The Second Coming Of Chris

AS DOCTOR WHO RETURNS, WE SPEAK TO SHOWRUNNER CHRIS CHIBNALL AND HIS CAST, AND DO OUR BEST TO GET BLOOD OUT OF A STONE…

- Ian Berriman

NO. IT’S CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE. It’s 100% grade A… should I say ‘nonsense’, or should I say ‘bullshit’?” SFX is at Roath Lock studios in Cardiff, home of Doctor Who, and the “elephant in the room” question has been posed: is there anything to the persistent rumors that Chris Chibnall’s second series will be his last? The showrunner – whose chipper demeanour suggests he’s either sincere or a pretty talented actor – is adamant. “Is that really the rumor?” he laughs. “I’ll look you in the eyes. Please write this verbatim: somebody made that up. It is a lie! I swear on my life.”

That’s one of the few direct, definitive statements we’ll get today because the secrecy protocols engaged for Jodie Whittaker’s debut season are continuing for her second. Good news for viewers so spoiler phobic they hate to know anything in advance. Bad news for everyone else – particularly journalists who have four pages to fill. Ahem. Question after question is played with a straight bat. Returning monsters? “You will see other monsters come back.” Guest stars? “We do have some.” Character arcs for the companions? “They’re still on journeys.”

We do manage to extract a little information when it comes to the first story, which features intergalactic policemen the Judoon (and location filming at Gloucester Cathedral). “There’s a lot of action,” Chibnall says of series 12 in general, before comparing the opener to New Year's special “Resolution”. “I’d say our first episode goes at least one level above that. It’s the biggest episode we’ve done. It might be the biggest episode the show has done.”