Whotopia The Canadian Doctor Who Fan Magazine

Series 13: Six Episodes, Not Eight!

The upcoming thirteenth series of Doctor Who will be six episodes long, the BBC has confirmed.

It was originally announced that there would be eight episodes in the season, but it has now been announced that the main series will consist of just half a dozen episodes, each of which will form part of an ongoing storyline.

In addition, a trilogy of specials will now air in 2022 – one more than had previously been planned, with the first airing on New Year’s Day 2022 and a second following later in spring 2022. The third feature-length special, in which the Thirteenth Doctor will regenerate, will then air in autumn 2022, forming part of the BBC’s Centenary celebrations.

A BBC spokesperson said, “With a six-part Event Serial announced for the autumn, and two Specials already planned for 2022, BBC One has now asked for an additional final feature-length adventure for the Thirteenth Doctor, to form a trio of Specials for 2022.”

The news was included as part of the announcement that Jodie Whittaker and showrunner Chris Chibnall are set to stand down from their roles at the end of the season – meaning that they each have only nine adventures left before they depart the show and a new Doctor inherits the TARDIS keys. News that the upcoming series would have a serialized story rather than the usual standalone episodes was first announced last weekend at Doctor Who’s Comic-Con@Home panel, with Chibnall explaining the ambitious plans.