New Series start date ...

[SiHart]

The Christmas Specials usually turn up on the full season boxset.

[Jeff]

The premier is pretty much going to be Aug 25th I'd bet. Last year BBC America aired three 'Special Documentaries' the last of which aired on Aug 27th right before the premier of Let's Kill Hitler. This year they have four 'Special Documentaries' and the fourth is to air on Aug 25th. Combine that with Matt Smith saying the series is to debut in August and it seems likely.

So can we safely conclude that although they are making them together, this year's five/six episodes will be 'season seven' with 'season eight' being the batch that are on next year? I still feel a little bit confused about why such a hugely popular show is on so little this year?

What I have seen is that there will be season 7A and 7B with a break in between like last year , and the Christmas special will air between 7A and 7B.

[Si Hunt]

Yes it'll all be Series 7.

The "Why is it on so few months?" is that hugely complicated question we all argue over. I think it's safe to say the answer is (i) money (ii) Lots of episodes next year so fewer this year

And lots of episodes means half a season and a bunch of expensive specials so fair enough.

Plus an honarary mention of the team wanting to do some other stuff (like Sherlock and Matt Smith's drama projects) sometimes as well. If you made them all make Doctor Who ALL the time they'd probably not stay for so long overall.

Si.

[Jeff]

I watched a couple of the BBC America 'specials' and saw they have their own advertisement that says it will be returning 'this Fall"... Sep 22nd perhaps? Hopefully we'll at least get an official announcement before Aug is over.

[J.R. Southall]

It starts in America at 9pm on Saturday the 1st of September. It will presumably start in the UK at around 6pm or 7pm the same night.

[Si Hunt]

Blast, I was hoping for the week before! They did NOT consult me over this!

Si.

[Anthony Williams]

I haven't seen anything official from BBC America yet?

[Stuart Wallis]

They never tell me anything important either...

[J.R. Southall]

I haven't seen anything official from BBC America yet?

I think it's in their listings schedules (probably online), which they keep up-to-date three weeks ahead of transmissions, from what I hear. I think the UK ones should also be available soon, shouldn't they? It might well be announced tonight anyway.

I was told ages ago it was going to be the five Saturdays in September by someone who usually has his ear to the ground for this kind of thing, and if the BBC America news is right, then it looks like he was too.

[J.R. Southall]

This page lists all the repeats and new episodes in the BBC America schedule going up to August 27th, which is confirmation enough that the series doesn't start on the August Bank Holiday. And here's another confirmation that it isn't going to be the August Bank Holiday weekend.

[Anthony Williams]

I think it's in their listings schedules (probably online), which they keep up-to-date three weeks ahead of transmissions, from what I hear.

Nope - their online listings only go for 2 weeks. I guess we'll find out soon, though

[J.R. Southall]

Somebody over on Roobarbs has definitely stated it "as fact" though, which ties in with what I was told and is certainly the earliest date possible. Plus if the new documentaries listed on BBC America finish on the 25th and were the build up to the new series, it stands to reason Asylum would be one week later... I think the 1st looks like a pretty safe bet!

[J.R. Southall]

Now confirmed as September 1st at the Asylum screening.

[Anthony Williams]

Now confirmed as September 1st at the Asylum screening.

Thank you, sir!

[Jeff]

Yay! Can't wait... it's been too long.. I've gotten used to a Spring fix.

[Anthony Williams]

Of course, it's starting on Dragon*Con weekend, so I probably won't get to see it on the day of transmission, sadly!

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Of course, it's starting on Dragon*Con weekend, so I probably won't get to see it on the day of transmission, sadly!

I thought they showed one of the episodes at Dragon*Con last year?

Anyway it's nice of them to schedule the start of the series to coincide with the first anniversary of me joining Planet Skaro!

September the First - Pound the Alarm!

[Anthony Williams]

I thought they showed one of the episodes at Dragon*Con last year?

They did, but there apparently isn't time to organize a viewing in time this year

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Despite what was erroneously reported online the other night apparently the transmission date was NOT announced at the BAFTA screening on the 14th. However Tom Spilsbury did confirm that the next issue of DWM going on sale on 30th August will contain 3 episode previews and that the next issue will be going on sale 3 weeks later so it seems September 1st is still the date to mark.
The schedules will be locked in a few days.

[Larry]

It starts in America at 9pm on Saturday the 1st of September. It will presumably start in the UK at around 6pm or 7pm the same night.

no doubt it will start and end at a time that does not clash with x-factor.

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Is anyone able to get radiotimes.com to load? I just want to able to check if the schedule for September 1st has been updated yet and all I'm getting is a loading screen!

[Rob McCow]

'Watch' are showing 42 and Evolution of the Daleks this week!

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

Bless them! They were showing Amy's Choice the other night which was a nice surprise.

[Nyder]

Is anyone able to get radiotimes.com to load? I just want to able to check if the schedule for September 1st has been updated yet and all I'm getting is a loading screen!

I've tried but can only get August's schedules!

[Richard Brinck-Johnsen]

When I checked yesterday it was blank from about 1pm onwards. It ought to be updated soon although on the old site there used to occasionally be TBCs on the Saturday night schedules as they aren't officially locked until 10 days before.