We’re past the mid-season finale of this season of Doctor Who, and while that episode included a few letdowns, the season as a whole has been excellent, and the ratings have proved the audience agrees.
The Doctor’s popularity on both sides of the ocean has never been higher. This is in no small part due to the performances of the shows current cast. In addition, the show has taken on some Americanisms, drawing inspiration from some of the more successful American suspense dramas from the past decade.
It’s no surprise then perhaps to hear that not only has Doctor Who been slated for another season after the conclusion of the current story, but Matt Smith is confirmed to continue on as the eleventh Doctor.
Same Hodges tweeted the announcement yesterday, saying, “[Doctor Who] is returning. Fourteen new episodes have been commissioned with Matt Smith as The Doctor.”
As with past seasons, the new season will have 14 episodes: 13 regular adventures and a holiday special.
As for the companions: Amy and Rory: The fates are not so clear. The actors have made comments recently that perhaps it’s time to move on from these roles to other projects. Karen Gillan, who plays Amy Pond, in an interview with British entertainment magazine What’s on TV mentioned that she’s “just literally gone from Doctor Who to [We’ll Take Manhattan],” referencing her role in an upcoming drama for BBC4.
In addition Arthur Darvill, who plays Rory, is committed to the role of Mephistopheles in Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus at Globe Theatre, which will be running during a time that would overlap with production of the next season.
Thus, while it hasn’t been officially announced that the end of the season will see a change in companions, we can have a pretty good guess that they won’t be regulars. Of course, like other former companions, they will likely make periodic check-in appearances, especially while Matt Smith is still in the lead role.
