Enjoy the current run of Doctor Who while it lasts because the wait for the next series is going to be a lengthy one.

Doctor Who Magazine has officially confirmed what has been clear for a while now – Series 7 will not air until Autumn 2012.

With the 9 month shoot on the seventh series not beginning until February 2012, it would have been impossible for the traditional Spring start. The best we could hope for would be an Easter special to make the long gap easier to swallow.

It seems likely that only half of Series 7 will be shown in Autumn 2012, with the remainder coming early 2013. This means the Christmas 2012 episode would air in the middle of a series rather than the end.

It would also mean that 2013 would see an eighth series airing in time for the 50th anniversary.

For clarity, our schedule prediction would be:

2012

Easter Special

Autumn – Series 7 Part 1

Christmas Special

2013

Spring – Series 7 Part 2

Autumn – Series 8

Christmas Special