BBC confirms Series 6 to be split into two halves
The BBC Press Office has today announced that the sixth series of Doctor Who will be split into two halves to accommodate a ‘big plot twist’ halfway through the series.
Confirming reports from yesterday, Matt Smith’s second series will begin over the traditional Easter 2011 period, and will run until Episode 7, when ‘one of the most exciting Doctor Who cliffhangers’ of all time will keep viewers ‘on the edge of their seats’ until the series resumes with the remaining 6 episodes later in the Autumn.
Steven Moffat said: “The split series is exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas.”
Meanwhile, over at The Guardian website there’s a video of the showrunner’s initial announcement at the Edinburgh TV Festival this morning, in which he explains: ”Doctor Who will come back for 7 episodes at Easter, building up to an Earth-shattering climax in Episode 7. There will be a huge game-changing cliffhanger, one we could never do normally at the end of a series. It will change everything for the Doctor, Amy and Rory.”
He continued: ”In order to give you time to recover, we’ll let you go off, have your summer holidays, then come back in the Autumn for another 6 episodes in what will be Series 7, I suppose. We’re not just splitting it, we’re making two separate series.”
What do you think of the news? As always, let us know your thoughts about it below!
Sounds good. We’ll only have to wait a few months at the most instead of the agonizing 6-month wait we’re enduring at the moment. Methinks the cliffhanger shall be relating to River Song’s identity being revealed?
“It’s time I told you the truth, Doctor. I’m-” *roll credits*
I’m totally with you on this one Iris the nice few months break in the middle of the series is a great idea
, 6 months it’s such a long agonising time to wait until X mas. Yep the cliffhanger and big reveal has got to be River Song cause she says when they find out who she really is everthing changes. OH EXCITING year for doccy who to come
What a great way of saving money. Could mean there are not 14 episodes in the year I suppose!
Also, what a pain as the box set will be delayed until 2012.
My thoughts, too, went immediately to River, for what other plot twist cqn we expect? Unless it has to do with the end of series 5 and the silence, that is. As for the breaking up of the series, I agree that a shorter wait will be a welcome change. Is this change to apply to future series, too?
Oh no, it’s bad enough having to wait a week after a cliffhanger- let alone a few months! XD
Should be exciting actually: Doctor Who during the Spring, then Torchwood in the Summer, then Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Merlin in the Autumn/Winter. Also, it kind of works given the Series Six finale will be the Doctor facing the “ultimate evil”. However, Series Seven has to begin in Spring 2012 and run until the Summer.
Also, why do I get the feeling that the cliffhanger isn’t about River, or the Silence, more… the death of a companion? Or, the death of the Doctor?
I’m going to wait and see whether this will work… it will either be really great or the show will lose it’s momentum like some American shows have done close to cancellation. However, the idea of having shorter breaks is an idea I welcome
I hate you Moff. -_- This will be the death of me!
I’m just trying to think of how other series would’ve played out if this happened. I can’t imagine having watched Amy’s Choice all that time back and still have to wait until September/October to watch the next episode. I think the show will have to take two very different plot lines per “1/2 series” to make it as effective as Series 5 finale The Big Bang was when it featured all previous stories in some way.
Sorry for commenting so many times but Steven Moffat has said on a Guardian video that the spring series will be series 6 and the autumn series called series 7.
This is a fantastic idea, although would have been better put in practise for series 5. Never the less this is an amazing idea as you wouldn’t have to wait long and a long cliffhanger would be exciting
Roll on 2011!
I actually think this is a good idea.
There are also rumours that the Spring episodes will be referred to as Series 6 and the Autumn as Series 7. Not sure if that’s as good an idea, as six episodes makes for a very short series.
This sounds good to me, something new, shake the series up a bit, great stuff.
@Sean
Well this run will be written differently, it wouldn’t just stop at an Amy’S Choice style episode, it will have been written with the break in mind.
In the current financial climate and with the BBC under renewed scrutiny from their rivals, I have the feeling that this is a risky gamble.
I hope that The Grand Moff pulls this one off as it’s a case of leaving the viewer wanting more. However, after the “hiatus” of ‘89 to 2005, I have to admit that I’m a little bit concerned by this news in playing into the hands of the anti license fee press reports currently circulating.
i think its a great idea ,ratings over the summer for lots of shows go down cause of the summer evenings and its great that there wont be such a large gap ….
I’m not sure if this is a wise move if X-Factor is on at the same time but it will be good not to wait a few months between the series and xmas
@Telly Addict
How would this be playing into the hands of the anti license fee press exactly??
Quote, ” ”Doctor Who will come back for 7 episodes at Easter, building up to an Earth-shattering climax in Episode 7.”
Talk about your spoilers. Now we know the Earth gets shattered at the end of Episode 7!
Seriously though… I believe this is a pretty good idea. Certainly worth the experiment of trying it. I’m not too up on separating the next 13 episodes into “Series 6″ and “Series 7″ though. All 13 episodes will be filmed back-to-back still, right? I don’t see why there can’t be two DVD box-sets. “Series 6, Part 1 – Episodes 1 – 7″ and “Series 6, Part 2 – Episodes 8 – 13″.
I’m looking forward to this!
Sounds like a good plan, we won’t have to wait that long with Torchwood and SJA to accompany us in the waiting. Not a bad idea!