I am hoping all the Doctor who supporters will take a trip over to DAVE and watch the New RED DWARF XI!! My two favorite SciFi shows need some love.

Meanwhile, back in the Whoverse, I'm looking forward to Patrick Ness's Class spinoff. If his novels are anything to go by, this will be interesting and intense, and very much not a kids show.