The BBC has commissioned 14 new episodes of Doctor Who that will star Matt Smith and run over the next 2 years. The BBC usually airs a series of 13 episodes a year, but has previously taken a break after series 4 with a number of specials throughout 2009 instead of a full series.
BBC One controller Danny Cohen has confirmed that Doctor Who will not be back for a full series next year and that some episodes will air in 2012 and the remainder being billed as specials will air in 2013, to coincide with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the series.
It comes after worrying reports in Private Eye that BBC Wales would be making four specials rather than a new series due to budget constraints, failure to meet deadlines and problems on set with producers.
In response showrunner Steven Moffat tweeted “Private Eye seems like such fun, until it’s YOUR friends they’re spreading nasty, inaccurate gossip about. How horrible.”
