The United Kingdom and the rest of "Doctor Who" fandom is excitedly awaiting the 50th anniversary of the franchise planned for 2013, but what is BBC and current showrunner Steven Moffat going to do about it?

The speculation is that there would be at least a special celebrating the golden anniversary. Moffat, however, says fans should focus on one part of that sentence: "at least."

"Why talk in the singular," Moffat asked The Scotsman during a recent interview. "The plans are at an early stage, but we have some very clear ideas about some of the things we're doing, and I think 'Doctor Who' fans and kids will think it's the best thing ever."

In fact, fans should know they're big for one reason: that there are already plans being made.

"The mere fact that we're talking about this two years before the event should tell you how seriously we're taking it," Moffat said.

Maybe Moffat might want to consider a special that includes Oscar winner and serial nominee Helen Mirren.

"I would like to play the new female Doctor Who," Mirren recently told The Daily Star. "I don't want to just be his sidekick."

Men have portrayed the role since its debut in 1963, although there have been rumors and even discussion about changing the gender of The Doctor. It's not clear if The Doctor could become female. Time Lords have not necessarily changed genders in the past, and even the recent regenerations of River Song were from female characters (although she proved that Doctors can change their race).

Current star Matt Smith said the idea of having Mirren -- who won an Oscar in 2007 for playing Queen Elizabeth II in "The Queen" -- would be interesting. But he has an idea of his own for a replacement.

"I would love Rowan Atkinson to be in 'Doctor Who,'" Smith said. "I think he'd be wonderful."

Atkinson, best known for the Mr. Bean franchise as well as his Johnny English movies, did appear as The Doctor in a 1999 "Comic Relief" special that was written by, believe it or not, Steven Moffat.

"I know Rowan did a 'Comic Relief' version, and it was great," Smith said. "I think he's a fantastic actor, but I don't know if he'd do it."

Moffat also once again addressed rumors of Harry Potter director David Yates taking a non-canon version of the Doctor Who franchise to the big screen.

"There's nothing there," he said. "I mean, it would be lovely, yes. If anything, the only good bit about this is that it might actually focus our minds on thinking that we actually should do a film."

The biggest problem of doing a film the way Yates proposes is that it would create two different versions of Doctor Who at the same time.

"That would be no way to run a franchise, would it?" Moffar said. "I'd love it to happen, but that version you heard was just a guy cornered on the red carpet, and not really being on-message."

The "Doctor Who" Christmas special airs Sunday, Christmas Day, on BBC One and BBC America.

What does this all mean for "Doctor Who"? Alpha Waves Radio will air a special episode focused on the fate of "Doctor Who" on Dec. 22. The show will be available on Podbean, or at Apple's iTunes store in the podcast section.