season 8 "probably" 12 episodes

[Professor Zoom]

Ian Levine's gonna be pissed.

Who the fuck is this Ian guy? Isn't just a fan like everyone else that isn't paid to work on Doctor Who? Why does his opinion matter?

Ian Levine walked into a vault at the BBC in 1978 and managed to help save almost 80 episodes that would otherwise have been junked - including the first Dalek story - over the next month. He's also personally saved around a dozen episodes by himself, mostly from Nigeria.

I hope it in action adventure movie style, something like the Expendables...

Ian unfortunately has an ego the size of Gallifrey and believes every single fan on the planet owes him. When people don't agree with his views he gets aggressive, VERY aggressive.

Yeah, it's still hard for me to care about his opinion.

 

[Mr Awe]

This news sound entirely consistent with what we knew last August. Still, it's good that it's confirmed. 12 or so episodes, all in one run, and starting around August.

I'm glad the number of episodes hasn't been reduced. Hopefully, the level stays constant for future seasons. I wonder if that represents co-funding?

Mr Awe

 

[Rarewolf]

Well before that there was a leaked email which mentioned both Smith's departure and the length of the the next series.

The name of the person who leaked the email, you ask?

Ian Levine.

As I'm sure he would point out, he wasn't the one to leak the email, just the one to bring it to everyone's attention.

Granted, not much of a difference to you or I, but he would not want to be accused of leaking.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

I am surprised that the BBC would dare cut away an episode from the standard 13-episode run, though. Isn't DW BBC's most mainstream success, other than Sherlock and one/two other shows?

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I am surprised that the BBC would dare cut away an episode from the standard 13-episode run, though.

13 is only "standard" because that's what they've done in the past. (And I think Series 7 was supposed to be 12 -- 4 in "Series Pond," 8 in "Series Clara" -- until another episode was added.) It's not a magical number.

From a production standpoint, it's probably easier to manage 6 production blocks instead of 7. From an audience standpoint, there's no meaningful difference between a run of 12 weeks or a run of 13.

I agree with something Lonemagpie said earlier; I wouldn't be at all surprised if the episode count in the future ratcheted down to 9 or 10 per year.

 

[mirandafave]

Who would have thought that the debate this season about 12 or 13 would relate to the number of episodes and not which Doctor he is?

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Well, I'd think that there'd be some cause for concern if the episode count degraded as time would go on. Unless the resulting stories were lengthier, ala Sherlock, I don't see it being a benefiting solution at all.

 

[Lonemagpie]

I am surprised that the BBC would dare cut away an episode from the standard 13-episode run, though.

13 is only "standard" because that's what they've done in the past. (And I think Series 7 was supposed to be 12 -- 4 in "Series Pond," 8 in "Series Clara" -- until another episode was added.) It's not a magical number.

From a production standpoint, it's probably easier to manage 6 production blocks instead of 7. From an audience standpoint, there's no meaningful difference between a run of 12 weeks or a run of 13.

I agree with something Lonemagpie said earlier; I wouldn't be at all surprised if the episode count in the future ratcheted down to 9 or 10 per year.

8 or 10 -even numbers are easier to play with, budget-wise, and those have become the most common season lengths for BBC hour-long drama of late (e.g. Atlantis, Death In Paradise, Ripper Street, Musketeers, etc)

 

[Irvy]

OK, firstly, by his own admission, The Moff isn't afraid to tell the odd half truth or bald faced lie for no other reason than to whip up the fandom and get them onto the message boards talking about his show. Secondly, neither quote has said 12 episodes, they've said at least 12. That's different from 12.

 

[Starkers]

I am surprised that the BBC would dare cut away an episode from the standard 13-episode run, though.

13 is only "standard" because that's what they've done in the past. (And I think Series 7 was supposed to be 12 -- 4 in "Series Pond," 8 in "Series Clara" -- until another episode was added.) It's not a magical number.

From a production standpoint, it's probably easier to manage 6 production blocks instead of 7. From an audience standpoint, there's no meaningful difference between a run of 12 weeks or a run of 13.

I agree with something Lonemagpie said earlier; I wouldn't be at all surprised if the episode count in the future ratcheted down to 9 or 10 per year.

8 or 10 -even numbers are easier to play with, budget-wise, and those have become the most common season lengths for BBC hour-long drama of late (e.g. Atlantis, Death In Paradise, Ripper Street, Musketeers, etc)

The Beeb has been known to vary it as well, look at Spooks, that's all over the shop in terms of how many episodes per series.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

OK, firstly, by his own admission, The Moff isn't afraid to tell the odd half truth or bald faced lie for no other reason than to whip up the fandom and get them onto the message boards talking about his show. Secondly, neither quote has said 12 episodes, they've said at least 12. That's different from 12.

To be honest, what Moffat says doesn't make sense. He's the show's executive producer, he knows how many episodes the BBC has commissioned. Being vague in that way makes him sound like he's either incompetent or been removed from control of the series.

 

[Candlelight]

I'm torn by the episode count. On one hand I would prefer to keep it at the status quo (13+xmas) but 10 episode seasons are fast becoming the norm and I could handle that if it changed.

I still think the BBC should drift into spin off territory again. It never hurts the parent show and always gives an extension of the universe we all love.

 

[Lonemagpie]

OK, firstly, by his own admission, The Moff isn't afraid to tell the odd half truth or bald faced lie for no other reason than to whip up the fandom and get them onto the message boards talking about his show. Secondly, neither quote has said 12 episodes, they've said at least 12. That's different from 12.

To be honest, what Moffat says doesn't make sense. He's the show's executive producer, he knows how many episodes the BBC has commissioned. Being vague in that way makes him sound like he's either incompetent or been removed from control of the series.

Bear in mind though that it's the by-line in the RT that says "at least 12" not Moffatt himself in the interview.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

OK, firstly, by his own admission, The Moff isn't afraid to tell the odd half truth or bald faced lie for no other reason than to whip up the fandom and get them onto the message boards talking about his show. Secondly, neither quote has said 12 episodes, they've said at least 12. That's different from 12.

To be honest, what Moffat says doesn't make sense. He's the show's executive producer, he knows how many episodes the BBC has commissioned. Being vague in that way makes him sound like he's either incompetent or been removed from control of the series.

Bear in mind though that it's the by-line in the RT that says "at least 12" not Moffatt himself in the interview.

So your opening post quotes RT not Moffat? The way you wrote it makes it easy to take the wrong way.

 

[Professor Zoom]

Well, I'd think that there'd be some cause for concern if the episode count degraded as time would go on. Unless the resulting stories were lengthier, ala Sherlock, I don't see it being a benefiting solution at all.

Why concern? Personally, if it keeps it on the air longer, provides more quality stories with higher production values, I would rather they do 10.

More isn't always better.

 

[The Wormhole]

Who would have thought that the debate this season about 12 or 13 would relate to the number of episodes and not which Doctor he is?

Well, if you follow Time of the Doctor's suggestion that Tennant was in fact two separate incarnations (eleventh and twelfth, adjusting to account for the War Doctor) then Capaldi is in fact the Fourteenth Doctor.

If you really want a mindfuck, I've heard theories claiming there are in fact thirty Doctors at the moment and even some that there are well over a hundred (though that one cheats by including Doctors like Peter Cushing, Richard E Grant, and the cast of Curse of the Fatal Death).

OK, firstly, by his own admission, The Moff isn't afraid to tell the odd half truth or bald faced lie for no other reason than to whip up the fandom and get them onto the message boards talking about his show. Secondly, neither quote has said 12 episodes, they've said at least 12. That's different from 12.

"At least 12" could just mean 12 episodes of the season proper, but 13 if you include the Christmas special.

 

[Candlelight]

Well, if you follow Time of the Doctor's suggestion that Tennant was in fact two separate incarnations (eleventh and twelfth, adjusting to account for the War Doctor) then Capaldi is in fact the Fourteenth Doctor.

It wasn't just a suggestion; it was mentioned a couple of times as fact on screen that Capaldi is the fourteenth Doctor, or the first in a new batch of 12 Doctors.

 

[Samurai8472]

No.

In the "Time of the Doctor" The doctor says

"Remember. I didn't always call myself the doctor"

There have been 11 doctors Plus One WAR doctor

12 regenerations


Capaldi is number 1 in a new set.

Eleventh doctor- We're breaking some serious science here! regeneration number 13!

 

[diankra]

Capaldi is the 14th incarnation, but the 12th Doctor. It's just PR anyway, numbering Doctors!

 

[Csalem]

I would imagine the series would end in time for the BBC to release the boxset for Christmas, so end-August/early-September as suggested would meet that criteria.