Can 'Doctor Who' Survive Without Davies?

But series writer Steven Moffat recently told SciFi Wire at the Television Critics Association press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., that the worrying is all for naught.

"I know that there's tremendous anxiety among ‘Doctor Who’ fans about the future of ‘Doctor Who’," Moffat said. "Here's an answer that people should listen to. No broadcaster lets go of a show like ‘Doctor Who.’ They'd have to be out of their fucking minds."

Since premiering in 2005, this new version of "Doctor Who" has had major cast changes every season. Christopher Eccleston left at the end of Season 1 after spending time as the Ninth Doctor. Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) left at the end of Season 2, taking Rose Tyler with her. And now, after Season 3, Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) has been pushed back to a recurring role. The latest announced change is Catherine Tate becoming he Doctor’s new companion, reprising her role from last year’s Christmas special.

"If ‘Doctor Who’ demonstrates anything -- any simple truth about television -- it's that everyone is dispensable," Moffat said. "’Doctor Who’ is probably there forever. It will probably outlive everyone on Outpost Gallifrey. That's probably the truth. I'm not saying that it will run continuously for 20 years. They might give it a rest for a while, but I wouldn't imagine ‘Doctor Who’ would rest for very long now.

"But ‘Doctor Who’ is completely safe. It's not in great danger. It's been the center of British culture since Kennedy was shot. I mean, it's not going away. Look, they turned it to shit and took it off for 15 years, and that didn't kill it. I mean, what's going to kill it now? Success?"

Moffat never did deny that Davies -- the man responsible for reviving the series back in 2005 -- would leave at the end of Season 4. So, the $100 million question now is whether or not Moffat would become the new showrunner.

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