Doctor Who will return for a new season this autumn.
This news summary will be updated regularly as more details are revealed, with the latest updates at the top of each section. Rumours and unconfirmed reports will be marked with a *.
Episode 12: ‘Hell Bent’
Written by Steven Moffat.
Directed by Rachel Talalay (Filming block 8).
Official synopsis: “If you took everything from him, betrayed him, trapped him, and broke both his hearts…how far might the Doctor go? Returning to Gallifrey, the Doctor faces the Time Lords in a struggle that will take him to the end of time itself. Who is the Hybrid? And what is the Doctor’s confession?”
Steven Moffat: “Clara is gone and will never return. I can only say that what will happen will shock, terrify and surprise you. Strictly in that order.”
Brian Minchin: “We go to somewhere I’ve always wanted to take Doctor Who, and meet the most brilliant new characters. There are monsters, battles, and surprises…”
Steven Moffat: “If you took everything from him, and betrayed him, and trapped him, and broke both his hearts… how far might the Doctor go? It is time, at last, for the Doctor’s confession.”
Rachel Talalay: “We’re doing a huge desert scene. What’s so fabulous about Doctor Who obviously is that every episode feels completely different and here we are in a completely different environment. Gorgeous, gorgeous material. I hope it’ll give it a completely different look.”
Steven Moffat: “I won’t say anything else because it would be too spoilery, but when you’ll watch it, you’re going to ask how exactly the Doctor and Clara are going to pull it off.”
Jenna Coleman: “In a way [Clara] doesn’t fear as much because she’s got nothing to lose anymore. Because she’s kind of lost everything [since Danny’s death] and luckily the Doctor came back. But I think she no longer fears her own mortality in a way. Which obviously makes her a very reckless companion. Clara in part thinks she’s a bit of the Doctor, and she really isn’t. She’s obviously human, and is obviously gonna get herself in a lot of trouble if she starts to think like that.”
Steven Moffat: “[The Doctor and Clara are] having absolutely the best time ever. What could possibly go wrong?”
Rachel Talalay: “This year’s finale will look different from last year’s because they are very different stories and locations and feels.”
Peter Capaldi: “…there is an ever deepening shadow pursuing [the Doctor and Clara].”
Rachel Talalay: “These episodes are completely different from what I did last year.”
Peter Capaldi: “[The Doctor is] throwing himself into life with a newfound hunger for adventure. But I sense him running from something, that even he does not yet understand.”
Steven Moffat: “Jenna [Coleman] is obviously in all of the next series.”
Steven Moffat: “I know what [Season 9’s] arc is, I know where we’re going, I know what’s going to happen in broad terms throughout the show. It’s feeling very exciting!”
> Buy Season 9 on DVD on Amazon.
> Buy Season 9 on Blu-ray on Amazon.
What do you want to see in Season 9? Let us know below…