Doctor Who Ready To Begin Filming in May 2016

Doctor Who may not have a new companion lined up yet, but they are still ready to start filming for the upcoming season beginning in May.

In an ideal world, when Doctor Who begins filming again, the new companion will be in place. Scripts can be tailored to the perceived dynamic between this new companion and the Doctor, and both that new actor or actress will be able to spend some time with Peter Capaldi prior to filming, allowing them to build up the chemistry that is needed between both characters.

Yet, while the identity of the new companion remains a mystery, we do know when the new season of Doctor Who will begin filming. Currently, the show is slated to begin filming in May after agreeing upon a late Spring deadline to begin producing Series Ten and the Christmas episode. Meanwhile, the BBC has not even begun auditions for the next companion.

The timing of the filming, as well as the lack of movement on a new companion, leads into an interesting series of questions. Could the Doctor simply adventure about without a true companion for a season, as was the case during the specials aired from 2008 through 2010? Or could the Doctor find the right fit midway through the season, echoing when Clara replaced Amy and Rory during Series Seven?

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That decision, as to how the next companion on Doctor Who is handled, may well have an impact upon the format of the show itself. With the filming ready to begin in approximately three months, and auditions having yet to begin, could the next series have more of an episodic feel, or even be more of a weekly movie? As said at DenofGeek.com, that could explain the delay in filming, especially if there will be a break partway through the series.

It could also be that the decision to start filming in May is a sign that the BBC is getting ready to find a new companion. By having this deadline in place, it forces their hand to find that next companion, getting them ready to take on the role and have their character begin to develop. Perhaps the timing of the filming makes more sense in that context.

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Regardless of whether or not a new companion is in place, filming for Series Ten will begin in May. Hopefully, this will lead to more news in the coming months.