Good news & bad news from the TARDIS

[pokerfan]

Good news: The BBC just announced that the Doctor will return on March 30th.

Bad news: There will be little after that.

Good news: I really like the new companion. Reminds me a little of Sarah Jane.

Doctor Who used to have a pretty aggressive schedule, showing 13 episodes a year plus a Christmas special during the Eccleston and Tennant seasons. But ever since Steven Moffat took over running the show, the pace of new episodes has been slowing. We only had five episodes, plus the Christmas special, in 2012.

And now, it's looking as though we'll be facing a similarly long gap between new episodes in 2013, if a banner the BBC put up at the London Toy Fair is anything to go by. The banner claims we'll get the remaining eight episodes of season seven this spring, starting March 30, and then... nothing, except for the 60-minute anniversary special in November. There's not even a mention of a Christmas special. And then, presumably, season eight starts sometime in 2014.

http://io9.com/5978389/no-new-doctor-who-episodes-between-this-spring-and-the-anniversary-special

[AmyDeLune]

1. I suspect the 50th Anniversary

which is apparently due to film in April of 2013, is putting a crimp in the budget for series 8, hence the stringing waaaay out of series 7.

I dug this up on Bleeding Cool...

In theory, all thirteen episodes could run right the way up to Christmas in an unbroken streak but it at least feels more likely that this year’s split strategy will come into play again. I’m expecting we’ll see six or seven episodes in the Autumn, with the remaining seven or six held back until the start of 2013.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/22/doctor-who-delayed-next-years-series-wont-start-until-the-autumn/
-and this was back in 2011.

I don't think Moffat can be held accountable for the delay, he doesn't seem to have had any trouble getting any of his previous series out on time. I think this can be laid at the BBC's doorstep, they are the ones who decide the schedule after all.

[pokerfan]

2. It has definitely slowed down

Only six episodes in calendar year 2012. Maybe the BBC is taking cues from AMC and what they're doing with Breaking Bad.