Moffat on Who

The Scotsman newspaper caught up with new series writer Steven Moffat.

The former Paisley schoolteacher and Coupling writer told The Scotsman that he has one of the most sought after jobs in television. It's also one of the toughest:

"TV doesn't bother trying to target entire families any more," he said. "If 10-year-olds aren't talking about the show in the playground on Monday morning then we'll have failed."

Moffat also said there would be hint of sexiness, but that it was doubtful whether there would be any hanky-panky in the TARDIS:

"The show is still about saving the universe. You can't be thinking about lovey-dovey stuff when there's that level of jeopardy involved."

Moffat revealed he watched the show right until the end, with its humour cited as the reason he kept watching. "One of the reasons Doctor Who survived for so long, and a rival like Blake 7 was so risible, is that it was funny," says Moffat. "The Doctor was in on the joke, he knew the show was cheaply made and that some of the storylines were nonsensical."

But will it stand up in 2005? Moffat is not worried:

"I don't think the fact we're in the post-Star Wars era is an issue - matching Buffy is. Doctor Who was never a space opera anyway, it was about horror: dark shadows and creepy monsters lurking just around the corner."

The interview ends with Moffat offering a sneak preview of his script. It will contain the dialogue "Doctor, no!" - Gosh.