Posted in: BBC, Doctor Who, Preview, Trailer, TV | Tagged: bleeding cool, cable, daily mirror, doctor who, jodie whittaker, series 12, streaming, tardis, television, tv

"Doctor Who" Premiering "Epic" Two-Part Series 12 Opener on New Year's Day [REPORT]

As much as we've been trying to keep a positive attitude and "stiff upper lip" when it comes to how long we have to wait until Doctor Who Series 12 graces our screens for a ten-episode run, let's face it, folks: 2020 is still 2020. Looking at our handy online calendar, what this means is that at a minimum we're at least 2 months away from Jodie Whittaker's return as the 13th Doctor… but it's never too early to start getting a look at what awaits!

With time ticking down until the show makes some kind of reveal on November 23 (we're leaning hard on a teaser trailer and premiere date at a minimum), the Daily Mirror may be scooping the BBC with their reporting.

The news/media site reports exclusively from sources associated with production and BBC One that there will not be a Christmas special this year, but that Series 12 will premiere on New Year's Day 2020. The series opener is reportedly a two-part story that one source describes as "huge", continuing: "The scale is just epic. No one will be disappointed." The second part is expected to air on January 4th, as the series shidts to its normal weekend timeslot.

Neither the BBC nor representatives from the show have commented on the reporting.

BBC made it official earlier today: filming on Doctor Who Series 12 has offcially wrapped – and fans are getting a look behind the scenes (as well as a brief on-set scene) to celebrate the occasion:

View this post on Instagram.

Following up on an earlier post that teased some kind of reveal later this month (more on that below), BBC One's Doctor Who blog revealed the names of three new writers joining the series with Series 12: Nina Metivier, Maxine Alderton, and Charlene James. In addition, the upcoming series will see four new directors join the team: Nida Manzoor, Emma Sullivan, Jamie Magnus Stone, and Lee Haven Jones.

Those seven will be joined by three writers returning from Series 11: Vinay Patel (Demons of The Punjab), Ed Hime (It Takes You Away), and Pete McTighe (Kerblam!).

"We're thrilled that Doctor Who continues to attract some of the most the most exciting and dynamic talent working in television. Along with our returning faces, we're excited to welcome new members to the Doctor Who family. The Doctor Who team is crammed with British television's brightest writers and directors: we've adored working with them, and can't wait to show you the explosive stuff they've created!"

– Chris Chibnall

The long-running international sensation posted a video with a specific tease: Doctor Who Series 12 is "coming soon" – and something is coming on November 23, 2019… but what?

Considering the importance of the date to the series, will it be a teaser, a trailer, a behind-the-scenes video… or something else? Maybe the announcement of a return date that will be early 2020 (like January/February)?

Hmmm…

The BBC series took to social media on Halloween to post a promising "Watch This Space" teaser, which showed the doors to the TARDIS open and the shadow of Whittaker's Doctor extending forward (with sonic screwdriver) – as if she's about to save the day one more time.

Let the mindless specualtion begin!

According to the Radio Times in July 2019, there were reportedly plans underway to broadcast a stand-alone Doctor Who special before Series 12 premieres, possibly on New Year's Day (like earlier this year) or during the Christmas season (which would mark a return to the show's holiday traditions). There was also talk that the BBC and other places who get paid to make these heady decisions were contemplating a non-holiday season release during the winter so there would be less direct competition with holiday programming, and it would also open up storyline possibilities beyond holiday-themed outings.

Towards the end of January 2019, the BBC offered up the first bit of good news for Doctor Who fans: production on Series 12 was underway. In a post on the show's official Instagram account, the message, "#DoctorWho is back in production" was accompanied by a photo of Whittaker with TARDIS companions Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill, and Tosin Cole – clearly on set and on location:

View this post on Instagram.

"We're off again! Well we never actually stopped – as Jodie Whittaker's Doctor and friends have been winning the hearts of families across the nation this autumn, we've been busy with a whole new set of action packed adventures for the Thirteenth Doctor. We adore making this show and have been blown away by the response from audiences, so we can't wait to bring more scares, more monsters and more Bradley Walsh, Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole to BBC One. Brilliant!"

– Chris Chibnall, Showrunner

Even with a year still to go before any "New Who," Chibnall offered some insight into what fans can expect earlier this year:

● On the possibility of more "Classic Who" villains: "Well, maybe we'll do some [classic monsters], then. I'll have a think."

Apparently he had a thought – at least about the Judoon, who are set to make a return appearance to Doctor Who during the next season (as confirmed by the show's official Twitter account in May 2019):

● If there will be a larger focus on Yaz's (Gill) backstory:

"That's a really good question. I think that some of these questions may be answered in the forthcoming season. I think that's the first teaser of the series! Really good question!"

● On how Doctor Who has always addressed "real world" issues – and will continue doing so:

"I think you want to be writing about the world that we live in – the show is not a standalone thing, it's a response to the times that we're living in, the world that we're in, and things that affect people's lives, particularly things that children and young adults are going through."

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