Live blog: 'Doctor Who' Masterclass

11.02am: Welcome to the final day of MGEITF and the most exciting session of the Festival, a Doctor Who "masterclass".

11.05am: The moderator is Richard Bacon, who begins by introducing a clipreel of series five highlights. "There's one thing you never put in a trap", etc.

11.06am: Out come Steven Moffat and Karen Gillan.

11.07am: Moffat on taking over as showrunner: "It's the only job where I'll get referred to as a supremo and overlord. I've been waiting all my life to do that."

11.08am: "Writing an episode isn't a small job, it's a big deal."

11.09am: How quickly was Karen noticed? "It increased as the series aired, episode by episode. Whereas for Matt, it was pretty instant. It was a nice progression for me."

11.10am: Moffat recalls casting Matt and Karen. We all know this story.

11.12am: Moffat on Matt: "It's like a young man built by old men from memory." He describes Karen as looking "wee and dumpy" in her audition tape.

11.15am: Big announcement upcoming, by the way.

11.16am: Moffat describes Matt Smith's chin as "truly terrifying".

11.17am: "There's nothing to worry about," says Moffat after admitting he hasn't written all of the next series yet.

11.18am: Moffat promises that there will be "some gamechanging stuff" for The Doctor in the next series.

11.21am: Moffat says he was "roaring with laughter" when the press ran stories about Karen's kissogram outfit.

11.22am: Moffat's advice to the next showrunner? "My advice would be 'don't listen to me'. Take it and run with it. You have to believe like it's yours." He says that's "not happening for a while yet".

11.23am: Moffat says RTD wrote a "huge fanboy essay" after every Who episode aired. "It was hilarious and joyous to observe."

11.24am: Clip of the series finale. Big Bang 2.

11.27am: Karen dancing to the 11th Doctor's theme.

11.28am: On changing the theme and logo: "Those elements have changed repeatedly through the years, so it feels like the latest edition."

11.29am: Was series five cheaper? "I don't think it did in the end, it's probably about the same. It's good, it's a decent budget."

11.30am: Audience questions. Was a female Doctor a possibility? "No, we didn't [consider it]. Maybe it will happen some day. It wasn't right this time. But the single most key thing about regeneration is you must convince the audience it's the same man - it's a bigger ask if you turn it into a woman."

11.31am: Karen asks if there are male and female Time Lords. "Yes," replies Moffat, "but not any more because they're all dead."

11.32am: On the regeneration limit: "I think you might find that contradicted some time soon. It was mention in an episode but look, do you know what? If the day came that we had to have a 14th Doctor, we'd envoke the emergency protocol. We'd make something up."

11.33am: "I just write the stuff in Doctor Who that I want to see."

11.34am: Moffat's favourite adversary? "It's probably hardwired in my heart to say the Daleks, but I'm going to be conceited and say the Weeping Angels. Whoever came up with those was having a bad day."

11.35am: Moffat says they will have "lots of different kinds of Daleks". "There will be a Dalek story when we've got a good idea for a Dalek story."

11.36am: Trailer for the Christmas special! Moffat: "Watch it and wait." Amy saying "time can be re-written". Doctor saying he's "the ghost of Christmas past". Short but sweet.

11.37am: On next series: "You will find out who River Song is. Definitely."

11.39am: Are The Doctor Who and Sherlock similar? "Sherlock's not very nice, whereas The Doctor's nice, kind, passionate. They'd probably deck each other."

11.44am: As the episodes of Sherlock go on, "He becomes a better man. He learns to be a hero."

11.45am: On the Sherlock Holmes film: "I really liked it. It was great fun. But what was he wearing? It was a ridiculous outfit."

11.46am: Was Benedict offered Who? "He wasn't in the line for it, no."

11.47am: How long will Karen stay? "I guess we just have to take it series by series. I'm having fun right now."

11.48am: Moffat announces that the next series will be split in two. "What this show needs is a big event in the middle. We do 13 episodes, which is two series worth, so this year we're going to make it two series. It will come back for seven episodes at Easter, build to an Earth-shattering climax... honestly, a gamechanging event for Amy, The Doctor and Rory."

11.49am: Moffat says he knows "word for word" what the midseason finale is.

11.50am: That's a wrap on the panel!