DOCTOR WHO - Steven Moffat leaving Doctor Who
January 23, 2016
Now that I am thoroughly invested in Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor, a regeneration is coming. Not a regeneration of the Doctor, well not yet, but a regeneration of the show and who will be steering the ship of the Doctor Who series. It's been announced by the Radio Times that, writer and showrunner of Doctor Who since 2010, Steven Moffat will be stepping down at the end of the tenth series, to be replaced by Chris Chibnall.
In a previous interview Moffat explained that his departure wouldn't come until the right person emerged to pass it on to:
"That is an issue and one I’m actively engaged in, but I can’t say much about that. Everything is difficult in Doctor Who, including leaving, and I would never do anything to harm it. I would never leave it in the lurch because it means too much to me. Yes, it’s a problem. Let’s not pretend it’s not a big problem. But there will be a solution. In terms of the emotional difficulty of leaving, it’s hard."
BBC1 will not air series 10 - Moffat's last series as showrunner - until spring 2017. It is unclear whether fans will have to wait until 2017 to meet the companion who will replace Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) as there will be a Moffat led Doctor Who Christmas special in 2016. I'm hoping to at least meet the new companion in 2016. I mean, seriously, they have to give us some sort of present for enduring all of 2016 without a new Doctor Who episide. I guess I will be forced to (who am I kidding, voluntarily) rewatch series 9 of Doctor Who, in my opinion, Moffat's best series yet.
Moffat had this to say about his decision to leave Doctor Who and hand over the TARDIS keys to the new showrunner:
"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." ... "It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk [Chris] 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.”
Many Whovians have had a love-hate relationship with Moffat since he took over as lead writer and executive producer during series 5, but I am one that is thankful for his commitment to the legacy of Doctor Who and keeping the show going.
Moffat's successor, Chris Chibnall, who is the current showrunner of Broadchurch, which incidentally features David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor, as the star, will be finishing his last series and preparing to take the TARDIS controls. He is a multi-award winning writer attaining success with hit series Broadchurch. Chibnall has a very strong connection to Doctor Who. Like Moffat, he has been an avid fan of Doctor Who, falling in love with the mad man in the blue box at four years old. Chibnall has written for series 3, 5, and 7 of Doctor Who as well as for the show's spin-off, Torchwood.
Chibnall described Doctor Who as "the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world." He has pretty big shoes to fill as the new showrunner of Doctor Who. Acknowledging Moffat's success at the helm of Doctor Who, Chibnall had this to say: 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." We hope that Chibnall builds on the moment that Moffat brought to the BBC and Doctor Who. Chibnall's debut as lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who will come in 2018 with series 11.
Moffat's successor, Chris Chibnall, who is the current showrunner of Broadchurch, which incidentally features David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor, as the star, will be finishing his last series and preparing to take the TARDIS controls. He is a multi-award winning writer attaining success with hit series Broadchurch. Chibnall has a very strong connection to Doctor Who. Like Moffat, he has been an avid fan of Doctor Who, falling in love with the mad man in the blue box at four years old. Chibnall has written for series 3, 5, and 7 of Doctor Who as well as for the show's spin-off, Torchwood.
Chibnall described Doctor Who as "the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world." He has pretty big shoes to fill as the new showrunner of Doctor Who. Acknowledging Moffat's success at the helm of Doctor Who, Chibnall had this to say: 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." We hope that Chibnall builds on the moment that Moffat brought to the BBC and Doctor Who. Chibnall's debut as lead writer and executive producer of Doctor Who will come in 2018 with series 11.
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