Posting this not because I endorse the story, but because someone was inevitably going to post about it, and that post should be something that goes back to the original sources so people can judge for themselves rather than getting it 9th hand.

Edit: As of the fifth and final update below, this rumor has been debunked by an anonymous BBC source talking to RadioTimes. Thanks for playing everybody!

For about a week now, there have been some rumblings about big behind-the-scenes news coming soon (some of you may have heard the rumor about an announcement planned for September 28th). The full mad rush has been unleashed now that a higher-up in the Doctor Who Appreciation Society has succinctly commented on GallifreyBase

Chibnall has already gone, it's chaos in Cardiff.

Another user, who has a good track record of accurate spoiler reporting, instantly replied

Pete to the rescue.

Presumably referring to Pete McTighe, writer of Kerblam! and overall superfan, who would certainly be an adequate temporary caretaker in a panic scenario.

When someone called into question the apparently random basis of the rumor, the reliable user addsed, “There's something in it this time” and “There should be an official statement soon.”

Of course social media is flying around with unverifiable claims about Chibnall being fired on Monday after poor responses to series 12 test screenings, or Chibnall handing in his resignation two weeks ago, and Jodie leaving with him, or Jodie staying but only to shoot her regeneration, but this all seems to be clout-chasing from YouTubers and spoiler-hound Twitterers who automatically go “I’ve known about this for ages” despite never hinting at any such thing. And in any case, the show was still filming on Monday!

The best source I can find: a Doctor Who comics writer with supposed links to the production team.

I believe he’s gone and the show is basically fucked! None of it’s a surprise
As I understand it he didn’t walk he was pushed
They had to stand down production last month because there were no scripts to shoot
I don't think his heart was in it from the start, but it certainly wasn't in it past the first couple of blocks.
They have a load of reshoots to do and two more specials to film (this christmas and next, i believe) before October...they won’t get it done at this rate

[Edit: I understand those quotes as saying that the scripts for the block last month weren’t finalized in time for shooting, not that Chibnall literally has zero completed scripts, which is obviously false.]

If this were really the case, it would undoubtedly be the worst thing to happen to TV Who since the Piers Wenger etc debacle, if not the start of revival. (And that’s not even taking into account Jodie’s past statements that she would leave with Chibnall.) But could a professional TV writer really be that, well, unprofessional?

It’s also possible that the BBC and Chibnall have merely decided that he won’t be the showrunner for series 13, and the internet has jumped the gun — but it’s unsurprising that, if this was the Chibnall news that the BBC was planning to announce at the end of September, it leaked out before that. Maybe the leak will immanentize the official confirmation, maybe not.

I’ll update this with any more info as the story unfolds.

Update 1: I was able to verify the identity of the comics writer and add more of their commentary. This is the closest thing we have to a credible source.

Update 2: On another forum, the reliable user and one other vagueposted about “Craziness behind the scenes” a full half hour before news broke on GallifreyBase. They’re a little more frank about the information there, and while it mainly echoes the same basic structure — Chibnall gone; McTighe taking over; more to be leaked or announced soon — there are a few new tidbits:

• “The BBC are said to be very keen to keep Jodie on rather than her leaving with Chris. Not sure if she's decided yet.”

• “Filming has been remounted and will carry on till October, when contracts run out.” “They are currently on reshoots for earlier shot episodes, and still have the special to film.”

• [regarding scripts for next series] “Tardiness may be an issue.”

• And a link to this tweet that shows four series 11 writers eating dinner together Sunday night

This seems to back up the info from the comics writer. Either this is independent confirmation that something big is actually going on, or all these people (DWAS admin, usually-reliable spoiler-hound, and comics writer) are getting their information from a shared source. We’ll see if this announcement ever arrives!

Update 3: The man, the myth, the Moffat himself weighs in via Instagram comment.

I have no insider info except this: I worked on that show for fourteen years and the total number of correct rumours was None At All. The nastier the story, the bigger the lie.

Update 4: Several commenters have pointed out to me that the folks behind VworpCon have said on Twitter,

We are hearing that there will be a press release issued at 2.30pm in respect of current developments on Doctor Who. The BBC are committed to the best product they can produce for Season 12 and beyond. Brave heart.

They’re not any more reliable than anyone else I’ve cited — they themselves note that they also heard Mat Baynton had been cast as the Thirteenth Doctor — but it’s a fast enough deadline that we can test it in real time!

Update 5 (final): Sure enough, at 2:30 PM exactly, the unceasingly-reliable RadioTimes released an article entitled, Doctor Who departure rumours branded “nonsense” by insiders:

However, RadioTimes.com now understands that there is no truth in the speculation about Chibnall and/or Whittaker’s departures, with show insiders bewildered by false rumours that they say bear little resemblance to the reality of series 12 filming.

“This is all total nonsense,” a well-placed Doctor Who source told RadioTimes.com. “This has originated and spread through the online rumour mill.”

Well, that pretty much puts this one to bed. Thank goodness! As always, I think it’s really fascinating how rumors like this start and spread — this is certainly a ding on the credibility of more than a few “reliable” sources — so cheers to everyone who’s followed along.

Check out my post in the follow-up thread for some examples of how people are undermining the report and still keeping the rumor mill spinning :)

Postlude (super-final): On 17 August, someone with close links to DWM posted the following on their private Twitter:

One of the things licensees were told in 2017 was that the episode count was being dropped from 12 to 10 per series, so that they could guarantee full seasons in the autumns of 2018, 2019 and 2020. So that’s going well.

... Eight episodes in seven months. Although it seems there have been... gaps.

Of course, the tweets have since been deleted. Really makes you think 🤔