Moffat to Exit DOCTOR WHO
Steven Moffat and the BBC have confirmed that the 10th series of Doctor Who will be his last as head writer and show-runner.
Taking the reins beginning in 2018: Chris Chibnall, currently performing those same duties on Broadchurch, which stars former 10th Doctor David Tennant. The show just picked up three BAFTA wins, along with nominations for Chibnall recognizing his work on The Great Train Robbery, United, Law & Order: UK, Life on Mars, and Torchwood.
This news is among the first to come out of the era of new BBC controller Charlotte Moore, who will next month be taking a newly-created position to oversee operations at BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, and BBC iPlayer, the network’s streaming platform.
The next time we see Peter Capaldi as the current Doctor, however, won’t be until the 2016 Christmas Special airs. Moffat’s final series will air beginning in the Spring of 2017.
Moore says the decision to hold the 10th series was impacted by a number of events, in addition to the hope that Moffat’s exit would be an event itself: “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!”
Moffat said of his decision to quit: “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.”
Chibnall says, “Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC program: 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.”
Like past show-runners Peter Davies and Jon Nathan-Turner, Steven Moffat has inspired a good deal of animus among a segment of Doctor Who fans. Those fans will be relieved to hear that Moffat will be leaving the show.
Of course, the fans that like and appreciate his work will see it a bit differently. You can debate it in the comments.
[source: Radio Times]
