"Doctor Who" executive producer and head writer, Steven Moffat left a lot of Whovians scratching their heads this past weekend after suggesting that the upcoming regeneration for the Doctor may not be his last.


Any fan who knows the difference between a Dalek and a Cyberman knows that the Doctor only has 12 regenerations, and with Peter Capaldi announced as the next Doctor once Matt Smith leaves after this year's Christmas Special, it looked as if the final ride of the TARDIS could be seen on the horizon. That may not be true, if Moffat has anything to say about it.


While speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival this past weekend, Moffat was quoted by The Radio Times as saying, "He can only regenerate 12 times… I think you should go back to your DVDs and count correctly this time. There’s something you’ve all missed."


It only takes one vague comment to get the Whovian rumor mill spinning, and Moffat has "Doctor Who" fans spouting out theories faster than the workings of a Sonic Screwdriver.


Online geek destination, Bleeding Cool has their own theory of what Moffat meant:


It does seem most likely that he’s talking about a regeneration we didn’t account for, and seeing as [former executive producer] Russell T. Davies started his run with Eccleston already in action and not rolling around in a glowing light, the show’s long hiatus is definitely the most obvious place to hide a transformation. I do think everything we’ve seen in the show so far -- really, in the last episode -- tells us this is the case.

Could the recently introduced so-called "dark Doctor" played by John Hurt be the missing link between EIghth Doctor Paul McGann and Christopher Eccelston who played the Ninth Doctor when the series was resurrected in 2005 by Davies?


The upcoming return of the 10th Doctor, David Tennant and his companion Rose (played by Billie Piper) in the 50th anniversary special seem to complicate theories even further (Eccleston was also approached by Moffat to return, but declined). The Radio Times thinks that maybe the previous regenerations involving McGann and Eccleston didn't count:


...we didn’t witness Paul McGann regenerating into either John Hurt’s Ninth(?) Doctor or Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth/Tenth Doctor. If somehow neither of those counted as regenerations we would have one fewer than we'd previously thought – Matt Smith would be the tenth Doctor and Peter Capaldi would be the 11th. But how could the Doctor have changed bodies without regenerating?

These questions will hopefully be answered when the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor" airs on November 23, with the Christmas special (and Matt Smith's final outing as the Doctor) to air the following month on Christmas Day.


Do you have your own theories or thoughts? Share them in the comments below!




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  • "The Name of the Doctor"


    "The Name of the Doctor"




  • "Nightmare in Silver"


    "Nightmare in Silver"




  • "The Crimson Horror"


    "The Crimson Horror"




  • "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"


    "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith stands beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Jenna-Louise Coleman stands in a suspended Tardis during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith hangs beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith stands beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman stands film the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "The Bells of Saint John"


    The Doctor’s search for Clara Oswald brings him to modern day London, where Wi-Fi is everywhere. Humanity lives in a Wi-Fi soup. But something dangerous is lurking in the signals, picking off minds and imprisoning them. As Clara becomes the target of this insidious menace, the Doctor races to save her and the world from an ancient enemy. Episode credits: Written by Steven Moffat, directed by Colm McCarthy (Ripper Street, The Tudors), and produced by Denise Paul (Taggart).




  • The Rings of Akhaten


    Clara wants to see something awesome, so the Doctor whisks her off to the inhabited rings of the planet Akhaten, where the Festival of Offerings is in full swing. Clara meets the young Queen of Years as the pilgrims and natives ready for the ceremony. But something is stirring in the pyramid, and a sacrifice will be demanded. Episode credits: Written by Neil Cross (Mama, Luther), directed by Farren Blackburn (Luther, The Fades) and produced by Denise Paul




  • Cold War


    The Doctor and Clara land on a damaged Russian Submarine in 1983 as it spirals out of control into the ocean depths. An alien creature is loose on board, having escaped from a block of Arctic ice. With tempers flaring and a cargo of nuclear weapons on board, it’s not just the crew but the whole of humanity at stake! Episode credits: Written by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Silent Witness).




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    Clara and the Doctor arrive at Caliburn House, a haunted mansion sat alone on a desolate moor. Within its walls, a ghost hunting Professor and a gifted psychic are searching for the Witch of the Well. Her apparition appears throughout the history of the building, but is she really a ghost? And what is chasing her? Episode credits: Written by Neil Cross and directed by Jamie Payne (The Hour, Call the Midwife).




  • Miss Kizlet


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • The Doctor


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • The Doctor


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott), Emma Grayling (Jessica Raine), Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman), and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Ice Warrior




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 2




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 2, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Matt Smith as the Doctor, Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara




  • "The Snowemen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith




  • "The Snowmen"




  • "The Snowmen"


    Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Commander Strax (Dan Starkey), and Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart)




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Snowmen