Disclaimer: All cursing Moffat and shaking fists at him comes from a place of love. It’s affectionate exasperation, Whovians. No need for hissy fits.

But on with the blind, unreasoning rage: What? … What? … WHAT?!

Yes, exactly. The BBC have announced they’re going to split transmission of Doctor Who into spring and autumn screenings.

Read the full press release while I try to summon my brain from the various places in my room it has scattered to.

Right, so.

Steven Moffat said: “The split series is hugely exciting because viewers will be treated to two premieres, two finales and more event episodes. For the kids it will never be more than a few months to the next Doctor Who! Easter, Autumn, Christmas!!”

Yaaaay, I’m gonna have two heart attacks! No, seriously, he’s right. The waits won’t be that long, and if the episodes are as good as he promises, then it’s gonna be well worth it. Besides: Behold the awesomeness—second part of Doctor Who and the recently recommissioned Sherlock, possibly on telly at about the same time in Autumn 2011. Catch me, I’m swooning!

[Of course they do it for the ratings, too, but with Moffat involved, it is going to have artistic benefit! It should have, anyway. It better have!]

UPDATE: See this interview with Steven Moffat, which the Guardian put up on its website today.

“That’s when everything changes [for the Doctor, Amy, and Rory].”

A-HA! Rory’s still there, at least for the first half, and: that’s when everything changes? I smell River Song!