Steven Moffat (the current showrunner of Doctor Who) will officially be leaving the show after Series 10.
Chris Chibnall (creator of Broadchurch) will replace Moffat as showrunner, beginning with Series 11 in 2018. Chibnall already has experience writing for Doctor Who, having written the episodes “42”, “The Hungry Earth”, “Cold Blood”, “Dinosaurs on a Spaceship” and “The Power of Three”. He also wrote eight episodes for the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood.
Moffat is quoted as saying the following on his decision to step down:
“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. 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.”
BBC controller Charlotte Moore is quoted as saying the following:
“I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.”
Moore also revealed the reason for Moffat’s final series airing in Spring 2017 is because they want the series to be a huge event on the BBC. With this year containing the European Championships and Olympics, the BBC decided to wait a few months to air Moffat’s last episodes.
In addition, Chibnall had the following to say on becoming the new showrunner:
“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.”
The BBC have also decided to hold Series 10 back until Spring 2017. Only one episode will be released in 2016 and that will be the Christmas Special.
Thoughts on this news? Will you be sad to see Steven Moffat leave as showrunner?
By Ruari Williamson
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