Yahoo News Doctor Who season 12: Everything you need to know
Jodie Whittaker's debut series is done. So what does the universe have in store for the good Doctor now?
Is another series on the cards for 2019, and will Whittaker be back for more?
Here's everything you need to know about Doctor Who season 12.
Doctor Who season 12 premiere: When is the air date?
The BBC has confirmed that New Year's Day Special 'Resolution' will be the only episode to air in 2019, with the sci-fi series set to return the following year.
Series 12 is on its way and will be returning to BBC One in early 2020. https://t.co/Kd1cS98j9U #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/ysEOP6MlRu
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) December 9, 2018
Filming was officially announced as getting underway on January 23, 2019, with a a first-look photo of the returning cast on location in South Africa:
#DoctorWho is back in production! 🎬🎉 pic.twitter.com/vouZZfMuTV
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) January 23, 2019
"We’re off again!" said showrunner Chris Chibnall. "Well, we never actually stopped – as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families across the nation this autumn, we’ve been busy with a whole new set of action packed adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor."
The series notably gave up its traditional Saturday night slot in 2018, for the first time since the series was revived 13 years earlier, moving to Sunday evenings.
Related: Every episode of Doctor Who series 11 ranked from best to worst
It remains to be seen whether this bold shift will stick for series 12, or whether Doctor Who will return to Saturday nights, or even air on another day of the week. (Given its ratings success on Sundays, though, we're banking on it staying put.)
Doctor Who season 12 episode 1: What will happen next?
Though mostly self-contained, series 11 did leave a few threads hanging for the next series to pick up. Like, who or what is the Timeless Child?
Chibnall's also hinted at a big plot for Yaz (Mandip Gill) next series. Asked if we'd see more of the character as a police officer, he responded: "That's a really good question. Some of these questions may be answered in the forthcoming series."
Whatever happens next, it would appear that the show's future is secure, with a press release from 2017 appearing to confirm not just series 11, but series 12 through 15.
A report from around the same time also suggested that Chibnall has a "five-year" plan for the series.
The showrunner was big on series 11 being a fresh start for Doctor Who, a jumping-on point for new viewers. To that end, he promised "all-new monsters" and appeared to rule out appearances from classic foes like the Daleks.
No Cybermen or Weeping Angels, either, while further appearances from old favourites Missy (Michelle Gomez), River Song (Alex Kingston) and the Paternoster Gang – Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Jenny (Catrin Stewart) and Strax (Dan Starkey) – were also ruled out.
We suspect this rule might be relaxed for series 12, though, given that the Daleks – or at least, *a* Dalek – ended up resurfacing on January 1.
'Resolution' of course ended with the Doctor seeing off the "junkyard chic" Dalek... but could the creatures return en-masse in the next series? Though nothing official has been confirmed, Chibnall did give this prediction on what's to come: "Further hatred intensifying [between the Doctor and her enemy]... with more Daleks, probably!"
As for possible comebacks for more old foes, the showrunner has hinted, "Maybe we'll do some more... I'll have a think!"
Jodie Whittaker's spoken of her desire to bring back some other old faces, too. "I'd love to work with Billie Piper," she said. "Rose was a brilliant character. And River Song [played by Alex Kingston]!"
What we do know is 'interplanetary thugs' the Judoon will be back in the next batch of episodes.
"The Judoon are storming back into Doctor Who in full force, and the streets of Gloucester aren't safe," said Chibnall. "If anyone has anything to hide, confess now. The Judoon are taking no prisoners, and will stop at nothing to fulfil their mission.
"The whole team on Doctor Who are delighted and scared in equal measure to welcome them back: one of many treats we've got in store for viewers next series.
"And we're over the moon (with Judoon), to be welcoming the wondrous Neil Stuke as guest star. We can't wait to show you what happens when his path crosses with the Thirteenth Doctor."
They first appeared back in 2007, during the 'Smith and Jones' episode, and their involvement could mean another journey off-planet.
Part of the drive to make Doctor Who more accessible was the decision to scrap multi-episode stories. "It's 10 standalone episodes, there's no two-parters or anything like that," Chibnall told Digital Spy during an interview at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
Again, it's not yet clear whether this decision will hold for series 12. With an episode count yet to be confirmed, we don't even know for certain if we'll be getting another 10 episodes, or if the BBC will expand (or even reduce) the episode count.
Chibnall again broke with tradition by moving Doctor Who's traditional festive special from Christmas Day to January 1.
But with series 12 then announced to follow "early 2020", does that mean no further specials between 'Resolution' and the start of the next series? Nothing for Christmas Day, 2019 or New Year's Day, 2020?
Not necessarily! Tony Hall – the BBC's Director General – has revealed that series 12 will begin airing on BBC One "very early in 2020", leading fans to speculate that it might launch on January 1 next year.
The BBC has confirmed a few important details about the creative team. Chibnall will be joined in the writers' room by veterans Vinay Patel ('Demons of the Punjab'), Ed Hime ('It Takes You Away') and Pete McTighe ('Kerblam!') as well as newcomers Nina Metivier (The A List), Maxine Alderton (Emmerdale and The Worst Witch) and playwright Charlene James.
The series also boasts all-new directors, as Nida Manzoor (Jamillah and Aladdin), Emma Sullivan (Silent Witness), Jamie Magnus Stone (The Village) and Lee Haven Jones (The Bay) join the Doctor Who team.
Going back to the pre-Chibnall era, Mark Gatiss has insisted that the door has been left open for him to return. "Chris Chibnall very sweetly emailed me and said he'd love me to continue because I'm a big part of the Doctor Who family, which I was very touched by," Gatiss said.
"I must admit, the idea of not writing for it again is very strange... I'd just like to enjoy [the next series] and have a proper break, and maybe, if Chris wants me, I might do something."
Neil Gaiman has also confirmed that he's keen to write for Jodie in future, while Sophie Petzal - writer behind Channel 5 thriller Blood - has revealed she's keen to make her Doctor Who scripting debut.
It's a bit of a long shot, but Chibnall's also described JK Rowling as "a genius", adding: "If she ever even wants to see what we do on Doctor Who, you tell her from me, the doors are open."
And speaking of long odds, Lord of the Rings filmmaker and Doctor Who fan Peter Jackson has also reiterated his desire to helm an episode. "I just have to get invited, and asked, and if we can figure it out, I would love to do a Doctor Who," he said.
Doctor Who season 12 cast: Who will star in the new series?
Just this once... everybody's back!
Yes, Jodie Whittaker will be returning for an encore as the Doctor, having told The Hollywood Reporter that she'll be back for series 12: "I really can’t wait to step back in and get to work again."
The BBC later confirmed that she'd be joined by a full team TARDIS, too – with Bradley Walsh (Graham), Tosin Cole (Ryan) and Mandip Gill (Yaz) all back for more adventures.
It's also feasible that any of season 11's guest cast could be brought back, including Sharon D Clarke as Grace, and Shobna Gulati, Ravin J. Ganatra and Bhavnisha Parmar as Yaz's mother, father and sister, respectively.
Chris Noth has also suggested he "may come back and do another episode" as the Trump-inspired villain Jack Robertson, while Alan Cumming has revealed that he "might come back" to Doctor Who at a later date as King James I.
Related: 8 actors who played more than one role in new Doctor Who
Doctor Who season 12: Can I watch it online?
Once it starts airing on BBC One, all episodes of Doctor Who series 12 will, of course, be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Could the series go one step further, though, and launch on iPlayer in full as a boxset? Back in 2017, Steven Moffat suggested that it could happen. "Can I conceive a future where this happens? Yes.
"I think the idea of dropping a whole series and letting people find it, letting people watch it and binge it – I think it's coming. I don't think there's any doubt about that.
"I think the day is coming, I don't see how it can be stopped. Because the audience are actually in control and the audience are demonstrating a preference. I think TV scheduling is going to disappear."
Related: Doctor Who: Will series 12 have more old monsters? And 6 more HUGE questions after 'Resolution'
That said, one of Chris Chibnall's stated aims for his era of Doctor Who is to boost overnight viewing and restore the show's status as 'water-cooler television'.
"Wouldn't it be brilliant if everybody watches these episodes at the same time, as much as possible?" he told Digital Spy. "Doctor Who is one of those shows that can still hopefully do that.
"Obviously, people will watch at different times. But that moment – and certainly we got it a few times on Broadchurch – where everybody's having the same conversation is special."
So it's possible launching a series in full online might undermine that ambition. Put this one down as a definite "maybe".
Doctor Who season 12 trailer: Is there any footage?
It's very early days, so there's no trailers or clips for series 12 yet, but there is a tease for a big announcement on Doctor Who Day (November 23).
In the meantime, travel back in time to watch series 11's first official trailer – and remember to bookmark this page, which we'll update with series 12 news as and when it lands!
Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Instagram and Twitter account.
You Might Also Like
