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The fourth season hasn't aired a single minute, but once again, BBC is quick to renew its most popular scripted series as "Doctor Who" will get a fifth season.

The only problem? It's not airing in 2009. It will air in 2010 instead.

It's time travel befit only a Time Lord, apparently, but that doesn't mean there won't be any episodes after the fourth season. In fact, BBC has three "Doctor Who" specials planned that will involve both star David Tennant and executive producer Russell T. Davies -- two people the British tabloids have been printing rumors of departure about for some time.

"This announcement is marvelous news for all involved, and more importantly, for the program's amazing fan base and audience," said Menna Richards, Controller for BBC Wales, which produces the show for British audiences.

The schedule change means there will be a Christmas special with Kylie Minogue at the end of this year, a complete 13-episode fourth season beginning in early 2008, a Christmas special in 2008, and then three specials throughout 2009. It is unclear if one of those specials will be the 2009 Christmas special.

News of the schedule change is not too surprising as BBC has been very creative with its scheduling of shows in the past. Davies has been working on both "Doctor Who" and its more adult spinoff for BBC Two, "Torchwood," almost non-stop, and reports had surfaced that Davies has been looking to step back, maybe even handing over "Doctor Who" showrunner reins to writer Steven Moffat. This new schedule would allow him to focus more on "Torchwood" for its third season, which the show is almost certain to receive, while making sure there is not too much "Doctor Who" flooding the market.

That does bring into question Catherine Tate's role as The Doctor's new companion, Donna, first introduced in the 2006 Christmas special. Freema Agyeman, who took over from Billie Piper in the third season, is already out of her regular companion gig, although she is set to return for a handful of "Torchwood" and "Doctor Who" episodes next year. It is unclear if Tate would continue with the show through the 2009 specials and into 2010 or not. It's also unclear what the specials would entail, or when they would air, and how it would affect American broadcasts of the show, as SciFi Channel has been picking up full seasons.

Speaking of SciFi Channel, they are currently airing the show's third season every Friday night. The world's first glimpse of a new "Doctor Who" episode is scheduled for Christmas Day, with the fourth season premiering next spring on BBC One.