Over the last couple of weeks, the media circus for the launch of Series Eight of Doctor Who has gathered apace, as August 23rd looms. Such has been the level of coverage, it would be quicker for TIMD to report what’s not been reported, but in brief…..

Tour!

Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, and Steven Moffat have been jet-setting around the globe on their promotional world tour. Here’s Peter and Jenna in Seoul.

Rumours!

Jenna Coleman is rumoured to be leaving in this year’s Christmas Special. The BBC cannot confirm or deny this, and Jenna herself has been cagey about her future in interviews, stating that she takes it a year at a time. Sound like she’s leaving to you? You decide.

More Leaks!

Following the leak of the Series Eight premiere, Deep Breath in unfinished workprint form, episodes two and three (Into the Dalek and Robot of Sherwood) then leaked to file sharing sites in the same form in rapid succession in the last week. There is talk on forums that episodes four, five, and six have also now been leaked.

We’ve already talked a little about the danger of leaks, after the scripts of the first five episodes recently found their way into the public domain, but, people, just wait. These episodes are unfinished and watermarked. They have unfinished effects, gaps, and they’re in black and white! Much as we abhor a vacuum, Doctor Who starts again on Saturday!

Some of TIMD’s friends have seen Deep Breath already at the Cardiff screening. We’re envious, but from what we hear, what’s coming will be well worth the wait.

Titles!

It’s been revealed that the new titles for Series Eight are based on an excellent fan-made effort by Billy Hanshaw. Speaking at the New York screening of Deep Breath, Steven Moffat said: “Hanshaw created this title sequence, put it up on YouTube. I happened across it, and it was the only new title idea I’d seen since 1963. We got in touch with him, and said, ‘OK, we’re going to do that one.’”

The credits also feature a new arrangement of the theme tune by Murray Gold. Billy will receive a credit for his concept in the new series closing credits. You can see Billy’s original below.

More Titles!

The BBC have announced the full titles, plus writing and directing credits for the whole of Series Eight. Interestingly, Steven Moffat has a number of co-writing credits this year, perhaps as a transparency measure by the BBC.

Moffat’s predecessor Russell T. Davies frequently wrote the final draft of other writers’ scripts, but only took credit for this on the 2009 specials. Whether this means Moffat has rewritten other scripts uncredited in the past is unknown, but it’s an interesting new policy. Here are the titles:

Episode 1: Deep Breath
Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Ben Wheatley

Episode 2: Into The Dalek
Written by Phil Ford and Steven Moffat
Directed by Ben Wheatley

Episode 3: Robot Of Sherwood
Written by Mark Gatiss
Directed by Paul Murphy

Episode 4: Listen
Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

Episode 5: Time Heist
Written by Stephen Thompson and Steven Moffat
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

Episode 6: The Caretaker
Written by Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat
Directed by Paul Murphy

Episode 7: Kill The Moon
Written by Peter Harness
Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

Episode 8: Mummy On The Orient Express
Written by Jamie Mathieson
Directed by Paul Wilmshurst

Episode 9: Flatline
Written by Jamie Mathieson
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon

Episode 10: In The Forest Of The Night
Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Directed by Sheree Folkson

Episode 11/12 Dark Water/Death In Heaven
Written by Steven Moffat
Directed by Rachel Talalay

See you on the 23rd!