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Doctor Who's showrunner Steven Moffat has suggested the programme could feature multiple special episodes to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The show reaches that landmark in 2013, and speculation had been rife as to how it would be marked.

Moffat told The Scotsman: "Why talk in the singular? The plans are at a very early stage, but we have some very clear ideas about some of the things that we're doing, and I think Doctor Who fans and kids will think it's the best thing ever. We've got a load of very big plans - the mere fact that we’re talking about this two years before the event should tell you how seriously we’re taking it."

Responding to rumours that the potential Doctor Who movie would be a complete reboot of the show, Moffat said: "It's completely inaccurate! There's nothing there. I mean it would be lovely, yes. If anything, the only good bit about this is it might actually focus our minds on thinking that we actually should do a film.

"It's not going to be a different version of Doctor Who with two different Doctors at the same time. Of course not, we're not that silly. That would be no way to run a franchise, would it? I'd love it to happen, but that version you heard was just a guy getting cornered on the red carpet and not really being on-message."

Doctor Who airs its festive special on BBC One this Christmas Day.

The Doctor Who Christmas Special...