Who Writers Announced For Matt Smiths First Series

Doctor Who Magazine has announced the list of writers who'll be contributing to the next series of Doctor Who (series 5, series 11.1, series 1 or series 31 depending on your point of view…)

They are:

Steven Moffat - 6 episodes
The new head writer! We think he needs no introduction.

Chris Chibnall - 2 episodes
Former head writer on Torchwood, now executive producer on Law And Order: UK, and previously wrote "42" for Doctor Who.

Mark Gatiss – 1 episode
Member of The League Of Gentlemen, previously wrote "The Unquiet Dead" and "The Idiot’s Lantern" for Doctor Who

Toby Whithouse – 1 episode
Creator of Being Human, he previously wrote "School Reunion" for Doctor Who

Gareth Roberts – 1 episode
Previously wrote "The Shakespeare Code" and "The Unicorn And The Wasp" and co-wrote "Planet Of The Dead" for Doctor Who

Richard Curtis – 1 episode
Blackadder co-creator and scripter of many a-gentle Brit rom-com movies (Four Weddings And A Funeral, Love, Actually) but you knew about him already ’cos the naughty boy blabbed to the press.

Simon Nye – 1 episode
Creator of Men Behaving Badly (bet The Sun and The Mirror are rubbing their hands at headline potential for that one).

So who’s writing what? What we do know is that Moffat is writing episode one, and the first two-parter, scheduled as episodes four and five. Toby Whithouse is writing episode six, the one about vampires in Venice (which we believe is called "Vampires Of Venice"). And Curtis is writing the Van Gogh episode which may be episode ten.

A bit of guesswork – we’d assume Moffat will write the final two-parter, leaving him one episode, which we're assuming will be episode two. Also, Chibnall must be writing the other two parter (assuming that the pattern of three two-parters will continue) which will probably be episode eight and nine.

One thing that does become obvious from this list – lots of writers renowned for comedy – Nye, Curtis, Gatiss, even Moffat.

Also, despite internet scuttlebutt, no Neil Gaiman.

SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.