The new series of ‘Doctor Who’ won’t feature any two-part stories.
Showrunner Chris Chibnall has revealed that the new series of the BBC sci-fi show – which will star Jodie Whittaker in the leading role – will have 10 standalone episodes.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Chris said: "It’s 10 standalone episodes, there’s no two-parters or anything like that. What we want is for people to feel like we’ve got the range and variety of Doctor Who this year. So if you’ve never seen it before, you’re gonna fall in love with it, and if you have seen it, you’re gonna get those things that you love about the show across the 10 episodes."
And actors Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill – who will star as the Doctor’s friends Ryan and Yaz in the new series – confirmed that it will be "picking up where it left off".
Tosin said: "It’s picking up where it left off and just making minor adjustments to it, to make it more enjoyable for the audience. Like, now we’re shooting on anamorphic lenses, so that gives it a whole new cinematic feel. That formula’s still there. It’s still ‘Doctor Who’, just with a little sauce on it!"
Whilst Mandip added: "But it also will always relate to the old fans from before. They’re not left out. There’s still a way in [for them]. It’s just we’re going on a different journey, in a different direction."
Chris also revealed it was important that there was "no barrier to entry for new audiences".
He said: "It’s a continuation. It’s like in the same way that [Jon Pertwee’s 1970 debut] ‘Spearhead from Space’ is a continuation of [Patrick Troughton’s 1969 swansong] ‘The War Games’ – it’s something different, but exactly the same. It’s really important that there’s no barrier to entry for new audiences. But if you’re a ‘Doctor Who’ fan, all the things you love about Doctor Who are in there, I think."
Doctor Who to have 10 standalone episodes
