"Doctor Who" showrunner Steven Moffat will exit the BBC series after season 10. "Broadchurch" creator Chris Chibnall will succeed him.
The show's official Twitter account made the announcement on Jan. 22: "Steven Moffat will step down as Head Writer & Exec Producer after S10... Chris Chibnall to take over!"
Moffat joined "Doctor Who" in 2005 and took over as showrunner in 2010 for season five, replacing Russell T. Davies. He was responsible for introducing the 11th and 12th Doctors played by Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. He would balance his "Doctor Who" duties with his work on "Sherlock," which he also writes and executive produce.
"Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I'm just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out," Moffatt said in a statement. "While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I'll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of 'Doctor Who.' And I will be thrown in a skip."
(Skip is British slang for garbage can.)
Moffat's final season will air in spring 2017 and he'll oversee the 2016 Christmas episode.
Steven Moffat will step down as Head Writer & Exec Producer after S10… Chris Chibnall to take over! pic.twitter.com/iMhNoEAegy
— Doctor Who Official (@bbcdoctorwho) January 22, 2016
