Mark Gatiss: Series 10 will be Steven Moffat’s “long swansong”

Speaking at the premiere of the new Dad’s Army film, writer and actor Mark Gatiss has said that the tenth series of Doctor Who, due to air next spring, will be a “long swansong” for outgoing showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat.

“Steve’s done an incredible job,” Gatiss commented. “He’s been doing it for so long that in many ways it’ll be a relief, but the main thing is he’s had an incredible time and done an amazing job. He’s got an entire series still to do so for someone who’s leaving he’s got a long time, a long swansong.”

It was announced last week that Steven Moffat was to leave following another Christmas special and a sixth full series in charge, with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall taking over from 2018. Gatiss, who has penned numerous Doctor Who episodes since its return in 2005, was himself many fans’ first choice to replace Moffat. The pair have of course run and written international hit Sherlock together since 2010.

“We’ve been here many times before,” he continued. “It’s like changing the Doctor. It’s going to be very exciting because Chris will have a whole new agenda and whole new style. I think he’s a wonderful choice.”

Talk of changing the Doctor has unsurprisingly become much more popular since Moffat’s departure was announced. Peter Capaldi will definitely return for the 2016 and 2017 episodes but it’s not known whether his Doctor will carry over into Chibnall’s era. Many have predicted not since last Friday’s news, but it has yet to be confirmed either way.

Gatiss has also recently been nominated for a What’s On Stage award, Best Supporting Actor in a Play, for his role as Shpigelsky in an adaptation of  Ivan Turgenev’s Three Days in the Country. Read more here. With that, Dad’s Army – in which Gatiss plays Colonel Theakes – and upcoming series of both Doctor Who and Sherlock, plus countless other projects, no doubt, 2016 looks to be another busy year for Gatiss.