Yahoo News Doctor Who series 11 might not feature Daleks at all
They've been a staple of the series since 1963, but it sounds like Doctor Who will be ditching the Daleks for new monsters in its next series.
Speaking at Comic-Con International in San Diego, showrunner Chris Chibnall announced there will be "a lot of new monsters this year" and insisted that the Doctor's most famous foes were yet to make an appearance on set.
"We've got two weeks left to shoot and we haven't see any yet!" he said on the Doctor Who panel in Hall H, attended by thousands of fans on Thursday (July 19).
Related: Here's why Chris Chibnall almost turned down the Doctor Who showrunner job
"We've got 10 standalone stories," he continued. "Lots of new villains, lots of new characters for you to fall in love with...
"This year is the perfect jumping on point for that person in your life who has never watched Doctor Who. There is no barrier to entry this year. When a new doctor comes in, with new friends, it's a great moment to bring everybody on board.
"It's a big, inclusive, mainstream accessible series of 10 really varied, exciting, standalone stories, so you won't see very much from the past.
"There'll be little things here and there which [the fans] are going to spot... but as much as anything, I think our job is [to ask], 'Where does the show go next?', so there'll be less old stuff returning and more new treats."
Related: Doctor Who series 11 WILL have a Christmas special
But while this year is all about the new, Chibnall insisted that he's not opposed to bringing back familiar foes to face Jodie Whittaker's Doctor in the series that follows.
"I haven't started to think about that yet. Maybe. There's always things... I mean, there's a long list, isn't there? I haven't thought about it at the moment, but I would never rule it out. There's so many great things in the back catalogue."
One element from the past that will be returning in the new series is the (redesigned) sonic screwdriver, with Chibnall revealing that there is "a very specific way the Doctor comes by" this version of the tool.
"It's made out of some interesting components, which you'll find out about in episode one," he hinted. "There is a story to how the Doctor comes by this sonic."
Doctor Who will return to BBC One this autumn. Stay tuned to Digital Spy for more news direct from Comic-Con International in San Diego.
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