So today, after months of speculation about David Tennant and Russell T Davies' future on the show, the BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will effectively be taking a gap year in 2009.
Next year's fourth series is already in production, with Tennant in the title role and Catherine Tate joining the cast full time as his assistant, Donna, while Freema Agyeman's Martha will feature.
But there will be no fifth series until 2010. Instead, in 2009 there will be three specials featuring Tennant and overseen by Davies.
What's going on? Well it looks at first glance as though the BBC has cut a deal to keep Tennant - who is reportedly appearing as Hamlet at the RSC next year - and Davies on board for another year, but at the expense of not commissioning a full 13 part series for 2009.
And after that? It looks more certain than ever that we will have both a new doctor and a new Doctor Who showrunner for the fifth series in 2010.
