End of an era... in two years time.

[elisi]

From the Radio Times:

Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat quits to be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall

Only a Doctor Who Christmas special will air in 2016. Moffat's final series to be broadcast next year in order to create a “huge event” for fans. Chibnall will begin his tenure in 2018

And this seems quite fitting.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[promethia_tenk]

Oh man . . .

Am unsurprised about Moffat leaving but quite a bit surprised about the replacement. And I think it fair to say that I have been a Chibnall defender.

Do not know if want!

ETA: The man who wrote 'Cyberwoman' is being put in charge of Doctor Who? This is both brilliant and terrifying.

[kaffy_r]

Yeah. Although someone pointed out that he is also the person who gave us Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, which I love beyond reason.

(Otherwise I'd be carefully rending my garments, because 42, which he also (ptui) wrote, is my go-to for personally-considered horrible Who writing. At least until Kill the Moon came along ....

Still, I shall be relentlessly cheerful and optimistic, and go forward in all my hopes, etc.

[elisi]

Am unsurprised about Moffat leaving
Well, this season was supposed to have been his last, and it does rather tie everything up with a neat bow. It'll be interesting to see what he does for S10 (it's gonna be a nostalgia fest right from the start, and no mistake...)

Do not know if want!
I'm very zen. I can see why he was chosen, am... vaguely sort of interested to see what he'll do with it. I sort of feel that it'll be like watching Classic Who? It won't be that mad, deep tangle of symbolism, just a show.

The man who wrote 'Cyberwoman' is being put in charge of Doctor Who? This is both brilliant and terrifying.
And before you know it, Moffat haters will be a thing of the past. Just like all the RTD haters seemed to vanish from the internet as soon as Moffat took over...

[rustydragonfly.livejournal.com]

Awww! I'm going to miss him, but just like Doctors, they gotta go eventually and all you can do is look forward to the new people. And hey, maybe fandom will like him again once he's gone!

[elisi]

And hey, maybe fandom will like him again once he's gone!
This. And I shall laugh. (I am still thrown at all the RTD love. Where WERE these people when he was in charge? Although maybe they were little, and then only turned up online when Moffat took over... Hence, a whole crop of Moffat-lovers should be ready & waiting in the wings. *g*)

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I certainly hope that Chris Chibnall will do a good job.

[elisi]

Me too. Judging from Torchwood he's certainly got the crazy-plot-with-enormous-holes down pat. But since his character stuff is generally solid, I'm mostly curious.

[sea_thoughts]

No DW this year except for Christmas? Aww man. :(

He's been magnificent. I will miss him very much.

[masakochan.livejournal.com]

Well- there is that DW spin-off series Class that'll be airing this year. So technically- we're still kinda getting some DW this year.

[elisi]

Unless they do a few Specials, a la RTD in Ten's last year. Although they'd probably have told us.

That said, Moffat will probably go out in a blaze of glory. Or, as Promathis said over on the DW side:

. . . just occurred to me that Moffat's last season is the best chance we've got for a complete, off-the rails, time travel dreamscape Inception-fantasia crazy-fest. oh man oh man oh man oh man . . .

[shadowkat67.livejournal.com]

Not surprised, television writer burn-out typically starts to take effect after 5 seasons, although I think he lasted longer than RT Davies...considering he also wrote under RT Davies. Very few writers make it past that point.

[elisi]

Can't remember if you read The Writers Tale, but RTD is... Not good at pacing himself. Also by the end he was running three shows simultaneously, whereas Moffat has spaced things out better.

[rahirah]

Well, that's annoying. I suppose this is to make time for filming Sherlock again -- if for no other reason than that, I'm kind of glad that someone who isn't split between multiple shows will take over. Chibnall hasn't impressed me as a writer, but perhaps he's a better showrunner than writer.

[elisi]

I think the general consensus is that he was basically the showrunner for S2 of Torchwood. If you consider that a good or a bad thing, I'll leave up to you. ;)

I've heard good things about Broadchurch, so clearly he can do the job. Here's to hoping!

[ever-neutral.livejournal.com]

Can't wait for fandom to start moaning about Chibnall and reminiscing on the good ol' Moffat days. I'll be ready with my tea.

[sea_thoughts]

Right? I've seen a few "thank God" posts on Tumblr. I resisted the urge to respond "Just you wait".

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

It feels like every year there is more of a gap in between each series.:(

[elisi]

Well, in this case it's actually correct. But hey, maybe Chibnall is a wizz and we'll get one every year from 2018 on!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Gods...gonna miss him...

*HUGS*

[elisi]

So will we all. Even the haters. >:)

[azewewish.livejournal.com]

Wait, we're not getting any new DW episodes this year???? Not on.

And I am gonna miss Moffat. He gave me Eleven and Twelve and River and Rory and Amy, and for that, I will always adore him.

[elisi]

Wait, we're not getting any new DW episodes this year???? Not on.
Surely that'll mean that S10 will be outstanding! /silver lining

And I am gonna miss Moffat. He gave me Eleven and Twelve and River and Rory and Amy, and for that, I will always adore him.
Same here. My Ponds will always be the heart of Doctor Who.

[poniesandphotos.livejournal.com]

Early 2017 is going to be busy for him, between Who and Sherlock. Hopefully he takes this time to write the best series possible for both. I've enjoyed his tenure on Who but I feel like his writing has lost it's energy. I'd like to see 12 under the direction of someone else- wonder if he'll stick around or if we'll have a total re-boot a la Who in 2010.

[elisi]

wonder if he'll stick around or if we'll have a total re-boot a la Who in 2010.
It'll be interesting. Esp because what about the new companion? Will they only be around for one series? Will Twelve stay or go? And will the companion?

[frenchani.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

So many Moffat haters are curently saying that is great news. I am not so sure.

Moffat is an excellent writer, Chibnall not so much. For instance, I thought that the second series of Broadchurch was an epic fail.

[elisi]

So many Moffat haters are curently saying that is great news. I am not so sure.
Ouroboros. I'm sure you remember people dancing on RTD's grave before he'd even left. And now, he's universally adored. I'm sitting here with my popcorn ready, waiting for Moffat's great re-instatement as the saviour of Doctor Who. >:)

Moffat is an excellent writer, Chibnall not so much. For instance, I thought that the second series of Broadchurch was an epic fail.
I've not seen Broadchurch, so can't comment. But S2 of Torchwood was delightful crack. I don't mind crack.

Besides, who else is there? We don't want Gatiss, bless him.

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[verdande-mi.livejournal.com]

I'm sad there will only be a special this year, but I am glad we get another series with Moffat before Chibnall takes over. I do think it is a good thing a change is coming, though I have love Moffat this show is a show that needs some new blood from time to time.

[elisi]

I am definitely counting on Moffat going out with a bang, in a shower of glory. :)

And Chibnall - he's a safe pair of hands for the BBC, and I shall just have to retire my meta.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

That is a LONG gap with no new Who...I am not happy about THAT one bit!

[elisi]

Here's to hoping it'll be worth waiting for!

[(Anonymous)]

You should fill the hiatus by finally watching press gang. It's all on YouTube and amazing. Lynda Day is like Clara crossed with Sherlock and Colin is like the most hilarious thing ever.

[elisi]

I OWN PRESS GANG!

I have watched... about half?

And yes, it's basically obligatory Moffat viewing, and every Moffat hater who shouts about misogyny should be slapped repeatedly by Lynda.