BBC bosses have decided to delay the new series until spring next year, in a bid to ensure his final run is a major TV event.

Doctor Who fans will be hoping that time flies – because the next series is going to be held back until 2017.

The season will be the swansong for show chief Steven Moffat.

The move also means the family sci-fi show, starring Peter Capaldi as the time travelling Doctor , can return to its Saturday teatime slot following criticism about it being aired last year at 8pm.

Steven, set to bow out after his sixth series running the BBC1 drama, will be replaced by Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall.

Describing his role as “the best job in the universe”, Steven said yesterday: “The fact is, my timey-wimey is running out.

“While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up and keeping the TARDIS warm for him.”

He joked that it had taken “a lot of gin and tonic” to talk Chris into the job, adding: “I am beyond delighted one of the true stars of British television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future.

“Chris will become the new showrunner. And I will be thrown in a skip.”