Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat have given a new interview where they cover topics ranging from the upcoming The Husbands of River Song, plans for Series 10 and much more.

Speaking with Sci-Fi Bulletin, Moffat reveals his reasons for bringing back River Song:

“…Every year I have to contemplate that this could be the last one I ever write – because I hadn’t signed up for next year at that point. At that point I hadn’t – unless they fire me – which would be quite sensible! (Laughs) So, as I thought it might be my last one I thought I’d get River in, which would bring me full circle. Also, and much more importantly, I was very very tired and Brian [Minchin – producer] was going at me ‘What are we going to do for Christmas?’ and it just cheered me up that River could be in it. I hadn’t written River for years and I love writing for her. Also Russell [T Davies – Showrunner Seasons 1 to 4] has been at me for a while [booms] ‘You can’t write her out yet – Capaldi and Kingston. It’s a sex storm!’ It’s not called ‘Sex Storm by the way! I think he was in the middle of his Cucumber phase and I told him that’s not what happens in Doctor Who. ‘You’ve forgotten, you old fool!’ (Laughs) And they are very sexy together.”

And Peter reveals that the Doctor and River may just get to the picnic at Asgard but that at first, she doesn’t know who he is!

“She doesn’t know it’s me! So that’s quite strange. No matter how much I tell her, she doesn’t believe it. [Chuckles] She thinks I’m mad, so that’s quite fun. She doesn’t realise [who I am] and I keep trying to convince her. Along the way I get to see her flirt with all of these people and behave in an inappropriate way… and I’m rather shocked by it. Then, finally, I get to convince her that it’s me and she’s slightly disappointed. What’s happened to her husband? He’s aged terribly! And do we get to see the picnic? (Pauses) I don’t know if we get to see it. But we set it up – we almost get there.”

On Series 10, Moffat says that scheduling has yet to be determined, but the series will certainly be 13 episodes long:

“If you’re talking about scheduling, that’s BBC One and they will speak [for themselves]. I know that what I’ve signed on to do is 13 more episodes of Doctor Who including a Christmas special, but I’m trying to argue for slightly more than that. But we’ll see.”

Peter Jackson has been rumoured for the next series, rumours that only intensified last month after the release of the now infamous video fearing Jackson and Peter Capaldi. Moffat however poured water on the rumours:

“He mentioned it, and when we email he doesn’t reply! I think his plan is that we all go to New Zealand and spend six months making it and our plan is for him to come to Cardiff and make it in 12 days, so I think there’s the disparity. I think he’s a genuine big old Doctor Who fan but I think his schedule is difficult. I don’t know, but I’m not quite sure what a movie director who can do anything he likes would get out of our budget and schedule, because the skillset required is pretending you’re Peter Jackson without a budget. I’m just trying to wind him up now!”

Finally asked to summarise the Christmas special in a single sentence, Capaldi gave this teaser:

It’s certainly Doctor Who in a more comic sort of vein, with lots of snow… and Dickensian streets… and monsters… and flying saucers and stuff like that!

For more on The Husbands of River Song, Peter’s thoughts on stepping behind the camera, writers for Series 10, budget constraints and more, head over to read the full interview at Sci-Fi Bulletin.