Doctor Who confirms Steven Moffat's return for new episode

Doctor Who has confirmed former showrunner Steven Moffat will be returning to the series.

Moffat announced the exciting news on Tuesday (March 19) that he would be writing an episode for Ncuti Gatwa's first season as The Doctor, airing this Spring.

His currently-untitled instalment will be directed by Julie-Anne Robinson, who has previously worked on Bridgerton, Orange is the New Black and The Good Place.

Moffat was a frequent writer during current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies's original stint on the show, penning classics like 'Blink' and 'The Girl in the Fireplace'.

He later took over as executive producer of Doctor Who in 2010, overseeing the eras of both Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi. He has also produced Sherlock, Dracula and Inside Man.

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The writer had publicly downplayed the possibility he'd return to pen a new Doctor Who episode when his predecessor Davies came back to produce the show.

"Yes, okay, fair enough - apologies to everyone I've very slightly misled — I am in fact writing an episode of the series of Doctor Who. Exactly like I said I never would," he said in a statement today.

"What can I tell you? There was begging, there was pleading, but finally Russell agreed to let me have another go — so long as I got out of his garden. Working with old friends and a brand new Doctor I couldn't be happier. Sorry, I was a bit reticent on the subject for so long. It was all part of an elaborate plan that would have delighted millions but at the last minute I forgot what it was."

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Episode director Julie-Anne Robinson has said: "It was a tremendous honour to direct episodes of Doctor Who for the BBC and Disney+. This beloved franchise is 60 years old and still going strong. It is part of our collective memory as Brits.

"I've always admired Russell T Davies and Ncuti Gatwa is an unbelievably talented actor who has stepped into the role of the Fifteenth Doctor effortlessly, alongside the equally talented Millie Gibson. Steven Moffat gave me an intense challenge as a director. I asked him for a keyword to describe the overall tone of the episode he said: 'Hitchcock'. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks. I'm grateful to Bad Wolf, the BBC and Disney+. It was an incredible experience."

Ncuti Gatwa will be joined for this season by Millie Gibson as The Doctor's new companion Ruby Sunday, with Jinkx Monsoon, Jonathan Groff and Yasmin Finney among the guest stars.

Doctor Who will return for its 14th series in May, airing on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

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