Last year Steven Moffat confirmed that Series 8 would not be split. He reaffirms this in the new DWM and adds that this will become the standard format of broadcast.

He said: “We’re not going to do splits, and the same format will repeat exactly the following year like that. So it will be the traditional form.”

The mag also confirms the first three blocks of filming on Series 8. Block one is directed by Ben Wheatey. Douglas Mackinnon will return for Block Two, and Paul Murphy will then direct Block three. No further writers are revealed except Moffat’s Victorian opener. This week the BBC announced Phil Ford for episode 2.

With producer Marcus Wilson leaving, Nikki Wilson and Peter Bennett have returned to fill the void. Tracie Simpson will act as line producer.