As any 'Doctor Who' fan following the series well knows by now, the 2013 Christmas special will see fan-beloved Matt Smith departing the role in favor of 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi but how long will Who-vians have to wait until the proper season 8 premiere? Pull up a comfy spot in the TARDIS, it may be awhile...

Though we'll first see Capaldi introduced in the role beginning with the Christmas special, 'Doctor Who' season 8 won't actually pick up with Capaldi's Doctor on any new adventures for quite some time. A recent Guardian interview with series showrunner Steven Moffat revealed that we won't see the older Doctor take off on his own adventures until at least late 2014:

Doctor Who may not be quite the force it was when it returned with Christopher Eccleston and in its David Tennant heyday in the UK, but has a growing audience in the US on cable channel BBC America. It will not return next year until the autumn, giving it plenty of time to recharge batteries. And what better way to do that than with a new Doctor?

Granted 'Doctor Who' fans are no stranger to waiting in between seasons, sometimes as much as a year, those eager for a look at Peter Capaldi in the role will have to make do with whatever time the 2013 Christmas Special allots to introducing the character. In the previous case shifting from David Tennant into Matt Smith, we were only given a minute or so with Matt Smith's manic incarnation.

Well, what say you, 'Doctor Who' fans? Are you disappointed to wait until late 2014 for Peter Capaldi's first 'Doctor Who' adventures, after all that hoopla? What direction would you want to see the franchise take next? Get ready to cry all over again reliving the last registration, as we prepare for Capaldi's arrival!

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