In Doctor Who Magazine 585, Russell T Davies revealed the episode count for Series 14 of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa and the plans for a festive special and future series going forward.
“The Fifteenth Doctor’s first full season will be eight episodes long, with a Christmas special, making it nine episodes every year (and when I say Christmas, that’s my generic term for festive/end-of-year/holiday or New Year, you’ll have to wait and see,” Davies told DWM. “Okay, that’s fewer episodes than the last full season. But give us time. We have plans, and that’s a promise!”
This will be the plan going forward for future series of Doctor Who – eight episodes plus a festive special – every year, no gaps.
“For the first time ever, I’m writing a Christmas Special… at Christmas!,” Davies further explained to DWM. “And this isn’t for next year, no, the 2023 script has been long since signed-off. The new one is for end-of-year 2024!”
“It takes a while to get the empire in shape, but that’s a serious plan: annual Doctor Who, no gap years, lots of content, on and on.”
Highlights in DWM 585 include:
• Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies presents his Christmas Countdown, packed full of teasers for the stories to come.
• Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock provides exclusive updates about forthcoming episodes, direct from Doctor Who HQ.
• Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news, including an exclusive chat with Millie Gibson about her casting as companion Ruby Sunday.
• Meet the New Team – Doctor Who crew members reveal what they’re looking forward to in the 2023 specials and beyond.
• Liberation of the Daleks – The adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor in Part Two of the epic new comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan. The Doctor’s greatest enemies invade the pitch during the 1966 World Cup Final.
• A giant double-sided poster.
• All I Want For Christmas is Who – seasonal highlights from the past are recalled, including festive memories from Nadia Albina, Sophie Aldred, Nicholas Briggs, Nicola Bryant, Peter Davison, Barnaby Edwards, Philip Hinchcliffe, Louise Jameson, John Leeson, Katy Manning, Peter Purves, Dan Starkey, Mark Strickson and Matthew Waterhouse.
• Talk of the Town – in his first-ever interview for DWM, actor Cy Town talks candidly about being a Dalek operator and shares previously unpublished pictures from his photo albums.
• Brushed by Greatness – acclaimed artists Colin Howard and Andrew Skilleter, and Kit Bevan (brother of the late Phil Bevan), discuss new books showcasing some of best Doctor Who illustrations from the pre-digital era.
• The Watchers – fans who were lucky enough to be granted studio visits in the 1970s and early 80s recall the thrill of watching Doctor Who being made.
• Christmas in Another Dimension – what if Doctor Who had enjoyed Christmas Specials during its first 26 years? DWM imagines what could have been…
• DWM Christmas Quiz – the traditional seasonal challenge!
• Other Worlds – the essential guide to forthcoming stories in the expanded Doctor Who universe.
• Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser, Public Image and more.
Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate as companion Donna Noble. In the following festive period, a special will feature Ncuti Gatwa as the new Fifteenth Doctor.
Doctor Who Series 14 starring Gatwa and Millie Gibson as companion Ruby Sunday will air in 2024. An additional special will air during the following festive period.
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 585 is on sale Thursday 8 December from Panini and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). A digital edition is also available from PocketMags priced £6.99.