Doctor Who Mini-Rushes: Writers For Next Series Named, Shoot Date Revealed, Moffat's Current Gig Detailed

[Brendon Connelly]

Note: Already-revealed spoilers ahead, alongside new, and appealing info.

Filming on the next series of Doctor Who is set to kick off on the 20th of February, a nice long lead on the show's autumn premiere date. With pre-production underway, it's safe to assume that the team will have some scripts in hand, and while the full roster of scribes for the season has yet to be revealed, we can name three of them.

Besides Steven Moffat, which I suppose was almost too obvious to trouble you with, returning writers will include Toby Whithouse and Chris Chibnall, with the latter creating a story that will need a huge set - apparently one of the biggest in the show's history.

Those guys were put in the frame by Doctor Who Magazine, but it's SFX that got the juicier info. Whithouse told the magazine, during their Weekender jolly, that his episode is intended to come third in the series and will be "one of the last" Amy and Rory stories.

But not the last, as Moffat is writing that episode himself. It's not surprising.

He was working on that episode when he gave an interview to The University Observer:

I?m writing that right now, the big Rory and Amy heartbreaking finale. It will be quite heartbreaking. I think you?ll be in trouble watching it.

It's true - he has a way of plucking the heart strings that Moffat, and when you'd least expect it at times, too. I know Rich has shed bucket loads of tears over Press Gang, and Jane's scene with Steve in the kitchen in the last episode of Coupling cut me quite deeply as well.

Now, finally. I asked for a picture of the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular program, and The Doctor Who Podcast were kind enough to supply one. Here it is:

[Michael D.]

Not real excited about Chibnall. And I would prefer to see more new writers more often; or even some previous Who writers we haven't heard from in a while. (Shearman, Cornell, etc.)

[I_Captain Blanco]

^ Totally agreed. I like Chibnall's DOCTOR WHO scripts better than anything he wrote for TORCHWOOD, but that's the very definition of damning with faint praise. And I'm really, really hoping for more Cornell and more Shearman, if not this year, then for the anniversary season, definitely (I'd love another Gaiman script too, but I think I may as well wish for the moon).

[dave_worrell]

I'd love more Cornell. Very pleased to see Whithouse back.