Series 7 Update

This week, Moffat has been attending a French Comic Con and some interesting news regarding series 7, how many episodes it will have and how it will air, has come to light.

A few weeks ago, after announcing that the show had been renewed for a further 14 episodes to star Matt Smith, Head of Drama at the BBC, Danny Cohen, decided to make some announcements about the show at a completely unrelated Religious Conference. His remarks soon leaked online and within hours fans everywhere were suddenly worried about the show's future.

It was speculated that we could be getting as little as four episodes throughout 2012 or that the series may be cut, so that the 14 episodes were made up from two series instead of the normal one. It seemed that after some very sloppy reporting from the BBC, they suddenly decided to take a vow of silence and leave the fans in the dark. Entertainment Correspondent Lizo Mzimba then added fuel to the flames by commenting that there would not be a full series in 2012, saying he had word on this from the BBC. Still though, nothing official for us fans. The plus side to all of this was that it looked as though we would instead get another split series set either side of Christmas 2012.

But now Moffat has spoken at his comic con appearance in what seems to be an effort to calm the fans and reassure us that at least he, if not the BBC, know what is happening with the show next year. When discussing the output, he had this to say:

"Contrary to what you may have heard, there will be the same number of episodes shown next year. There will be the same number of episodes. But its true that there will be a change in the scheduling. I will explain it all. Later."

Now, it is possible that 'next year' means 'next series' and that it will split either side of Christmas, so they will technically air next year, but not. The change in scheduling could however simply mean a full time move to the Autumn, or the split at Christmas as many have speculated, but either way we can look at and take something positive from this. We now know for sure that series 7 will get a full episode run, even if split like series 6.

Talking further at the event, Moffat also promised us a big pay off for all of Rory's deaths, said that the BBC have huge plans for the 50th and that with River, we ain't seen nothing yet!

For more news from series 7, check out The Doctor In The TARDIS Forum

Alex Kingston Sexes Up The Late Late Show

Last night Alex Kingston filmed a segment on the Late Late Show to promote Doctor Who and while we were all hoping she would slip up and reveal something spoilery she managed to remain relatively tight lipped throughout. She did however mention that she is currently back and forth between the US and UK on a month by month basis filming for the new series and seeing how she was in the UK in December it looks like she may be back filming in February.

The conversation gets sidetracked somewhat away from Doctor Who and on to the topic of sex and vibrators but its a funny interview and well worth a watch if you are a fan of Alex and Doctor Who.

River Revealed

Steven Moffat has this week been speaking to New York Magazine and has promised that we will soon be coming to grips with the answers of the mystery surrounding River Song. Speaking of her story in series 6 he said

"Well, you will find out who she is and what's going on and how it all makes sense. And that will explain a number of things. I'm writing the episode right now where The Doctor finds out who she is. We're not just going to endlessly tease."

Putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with a double digit, I would assume that if he is currently writing the script for the episodes, then it is likely that we will be getting the reveal either at the cliffhanger or in the second half of the series to be aired later in the year, though more likely the latter. We also found out earlier this week that Amy finds out a secret about River that River asks her to keep to herself. Could it be her connection to the Doctor in his future?

What are your thoughts? Let us know below.

Episode 1 Script Extract?

On set reporters have managed to get what is claimed is an extract from episode 1 featuring a section of conversation overheard between River and Canton, the character played by Mark Sheppard.

Canton: "Stop! Don't move!"


River: "There are loads of them, They're everywhere"

Canton: "America is being invaded!"

River: "America was invaded a long time ago, America is occupied"

Canton: "Don't move! There's no way out!"

River:  "Oh really?"

Sounds exciting. Also, Cantons full name is Canton Everett Delaware III accoridng to PopCultureZoo

Revealing River

In the upcoming Doctor Who Big Book of 2011, Moffat has given a little interview detailing what we can expect from the next series. No mention of the split from what I can see, but he did interestingly refer to the 'Silence' as 'They' rather than it, and also said that it would be revealed early on in the story. On another note though, he had even more to say about River.

“That’s absolutely coming. You’re going to find out very soon, and that means we have to do it next series, really… The critical thing here is I want to explain who she is, not explain away who she is. If you don’t deliver on most people’s expectations, and you just say, ‘Ooh, she’s a specially programmed android who believes she’s the Doctor’s wife,’ people will go, ‘That‘s a cheat.’ Youi can’t do that… It’s a really good story, and it’s sort of the story of next year.”

So at least we know she isnt just a specially programmed android who thinks she is married to the Doctor. Or is it just a double bluff? Let us know your thoughts below.

Singing Her Own Song

"Like I said on the dancefloor, you might want to find something to hang on to"

In nearly 47 years, never has a character caused more rumours, speculation, debate and intrigue as the delectable Miss River Song. Since she first burst onto our screens in series 4's Silence In The Library she has had fans scratching their heads in wonder at who she really is and what part she has to play in our favourite Time Travellers life. Even Alex Kingston has admitted that she has no idea what River's back story is.

With her brazen personality and aversion to spoilers, River Song has made sure that her every appearance brings with it both mystery and adventure aplenty. When we first met her, we were as baffled as the Doctor as to who this space suit wearing hottie was, and when she 'died' at the end of the story, it was unclear whether we would ever see her again.

It took nearly two years before we would catch up with the Professor again, only this time she was just a doctor and the story was taking place deeper into her past. For every question that became resolved in this story, another ten were set up. By the end of the two parter we had the revelations that River was in prison and had been put there for murdering 'the best man she had ever known'.

Immediatly the forums went wild with speculation that at some point in her time line, she had murdered the Doctor. While this seems plausible, many fans believe that it would be too obvious an outcome and now that the series is over we are still none the wiser as to who her victim was.

Flashforward a few weeks, (or rewind a few years depending on whose time line you are following) and we next see a vortex manipulating, time jumping River helping the Doctor out of his Pandorica Predicament. The series ends with another one of her forshadowing comments about how she will see the Doctor again soon "And that's when everything changes."



Again the speculating Whovians went into overdrive. With so little known about the character and her motives, the fans have been left to come up with their own ideas. Is River Amy in the future? Is River a personification of the TARDIS? Is she the Doctor's Wife? And everyones favourite theory, Is River the Rani? One thing is for sure, whoever she is, she has fandom in a spin. Moffat however has announced that all will be revealed next series, but if that means a possible end to her appearances, do we really want to know just yet?

Now, speculation aside, River Song has also managed to cause a divide throughout fandom for other reasons. Her cheeky know-it-all attitude, brassy bombshell demeanour and her favourite catchphrase 'Spoilers', have all been criticised and applauded in equal measures, and though many fans are intrigued as to where this story will go, just as many would be happy to see the back of her.

One thing though is for certain, love her or loathe her, there is no denying that her presence in the show and the mystery surrounding her has turned fandom on its head and wherever River Song goes, both fun and drama are sure to follow.