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'Doctor Who' renewed for 14-episode Season 7, Matt Smith confirmed for Doctor [Updated]
"Doctor Who" is coming back for another season, and BBC-ers are so excited, they couldn't wait for an official statement to break the news.
BBC1 executive Sam Hodges spilled the beans on Twitter on June 7, writing "'Doctor Who' is returning. Fourteen new episodes have been commissioned with Matt Smith as The Doctor."
Executive producer and showrunner Steven Moffat was quick to echo the news, making a point that Smith would indeed be returning as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor after the close of the series' current season. "14 eps + Matt DEFINITELY," he writes. "I've got a plan and I'm not telling you what it is. Now hush or River shoots you with her Spoiler Gun."
Already at the halfway point of Season 6, fans are justified in their concern over the future of Smith. After rising to the occasion of David Tennant's departure at the beginning of Season 5, Smith's Doctor was killed in the Season 6 premiere -- albeit 200 years down the line in his chronology.
What's not clear is when these episodes will air. There's been speculation that a full season won't return until 2013, with four specials (like the 2009 run for Tennant) bridging the gap between Seasons 6 and 7.
A BBC spokesperson was coy about scheduling with the Guardian: "The new commission is a big commitment, not many other shows have such a commitment so far in advance," they tell the paper. "We do not know yet how many will air in 2012."
The current season of "Doctor Who," broken into two parts, will return in September.
UPDATE: Creator Steven Moffat tweeted that the renewal entails 13 episodes and a Christmas special, possibly debunking talk of four specials and a 10-episode season.
BBC1 executive Sam Hodges spilled the beans on Twitter on June 7, writing "'Doctor Who' is returning. Fourteen new episodes have been commissioned with Matt Smith as The Doctor."
Executive producer and showrunner Steven Moffat was quick to echo the news, making a point that Smith would indeed be returning as the 11th incarnation of the Doctor after the close of the series' current season. "14 eps + Matt DEFINITELY," he writes. "I've got a plan and I'm not telling you what it is. Now hush or River shoots you with her Spoiler Gun."
Already at the halfway point of Season 6, fans are justified in their concern over the future of Smith. After rising to the occasion of David Tennant's departure at the beginning of Season 5, Smith's Doctor was killed in the Season 6 premiere -- albeit 200 years down the line in his chronology.
What's not clear is when these episodes will air. There's been speculation that a full season won't return until 2013, with four specials (like the 2009 run for Tennant) bridging the gap between Seasons 6 and 7.
A BBC spokesperson was coy about scheduling with the Guardian: "The new commission is a big commitment, not many other shows have such a commitment so far in advance," they tell the paper. "We do not know yet how many will air in 2012."
The current season of "Doctor Who," broken into two parts, will return in September.
UPDATE: Creator Steven Moffat tweeted that the renewal entails 13 episodes and a Christmas special, possibly debunking talk of four specials and a 10-episode season.
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Photo/Video credit: BBC America
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The show has momentum - there's no need for them to do a "gap year". The only reason they did that in 2009 was to allow transition from David Tennant to Matt Smith and from Russell T Davies to Steven Moffat. As no such major changeover is taking place, there's no reason to expect the series won't air, in full, in 2012 (with a 50th-anniversary season to follow in 2013). The only unknown is whether they'll split the season in two like they did this year. My assumption is they'll wait to see how the response it; if the second half of the season takes a hit because of the split, then they won't. If the ratings spike, then it'll be permanent.
i've watched dr who from the beginning. last year was the first time i actually didn't watch all the episodes or fast forwarded through them. did not like matt smith as the doctor. absolutely could not stand amy pond. watched this year only because of the america location. plus i love river - alex kingston. though i still don't like amy, like rory only slightly better, the storylines this season have been far better than last year. so i'm kinda back.
Even if Im really happy for Doctor Who to be back, Matt Smith needs to go asap. His Doctor is much more childish than needed, he can't really pull any serious moments as well as Tennant did, or even Eccleston.
Im not even gonna say how much I hate Amy Pond because Im still waiting for her to not return. Agree with renee though, the only good thing right now is River Song, by far.
Have not been impressed with either Moffat or Matt Smith to date (still would have preferred an older actor to have taken the role - maybe 12 will be the charm) and I am now in the routine of watching the show out of habit not actually looking forward to it. From the looks of it at least we will be rid of Amy (though I do like Rory) which outstayed her welcome after one episode for me.
Who cares who plays the Doctor, I want to know about the companion. Amy Pond is the reason I watch, she needs to come back!!
@JP, have you not watched any of Matt Smith's episodes? Sure he is a lot goofier than David Tennant, but he does have his serious moments, like in "A Good Man Goes to War" and last series' finales, he was quite serious. Also, Russell T. Davies was very much into the melodrama of being the last Timelord and that whole plot area. This is a Doctor who doesn't have that on his chest, he's freer and more carefree, hence his more goofy nature. Matt Smith is a brilliant Doctor, because like Tennant, he can tap into both a goofy and serious Doctor very well
Renee, JP, and Barb: You are very silly, and I have no respect whatsoever for your opinions.
Also, "childish"? It's like you haven't even been watching. Smith does an uncanny job playing an old man in a young body.
Wow, complaints about Matt Smith? Seriously? I think he's a bloody fantastic Doctor. Honestly, there hasn't been a single actor to portray the character that I haven't liked. I really liked David, but I don't miss him. He had his run. It was a good run. It's over now. That's the nature of Doctor Who. The whole show is about change, and this new era is fantastic (to quote Doc 9.)
David Tennant had a mischievious side and an awesome smile. You could feel each episode was an adventure and he was going to enjoy every minute of it. The Doctor/Donna combo brought out the funnier side and made for an awesome season until the sad ending for Donna. Catherine Tate is my pick for the best companion. IMO
Matt Smith has some quirks to get used to but he is getting comfortable with the character. I think this 1/2 half have been too dark and gloomy. Most seasons have a couple depressing episodes where there is no happy ending but this first 1/2 of this season has been dark with no sign of that playful doctor. He hasn't been given the stories that show the playul side like Tennant. Give Matt Smith similar episodes and let him play. I think Pond is too pushy for me to enjoy. I did love the first episodes where the Doctor had her making him weird food. It showed the potential they never repeated.
They need to get back to the basics of Doctor Who so people want to hop into the TARDIS and go for the ride.
Matt Smith is mesmerizing and I hope he around for a long time. David Tennant was awesome too. Both combine goofy and serious very well. Eccleston was awful - goofy side was way over the top and trying to hard. I don't get the people saying Matt is bad because he is goofy - this is an essential character trait of the Doctor.