Doctor Who: Series Eight: What Do We Know So Far?

Last June, we found out that our raggedy man, the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) would be regenerating in the 2013 Christmas Special, and a month later, we found out that he would be replaced by Peter Capaldi, as the Twelfth Doctor. But what do we really know about the new series? Let's take a look of what we know so far!

Note: There is no date confirmed for Who's return, some are saying as early as July (oh, I wish!), some are saying August, and some are just saying Autumn.
The Facts:

There's a New Doctor In Town: Confirmed
Matt Smith was replaced by Peter Capaldi in the 2013 Christmas Special, the Time of the Doctor-after making a cameo appearance in The Day of the Doctor. What do we really know about this new Doctor? Not much. While you could take in what the writers and actors say, nothing's really confirmed yet.

There's a New Companion: Plausible 
We can't be all too sure about this to be perfectly honest. Just yesterday it was revealed that a character named Danny Pink (Samuel Anderson) would be joining the Doctor and Clara as a recurring character. While many Whovians are calling him the new Companion to join the dynamic TARDIS duo, it's possible he may just be a recurring character (for now). However, he may be recurring for now, but join full-time later.

Clara's Returning: Confirmed
Clara Oswald is coming back for another season, as confirmed by Jenna Coleman herself. She's been seen on set with both Peter Capaldi and Samuel Anderson.

Return of the Posternoster Gang: Confirmed
The Posternoster Gang (Strax, Vastra and Jenny) are returning once more for the series, and are in the first episode back, which is set in Victorian Times. They've (Neve McIntosh, Catrin Stewart, and Dan Starkey) been seen on set for an episode set largely in Victorian Times.

The Writers Are Writing Again: Confirmed*
So far the writers we know that are coming back for the season is Steven Moffat (DW:The Eleventh Hour, A Good Man Goes to War, Asylum of the Daleks), Phil Ford (SJA: The Day of the Clown, The Eternity Trap, Sky), Mark Gatiss (DW: The Unquiet Dead, Victory of the Daleks, Cold War, An Adventure in Space and Time), Neil Cross ( DW: The Rings of Akhaten, Hide), Gareth Roberts (DW: The Shakespeare Code, The Unicorn and the Wasp; SJA: The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith), and Jack Lothian.
*DW is for Doctor Who, and SJA is for The Sarah Jane Adventures

Hello, Classic Who-We meet Again: Confirmed
Ben Wheatley, who directs both episode one and two of the new series, has said that the show is much more like Classic Who. So, what does that mean? Possibly darker, scarier. Who knows?


No Split For Eight:
Unlike the past two seasons, Series Eight will not be a split series, but will have a full run, Steven Moffat says.

The Rumors:
Note: Before you read these, be warned that these may be real, and therefore could be considered Spoilers!

1. The Master Returns
Kind of a given since how Gallifrey has been saved, but will he show up this season? There's no telling, though supposedly he was casted.

2. Jack The Ripper
Waay back in A Good Man Goes to War, Madam Vasta made a comment that Jack the Ripper had claimed his last victim, so how could he return? No one's real sure, but anything could happen.


SPOILERS
I said Spoilers, I wasn't joking. This is more spoiler-y than River Song's diary, so if you're a spoiler-phobe, then turn away now. Note, this isn't technically confirmed (by the BBC), but I'm pretty sure it's real, so I wouldn't suggest reading this unless you really want to know!
Filming for what I'm assuming is the end of the first episode back had Twelve and Clara back on Earth, and Twelve in his new outfit. Clara and Twelve had still apparently having issues, and Clara is seen talking on the phone to someone. After this mysterious phone call, Clara seems to realize Twelve really is her Doctor, and the two hug, before heading out to get chips. Who called? Well,-this is your last warning, and I'll say it again SPOILERS AHEAD-apparently, Eleven. Our raggedy man is making one last phone call from Trenzalore, to give Clara one final goodbye, and to help her move on to Twelve. If this really is true (and it's been suggested Matt Smith has filmed these scenes already), then this is a brilliant move. To have the Doctor that the character, and the audience, convince that this new man we're seeing is the Doctor, and is still the same man? Brilliant. And of course, it'll be heartbreaking to see Eleven again, but it'll be a good kind of heart-breaking.

SOURCES:
More Like Classic Who
New Doctor in Town
No Split For Eight 
Meet Danny Pink
The Posternoster Gang Returns
The Writers are Writing
Clara Oswald Returns

What do you think of the news so far? Are you looking forward to the next season? What's your hopes? Comment Below!

-Tegan