iTunes in Germany appear to have just given away one of the BBC’s most closely guarded secrets… Their listing for Series 11 of Doctor Who includes the “arrival” date as the 7th of October – despite previous claims elsewhere that Series 11 was going to land during September – and that date happens to be a Sunday. (The pattern for iTunes in Germany has been to release the series episodes on date of broadcast.)
It’s been rumoured for some time that the series would make the move to the BBC’s more consistently watched evening; a start time of around 5.30 would launch the evening line-up of Countryfile, Antiques Roadshow, the Strictly results and then a 9pm primetime drama, in a way that would actually mirror the broadcasting schedule Doctor Who was a part of during its 1970s heyday. Season 12 in 1975 was generally transmitted at around 5.30, with Series 13 moving to 5.45 (and Season 14 6pm), ahead of a popular evening of ‘light’ entertainment.
Could those days be about to come around again, rekindled by the move to Sundays? As ever, we await official confirmation, but it’s looking likely at the moment…
UPDATE:
The BBC has now confirmed the new start date via a graphic on Facebook:
