Broadchurch writer wants 'clean slate' for Doctor Who

Doctor Who recently returned to television screens in spin-off series Class and will be seen next during a Children in Need special on BBC One this Friday.

Steven Moffat ends his tenure as series showrunner with the Christmas special in 2017. The Mirror reports his successor, Chris Chibnall, wants a clean slate and a return to David Tennant and Matt Smith eras with a younger Doctor and companion at the helm of the TARDIS controls.

This doesn't bode well for new companion Pearl Mackie (Bill), who joins Peter Capaldi aboard the TARDIS next spring. Presumably, she'll leave, along with Capaldi, during the Christmas special.

Merchandise sales have dipped since Capaldi took over from Matt Smith. Smith has recently received plaudits for his portrayal of Prince Philip in Netflix's lavish £100 million series The Crown, which is currently streaming on the service. And it would be remiss to overlook former companion Jenna Coleman's successful depiction of Victoria for ITV.

Chibnall's writing team will work in parallel with Moffat's for a seamless handover. This is all speculation, but a series reboot sounds increasingly likely.

Would you like to see a clean sweep? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who's superhero Christmas caper

Not to be outdone by DC Comics or Marvel. Doctor Who teams up with a superhero, played by Justin Chatwin (Orphan Black), in New York this Christmas!

“I’ve always loved superheroes and this Christmas ‘Doctor Who’ dives into that world,” said Steven Moffat, the outgoing series showrunner. “My favorite superhero is Clark Kent. Not Superman, Clark Kent.”

Whilst Doctor Who has become an inseparable part of the festive fabric. The specials are a hit-and-miss affair. So, be sure to stick around for Andrew Lewin and me discussing the latest yuletide yarn in the New Year. I may try to entice Andrew into including reflections on Doctor Who's latest spin-off, Class, too.

The Christmas special, The Return of Doctor Mysterio, will air Christmas Day on BBC One.

Looking forward to the next Christmas special? Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

Class channels Buffy in latest Doctor Who spin-off

Empire magazine interviewed Class showrunner Patrick Ness and he talks about the genesis of the latest Doctor Who spin-off: “Coal Hill has existed in Doctor Who since literally episode one. The Doctor’s granddaughter went there. So we thought, ‘All that time activity at the school, has that caused any problems?’ Well, what do you know, it has!”

Ness likens the new series to Buffy the Vampire Slayer: “Adults watch that, because it’s a great show, but the POV and the agency are all teenage, and that’s what we want to do with Class. It needs to be from the point of view of the sixth-formers – but that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily a ‘young show’.”

“We’re not telling stories of the ‘chosen ones’,” Ness continues. “It’s happenstance that puts these people [at the centre of things]. What if your timing is just weird and things happen to you? How do you deal with it? I’m interested in real consequences. The Doctor is always exciting, but he never stays. He goes off on the next adventure. What happens to real people?”

The spin-off seemingly shares DNA with another Doctor Who spin-off. Torchwood. However, Jack Harness' adventures were darker in tone and dealt with more mature adult themes.

Class premieres this October on BBC One and BBC Three. BBC America will syndicate the new series.

Looking forward to the new spin-off series? Let me know in the comments below.

Doctor Who panel at New York Comic Con

Doctor Who fans will have to wait until October's New York Comic Con (NYCC) for a first look at the upcoming Christmas special, series 10 and latest spin-off Class.

Peter Capaldi will be joined onstage at the Doctor Who panel by new co-star Pearl Mackie, who plays new companion Bill, outgoing showrunner Steven Moffat and executive producer Brian Minchin. Convention attendees should expect hints about series 10, which is currently in production.



The Class panel will include stars Greg Austin, Fady Elsayed, Sophie Hopkins and Vivian Oprah, joined by writer and creator Patrick Ness. The new spin-off series is set in Shoreditch, London. Coal Hill School has been an intrinsic part of the fabric of Doctor Who since An Unearthly Child cast its spell in November 1963.

Former Doctor Who Matt Smith and companion Karen Gillan will also be in attendance.

If you're attending New York Comic Con and would like to write a future feature, please get in contact.