Several months after wrapping up Doctor Who’s twelfth season, the cast and crew are getting back inside the TARDIS. Via Entertainment Weekly, the series’ producers have confirmed that they have started work on season 13. The upcoming season also marks Jodie Whittaker’s third go-round as the Thirteenth Doctor.
Unfortunately, the new season wasn’t completely spared from the fallout of COVID-19. Production is currently underway with the proper regulations in place. However, the time it took to ensure everyone’s safety put a dent in the episode count. With this, the crew will only shoot eight episodes instead of 11.
Chris Chibnall, who took over as Doctor Who’s showrunner around the same time that Whittaker joined the series, also issued a statement about the sacrifices he and his team have had to make.
“In this strangest of years, the Doctor Who production team have worked wonders to get the show back into production,” said Chibnall. “We’re thrilled to be back making the show. Given the complexity of making Doctor Who, and with new and rigorous COVID working protocols, it’s going to take us a little longer to film each episode, meaning we expect to end up with eight episodes, rather than the usual 11.”
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“But rest assured, the ambition, humor, fun and scares you expect from Doctor Who will all still be firmly in place,” he continued. “For everyone around the world, this is a challenging period – but the Doctor never shirks from a challenge!”
Executive producer Matt Stevens also offered a statement of his own:
“We are so thrilled to have unlocked the TARDIS, dusted down the sonic and be able to start filming again for the next season of Doctor Who,” said Strevens. “The amazing production team, crew and cast have worked wonders to get us shooting again in these challenging times. It’s going to be as fun-filled and action-packed as ever — with plenty of surprises.”
Doctor Who’s last season memorably ended with the Doctor locked away in a prison located inside an asteroid. Regardless, Whittaker will return to play the character in the upcoming “Revolution of the Daleks” holiday special.
Are you happy to hear that Doctor Who has started filming again? What are your thoughts on the next season having a shorter episode count? Let us know in the comments down below!
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