Steven Moffatt, showrunner of BBC’s Doctor Who, announced he will exit the series after the conclusion of the show’s tenth season (sixth series), according to the UK’s Radio Times and later confirmed by the official Doctor Who Twitter account.

Moffatt, who has served as the show’s lead writer and executive producer, will be replaced by Chris Chibnall, writer of Broadchurch, and scribe for five Doctor Who episodes.

BBC1 has decided to hold off on airing the tenth season (12-part series) until Spring 2017. The next new Doctor Who content will be the Christmas special.

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore explained the reasoning behind holding off Moffat’s last series until next year. “I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel.  2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017.”

Moffatt was pragmatic about his decision to leave. “Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for Season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him.”

Whovians will have to content themselves with Titan Comics line of Doctor Who comics (see “'Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor' Ongoing Series”); and Cubicle 7, Gale Force Nine, Warlord Games and USAopoly’s lines of licensed game products (see “Classic Doctors Join 'Doctor Who: The Card Game',” “GF9 Reveals First 'Doctor Who' Game,” “Warlord Games Acquires 'Doctor Who' License”  and “'Clue: Doctor Who' and 'Monopoly: Doctor Who Villains Edition'”) if they want new content this year.