This month’s Doctor Who Magazine has confirmed that Steve Thompson will be contributing to the latest series of Doctor Who.

Thompson has written for the last two series of the show, penning 2011’s “The Curse of The Black Spot” and 2013’s “Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS,” as well as serving as one of the triumvirate of writers for Sherlock with Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. For series 8, he will write episode 5, directed by Douglas Mackinnon.

Also overseen by Mackinnon – director of 2008’s “The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky” and 2012’s “The Power of Three” – is episode 4. It will be written by showrunner Steven Moffat and is set to introduce The History Boys actor Samuel Anderson as Danny Pink, Clara’s colleague from Coal Hill School.

Moffat has also written episode 1, which will see Peter Capaldi’s first full appearance as the Twelfth Doctor, as well as the return of the Paternoster Gang, the hugely-popular trio consisting of Silurian detective Madame Vastra, her wife Jenny and Sontaran commander/nurse/butler Strax.

It is assumed that Moffat will also pen the finale of the 12-part series and the following Christmas special.

Though rumours persist that Gareth Roberts, Mark Gatiss and newcomer Jack Lothian will also contribute, the only other confirmed writer for the series is Phil Ford. Ford previously worked closely with Russell T. Davies’ version of the show, co-writing David Tennant’s penultimate story “The Waters of Mars” with Davies, plus the animated adventure “Dreamland.” Alongside this, he acted as head writer of spinoff series The Sarah Jane Adventures. Ford will author episode 2, directed by Ben Wheatley, who is also at the helm of episode 1.

While it still seems in the relatively early stages, the eagerly-awaited eighth series (or if you’d prefer, the thirty-fourth) of Doctor Who will soon materialise on our screens. And going by the glimpses of Peter Capaldi’s Doctor we’ve had so far, you’d better hold onto your kidneys, because that rackety old TARDIS is about to go on one heck of a ride.

Source: Digital Spy

Christian also writes about Doctor Who, Sherlock and other TV shows for Whatculture.