Moffat to depart Doctor Who after next series, which won’t air until 2017
by Doc on Jan.22, 2016, under Television
Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, who feels his “timey-wimey is running out”, will depart the show following the next series (the tenth since the show was revived) – and it won’t air until Spring 2017!
According to the Radio Times, Moffat will hand the TARDIS over to writer and fellow fan Chris Chibnall, who has written for Doctor Who before (“42”, “The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood”, “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship” and “The Power of Three” along with the “Pond Life” webisode), and also served as head writer and co-producer of Torchwood. Most recently he created and co-wrote Broadchruch which featured David Tennant and will go into production this summer for a third series.
Although the next series won’t air until next year, there will still be a Christmas episode.
Explaining the decision to hold Moffat’s last series until next year, BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said: “I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 – I promise it will be worth the wait!”
“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,” Moffat said. “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.”
Chibnall said of his upcoming position, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world. 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.”