‘Doctor Who’ Season 10 Air Date: Matt Smith’s Dr Who Not Returning, New Companion To Join Peter Capaldi In 2017


The next season of Doctor Who won’t be airing in 2016, as initially expected. Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who has typically aired a new season each year. However, Season 10 will be an exception, with filming starting in June 2016 for a release at some point in 2017. With that in mind, a prolonged period of time between Doctor Who seasons creates a wealth of rumours about changes to come in the next season of the hit BBC sci-fi drama.

One of the most prominent of those rumours surrounded current Doctor Who actor Peter Capaldi and his predecessor, Matt Smith. According to Digital Spy, following a ratings drop for the show under Peter Capaldi, there was widespread speculation that his predecessor, Matt Smith could return to the Tardis once again.

Doctor Who Showrunner Steven Moffat with Jenna Coleman and Matt Smith [Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images]
However, Matt Smith himself has now quashed those rumours as mere speculation, confirming that he has no intention of returning to Doctor Who anytime soon. During a recent question and answer session, Matt Smith was asked if he’ll be returning to the show’s next season. Smith predictably replied by denying the rumours, saying “I miss everything. I miss Steven, I miss Karen, I miss Arthur, I miss Jenna. I miss time travelling. And I miss my friends in Cardiff.”

He continued by throwing his full support behind Peter Capaldi as the current Doctor, telling fans that the show must go on under Capaldi. That being said, Smith confirmed he’s still a regular viewer of Doctor Who, but now as a fan only. Peter Capaldi still has a good deal of support from fans as the current main protagonist of Doctor Who, but that hasn’t prevented many fans from calling for Capaldi to be replaced by his predecessor, Matt Smith, argued to be one of the most popular actors to ever hold the iconic role.


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Whilst Doctor Who isn’t set to see a shake-up in terms of its main actor anytime soon, according to the Day Herald, actress Pearl Mackie was recently confirmed as the next companion set to join The Doctor on his travels, following Jenna Coleman’s departure last year. Mackie has recently been spotted filming on the set of Doctor Who with Peter Capaldi as they prepare for the release of the hit BBC sci-fi drama’s next season, due sometime in 2017.

As aforementioned, the tenth season of Doctor Who isn’t set to officially arrive on our screens until 2017. However, showrunner Steven Moffat has confirmed that fans of the show will get a small chunk of their favourite show this year with a Christmas special of the Doctor Who set to air in its usual slot on Christmas Day 2016.

Aside from the addition of a new companion in the next season of Doctor Who, the BBC has also confirmed a number of other casting inclusions. Matt Lucas is set to reprise his role as Nardole, last seen in the show’s 2015 Christmas special. At the same time, actors Mina Anwar, Ralf Little, and Kaizer Akhtar are set to make appearances throughout the season. As is customary with Doctor Who, each episode of the season is expected to include a number of guests actors alongside series regulars.

Doctor Who will return for its next full season in 2017, with further details around the next season expected to be announced before then. However, it can now be said in complete certainty that Matt Smith will not reprise his role as The Doctor in the coming season.

[Image via BBC America]

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