Series 8 news and beyond - may contain spoilers!

First picture of Capaldi in costume coming "very soon" according to the BBC.

BBC Blog.

The plan for filming has clearly changed, as the first 2 episodes are being made at the start, rather than the Dalek one and Chibbers contribution.



Meanwhile, looking into the Thames to see the Sister ship of SS Madame De Pompadour.

So, a slightly revised list for the possible first 6 episodes

1. Written by Steven Moffat. Set in Victorian London (sigh) this features the return of the Clockwork Androids from “The Girl in the Fireplace” . A twin ship of SS Madame de Pompadour is under the Thames, and the androids are harvesting human parts. Directed by Ben Wheatley

2. Written by Phil Ford. Directed by Ben Wheatley.

3. Written by Gareth Roberts. Directed by Paul Murphy.

4 & 5.Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce. The Doctor and Clara are miniaturised inside a Dalek which is exterminating its own kind. Directed by Colm McCarthy.

5. Written by Chris Chibnall. Directed by Colm McCarthy.

6. Written by Steven Moffat. Directed by Paul Murphy.

And.................

Peter Capaldi IS The Doctor.

It looks to me like he's still in his post-regeneration Matt Smith costume, rather than having sorted out his own look.

Actually quite clever in getting some 'first day of filming' pics for the press, and then some 'new costume' pics a few days later for a double hit of publicity.

Meanwhile, as is often the case, public filming diverts attention from the other unit which is either in Roath Lock or Bridgend

Seeing those pictures of Capaldi makes me realise how pleased I am to see an older Doctor again. Not because I'm against younger actors playing the Doctor but I do enjoy variety in the age of the Doctor as well as in his personality etc.

The wrote:"The Master and River Song to return".

Definitely heard about the Master elsewhere. However it really is time to lay River Song to rest IMO.

River Song may return - she says graciously - provided she is rather more like she was originally.  She might be, given the change of Doctor.  Or is that too much to hope for...?

Theodore Maxtible is alive and well and living in London.

So, if this is a Clockword Droid story, what's the name of the ship that supposedly in the Thames? Isn't that how their logic circuits work? Is it the HMS City Of London?

SS Paternoster Gang?

There is a rumour going round that Charles Dance is to play The Master.

Then again, Steve John Shepherd is another name.

Well, with Mr. Dance, at least you get someone who's had prior experience working with creepy aliens.

It could be both of them, in a Jacobi and Simm way.

But...I like Dance (and he was born in my hometown), he's good in bad guy roles (see Tywin Lannister) but he doesn't quite feel right as the Master to me.

The thing about Dance as a selection is that it would make the Master appear as a contemporary of the Doctor, now that the Doctor is being played by an actor in his mid-50s again. That makes sense to me.

I very much doubt the Dance rumour. Shepherd I can believe a lot more.

Am I the only one who thinks River Song's story is done?  I like her but I don't think she has more stories to tell. I am also concerned with rumors that The Master is to return. I would rather he didn't as he went out in such a spectacular way, saving The Doctor and the Universe!

gabbie wrote:Am I the only one who thinks River Song's story is done?  I like her but I don't think she has more stories to tell. I am also concerned with rumors that The Master is to return. I would rather  he didn't as he went out in such a spectacular way, saving The Doctor and the Universe!

Good to see you back, Gabbie.   

I said up thread a bit that I would only be in favor of River Song making a re-appearance if the story were significantly compelling for her to be there. So, Y.A.N.A. where River is concerned. As for the Master, I don't think it would Doctor Who with the Doctor's Time Lord nemesis turning up from time to time to wreak havoc.

Hello and thanks    

The page loaded weird on my computer and I couldn't see the prior posts, sorted now and I read it. Don't know what that was all about   

Hopefully, Moffat has a very compelling reason for bringing back River. Maybe it was Capaldi's Doctor who took her to the opera, although we have been lead to believe that Eleven was "her" Doctor.  As for the Master - depends on who played him and how. He would need a new cause.

There's a DVD extra on the Series 6 box set that shows two Matt Smiths and Alex Kingston. From the dialogue, it's clear that one of the 11th Doctors was on his "last" night with River Song.

I don't see any place in the Whoniverse for River Song with Capaldi's Doctor. The *original* Doctor has died, so there is absolutely no purpose in continuing with this muddled storyline.

I tend to agree, C=O. Her storyline was always tied to the 11th Doctor. Now that he's gone, I'd be hard pressed to see why she needs to come back. Same sort of logic as to why we haven't needed to see Capt. Jack make a return since Tennant regenerated.