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Ever since Doctor Who was rebooted with Eccleston earnestly dashing about I have listened to people marvel at The Doctor and his antics while I simply didn’t get it. I found it all poorly done, the acting was often a bit off, more for one particular assistant, the lighting far too bright and the aliens far too fake to ever be truly scary. That all changed this year as Stephen Moffat took the reins and made Doctor Who the show I had always been told it was.

In this series Moffat has made an engaging, intricately plotted and at times cinematic show. The Doctor is wonderfully played by Matt Smith as a slightly tactless kind-hearted genius accompanied by a strong, exciting and not to mention beautiful Amy Pond who has risen above companion status thanks to Karen Gillan.

Doctor Who has been better from every angle this year and the two part finale proved all that with laughs, scares and more wonderful Pond based pouting. I’m no longer ashamed to say I watch and waiting for the next series isn’t going to be easy. In just one short series Doctor Who has made it from being a show I occasionally watch to a show I spend my week looking forward to… or would do if it were on before Christmas.

Gush, gush, gush.

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Speaking of good TV wasn’t Doctor Who great this weekend? Maybe The Lodger wasn’t the scariest episode ever but it was really enjoyable. The back and forth between James Corden and Matt Smith was hilarious, sorry Corden haters, and the man upstairs suitably creepy. Shame that Karen Gillan was kept so far from The Doctor this week as I do enjoy their chemistry too.

The two part finale looks all kinds of epic so expect me back here in two weeks having a bit of a gush or, if things go badly, a rant.

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We’re back from Easter having gorged on chocolate and the delights of the BBC; didn’t the new Doctor do well?

I’ve had big hopes for this new series of Doctor Who having been largely unimpressed with the the previous years and being a big fan of the new creative team. I was not let down as everything seemed that much better than before, from the writing down to the lighting as Doctor Who became the show it was always meant to have been.

Yes the special effects weren’t up to much but they were wisely kept to a minimum so we weren’t jolted back to reality too often. There were a few new little flairs when we got to see the Doctor’s thought process that gave the show an extra air of quality and the lighting, which has for some reason always bothered me, was a bit more varied and cinematic. The writing was smart and funny which was nothing we shouldn’t expect from the great Moffat and together these elements spelt success.

Karen Gillan brought a likable and attractive assistant with Amy Pond, something never before seen in the re-imagined Who while Matt Smith successfully silenced all doubts about his casting. Smith stepped into the role with confidence and charm, seemingly the very essence of a Time Lord. The episode whipped along at a fair pace and was enjoyable throughout, a stark contrast to Tennant and Davies’ final outing together this past winter. The Doctor is dead, long live the Doctor.

While a mediocre show made good an old favourite fell from grace as Jonathan Creek felt more than a little bit weak. The reveal of how the “trick” was pulled off was simplicity itself and the major effort in the plot was justifying the trick in the first place. What was once a firm favourite felt a little bit unnecessary, enjoyable enough but not what it once was. Shame.

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I’d love to present a list of Easter related films to watch, but barring any Jesus led epics I can’t think of any. Combine that with cinema’s lacklustre selection at the moment, barring Kick Ass of course and your Easter weekend is going to be served by the TV. Unless you want to go outside or something.

Tonight we get the return of Doctor Who which will either prove to be the best thing ever or a sore disappointment, the way my expectations have been raised is worrying. Stephen Moffat is easily the best writer the new series has seen and so having him as the essential show runner can only raise the show’s game. Matt Smith will hopefully bring a fresh energy to the role and Karen Gillan brings the first attractive assistant I can remember.

Tomorrow we get another slightly odd man in a long coat as Jonathan Creek returns for another special with Sheridan Smith taking on the sidekick role for a second time. Admittedly the previous special was a bit lacklustre, the twist coming from nowhere without any real clues, but it was enjoyable all the same. I can’t help but enjoy Alan Davies’ performance and fail to guess how the trick was pulled off.

Forget the cinema, the BBC is bringing the entertainment to you.

Doctor Who is on tonight 3rd April at 6:20pm BBC One

Jonathan Creek is on Sunday 4th April at 8:00pm BBC One

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