Rumors have been flying that the BBC could be planning to cut short the seventh series of Doctor Who.

Show runner and producer Steven Moffat has come forward to address the swirling rumors and to put fans’ minds at ease about the show’s outlook for 2012.

“First of all, we are airing in 2012. The only thing that’s happening is that we’re moving a bit later. There’s lots of reasons for that that will become clear quite soon. It is certainly not a reduced episode count. Do you think the BBC would really let that happen? With an average audience of 10 million?” Moffat tells the Daily Beast. Doctor Who‘s international profile is huge. It’s never been more successful. You’re not going to reduce a show like this. The opposite is going to happen, in fact.”

And for those of you worried that Matt Smith might leave before the show hits its 50th anniversary in 2013, we’ve got some good news. Smith says that he’s committed to playing the Doctor for all of series seven and wants to be part of the anniversary celebration.