It seems Doctor Who's executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat is ready to hand directorial reins to Sir Peter Jackson after a 10 month campaign started by the outgoing Doctor Matt Smith in a Waikato Times interview.

Smith's idea to film some episodes of the world's longest running science fiction show in New Zealand quickly got the assent of the Hobbit director who challenged Smith, who plays the 11th incarnation of the time travelling Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, to name a time and a place for filming.

Yesterday, UK time, Moffat told Frank Skinner at the AdLibComedy event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that Sir Peter would finally direct an episode.

"He's serious about it," Moffat is reported by various media outlets including the BBC Radio Times to have said. "We talked at The Hobbit premiere - he just wants a dalek. So we'll give him a dalek and he'll direct an episode."

Sir Peter, a life-long Doctor Who fan who worked with Moffat on the first Tin Tin film, told Entertainment Weekly in May that he'd do the job for a gold dalek.

"I think he'd like to us to go to New Zealand," Moffat said yesterday. "I think it's entirely possible."

It's the first time Moffat, occupied with the show's 50th anniversary special airing on November 23, has been so definite about the idea. But he's obviously had finding Smith's successor on his mind.

At the British Academy of Film and Television Awards in May, Moffat told a Red Carpet News interviewer who asked whether he could arrange for Sir Peter to direct: "Well, that will depend on complex things. I couldn't possibly comment."

Asked by the interviewer if there was anything he could do to push it along the impish show runner said: "Like what? Bribe him? Blackmail him? What are you suggesting? Kidnap him? Put him in a crate and ship him to the UK?"

Told that would be the headline of the interview, Moffat laughed: "He'll be terrified. Poor old Peter. Peter I'm not going to kidnap you, it's OK!"

Moffat also hinted, yesterday, that Harry Potter author JK Rowling might pen a short story based on the show as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations. "I can't confirm that... right now," he said when asked by an audience member.

On Christmas Day actor Peter Capaldi, 55, will step into the role.

Asked last week whether the series could film in New Zealand with Capaldi in the lead role, Doctor Who writer Neil Cross said "never say never".

He then jumped on an airplane for Edinburgh where details of his involvement in season eight of the show are no doubt being nutted out right now alongside fellow writer Neil Gaiman.