Like it or not, Doctor Who is and always has been for children – and showrunner Steven Moffat says that’s nothing to be ashamed of.

In fact, he’s got a brilliant analogy as to why it’s OK for grown-ups to like – nay, love – a show that’s really meant to be for kids.

“I always think Doctor Who is like when you go to a restaurant and you glance longingly at the children’s menu,” he told the press. “It’s always so much better than the risotto I’m going to pretend I want.”

Moffat insisted that while the long-running BBC series is absolutely “a children’s programme”, that doesn’t mean it can’t be “challenging”.

“Doctor Who stories can be complicated and they can be emotional – you’re supposed to sit up and damn well watch,” he argued. “But you have to keep in mind the slightly different, more intense, more emotional way that kids watch television.

“At its heart, it’s a children’s programme – one that adults absolutely love, but that’s who it belongs to. That’s something I feel very strongly about – but that doesn’t mean I think it’s dumb. Quite the opposite.”

Moffat will be departing his current job as Doctor Who’s showrunner after one final series in 2017.

He’s insisted that his final episodes will be about “pushing forward” – not bringing anything to a close.

With Doctor Who, you never want to have finished the story – I’m not going to do that,” he insisted.

“I want Chris [Chibnall, the new showrunner] to come in and have a brilliant time, so I’m not going to wrap it all up.”

Doctor Who will return to our screens on Christmas Day with festive special ‘The Return of Doctor Mysterio’ airing at 5.45pm on BBC One.

A full 10th series will then follow in early 2017, with actress Pearl Mackie joining the show as new companion Bill Potts.