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[frelling_tralk]

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

Steven Moffat has decided that his “timey wimey” as showrunner of Doctor Who has come to an end and he will step down as the show’s lead writer and executive producer after six series at the helm, RadioTimes.com can reveal.

Moffatt will hand over the keys to the TARDIS at the end of the next series in 2017 to Broadchurch writer and Doctor Who fan Chris Chibnall.

BBC1 has decided to air Moffat’s final 12-part series - the 10th of the modern era - in spring 2017. Chibnall’s debut series as head writer and executive producer will launch in 2018.

A Christmas special WILL air this year overseen by Moffat, though it is unclear whether Peter Capaldi’s new companion will feature

Comments

[rahirah]

Let's see... I'm going to bet that it takes about six months for Who fandom to start complaining about how awful Chibnall is and lamenting the good old days when Moffat was in charge.

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly *g*

[thisbluespirit]

Six months? I doubt it'll take much more than six minutes! It's what DW fandom is for.

Personally, I'm starting complaining right now because I actually hate everything I've ever seen by Chris Chibnall. He nearly stopped me watching Life on Mars, 42 is my wors DW episode, I detested so much of his Torchwood stuff.

I can enjoy Dinosaurs on a Spaceship with my brain switched off and I did quite like Power of Three, but this is awful... just awful.

/o\

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Yeah I must admit that I wasn't thrilled when I first heard the news, I actively disliked 42 and The Hungry Earth two-parter, although his episodes were much better in series 7. I'm only familiar with him as an executive producer from Torchwood otherwise, and the first series of that doesn't really inspire much confidence either, although again it did improve a lot I suppose as they went into series 2

ETA Well and I did also watch Life On Mars and very much enjoyed it, but it's been so long now that I can't even remember his episodes and what I thought of them, that's probably due for a re-watch this year!

[thisbluespirit]

I think, in one sense, he has much more experience as the regular sort of showrunner for things (whereas RTD and Steven MOffat are people who tend to create their own ideas and write all the episodes as a rule), and I do like lighter things he's done, both for TW and DW, but... yeah. I seem to have an unfortunate allergy to him that's going to be interesting to navigate in future!

The Life on Mars thing I only know because it was orginally shown on a night I was out, so I only managed to catch bits of ep1 and had been intrigued (I don't know why I didn't record it, maybe the video was playing up!), but the first chance I got to actually watch it, I was so disappointed with the ep as just being rather bland TV that I'd never have watched it again - except I happened to around the next week & wound up with it on regardless and was blown away by it. It wasn't till I eventually picked up the DVD years later that I realised that the episode I'd seen was written by Chris Chibnall & I just had to sit there and laugh. I just seem to have this hopeless allergy to him, which, judging by other people who enjoy his writing, is probably unfair, but there it is!

Ah, well, I can wallow in nostalgia and rewatch all my faves from 50 years and listen to Big Finish and read fanfic. It'll be cool! :-)

ETA: Also, I apologise for sounding quite so negative; I'd only just heard the news, and it was a bit of a disappointment. Though, to be honest, I don't know who else would be a viable contender and willing to take on such a poisoned chalice at the moment, so...

[frelling-tralk.livejournal.com]

Though, to be honest, I don't know who else would be a viable contender and willing to take on such a poisoned chalice at the moment, so...

Yeah I've seen comments like oh Jamie Mathieson should be the new showrunner, but writing a few (admittedly excellent) episodes is hardly the same as having the experience to oversee an entire show. I'd say that Toby Whitehouse and Mark Gatiss were probably the only other viable candidates really :wouldn't have minded Toby Whitehouse:

And no need to apologise! I drew a bit of a blank when I first heard Chibnall's name as well, a lot of his episodes felt quite workmanline to me and not really someone that leaps out at you as having a really exciting creative vision for DW, although eh I'll try and come into it with an open mind and give him a fair shot anyway. It could well be a good thing for DW I suppose as I realise that Moffat was apparently a bit of an acquired taste, but still I will really miss the crazy genius of episodes like Heaven Sent :(

[thisbluespirit]

Hey, he might well still write one-off episodes! No reason why not!