Doctor Who has maintained an ardent fan following over the years since the 60s. The dazzling mix of sci-fi elements and the genius comedic touches intrigued audiences with its every incarnation. While the original broadcast of Doctor Who ran for 26 seasons from 1963 to 1989, a modern revival was done in 2005 and the series has been going strong ever since.
The modern revival series is at its fourteenth season currently, with Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor. Steven Moffat has been a significant part of the show as a writer from the revival period and was also the showrunner of season 5. Along with writing 49 episodes to date over 14 seasons of the show, including the next episode of the current season, his swansong on the series may be the upcoming Christmas special episode.
Steven Moffat’s 50th Doctor Who Episode May Be His Last Hurrah On the Show
Steven Moffat has been a pivotal part of Doctor Who’s revival and its renewed success. He has been one of the writers from the 2005 revival period and even was the showrunner on series 5 till 10 when Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi were the eleventh and twelfth Doctors. He continued being a writer on the subsequent seasons and may now be looking at a potential exit from the show.
Moffat wrote one episode of the current fourteenth season of Doctor Who, led by Ncuti Gatwa. This was the 49th episode that he wrote for the modern revival period. In a new interview, Moffat stated that he is no longer involved with next year’s plans for the show, signaling that he might not write for Doctor Who ever again.
However, he did pen the upcoming Christmas special episode Joy to the World, which will be his 50th episode of Doctor Who. The writer hints that the Christmas episode may be his swansong on the show. Moffat said (via Cultbox),
“I should probably introduce that one from an armchair ‘Here we are — number 50′. But I’m not involved in next year’s series. There are other things coming for me, so I might never write for Doctor Who again. As I got to the end of Joy to the World, I did think, ‘Is that it? My final moment?’ So that could be my goodbye. Number 50? I’ll take that.”
Moffat has made a significant contribution to the show and has given everything he could. As much as he loves Doctor Who, he also wants to pursue other opportunities. With this news, fans will be very much looking forward to the latest episode Boom that Moffat wrote (premiering on May 18) and the upcoming Christmas special episode later this year.
Ncuti Gatwa Understood How Much Doctor Who Meant to People Once He Was On-Set
Carrying on such an iconic role was a responsibility that Gatwa was ready to take on. While he was very overwhelmed by the opportunity, he initially had no idea about the sheer scale and fandom of the show.
Gatwa stated that he had not yet grasped the huge world that he was steeping his toes into when he signed on to the project. Once he settled in, he understood why people continued to support and love the show for so many years. The actor claimed that the fans are why the show still stands tall today. He said (via DoctorWho.Tv),
“No! I feel quite silly that I didn’t comprehend the sheer scale of it beforehand. But once I stepped into the world, I realized how huge it is. I thought, ‘Well, of course, it’s Doctor Who!’ I immediately understood why it’s a show we all know and love. It just takes your breath away, how far-reaching the scope of the show is. You embrace the fandom. The fans absolutely make the show what it is. They’re the final character.”
The new season consisting of eight episodes, has received excellent reviews with particular praise towards Gatwa’s refreshing and charming portrayal of the Doctor. The first two episodes premiered on May 11, 2024, and the remaining 6 episodes will drop weekly till 22 June 2024.
Fans can watch the new season of Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer or Disney+.
