Doctor Who Showrunner RTD Explains Why He Returned
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies explains why he returned to the show after so many years away from Gallifrey and the TARDIS.
Russell T. Davies reveals the real reason he came back to Doctor Who. After becoming the showrunner that revived Doctor Who and restored it to its place on TVs everywhere, Davies has become a star in the community for introducing the Ninth (Christopher Eccleston) and Tenth (David Tennant) Doctors. Yet, since Tennant took his leave from the show, Davies followed, leaving the show in the hands of Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall for the next 12 years, with several different Doctors coming to shine in the spotlight all the while.
Of course, Davies planned to return to Doctor Who since late 2020, and he intends for his next stint as showrunner to be as grand as the first. Tennant will return alongside him before the Doctor inevitably regenerates into Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa. Yet Tennant isn’t the only reason Davies agreed to take up his role as showrunner once more. In an interview with GQ, Davies revealed that the increased budget Doctor Who is receiving from its partnership with Disney+ is a big draw for him. Check out his quote below:
“Yes, I think it does, it’s one of the reason I’ve come back — you can tell stories on a bigger scale. It’s the same old problems, I still have to cut scenes because they’re too expensive, and I still have to reduce the number of monsters, and things like that. But my imagination feels more free, a lot more free, actually. It’s just a joy to write anyway. I’m really proud of it. Oh my god, there are some strong episodes coming up.”
How Russel T. Davies Is Changing Doctor Who — Again
Davies is returning to a Doctor Who that has grown considerably over the years, with Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker taking up the role while he was gone. Unfortunately, Chibnall’s era came close to causing a cancellation for Doctor Who due to its declining ratings and shrinking influence on the popular zeitgeist. Davies’ return is all that saved the show from returning to limbo and waiting for another revival some decades down the road. The showrunner is reappearing with style by introducing new monsters, bringing an old Doctor, and adding the lovable Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) back to the show.
Davies is back in the driver’s seat and is bringing back the elements of modern Doctor Who that make the show so lovable by bringing all of modern Doctor Who back to its roots. Davies alone can’t fix Doctor Who‘s problems, but he has a good opportunity to try. The mistakes of the Chibnall run largely stem from a retcon that left the Doctor an immortal and timeless icon in Gallifreyan culture, but it also suffered from underdeveloped companions and a slow pace. Given Davies’ previous stint on the franchise revolved around quick pacing, detailed characterization of the Doctor’s many companions, and an ability to make even exposition interesting, he has the opportunity to fix many issues.
Davies also intends to use the opportunity to branch out to other storylines, much like he did when he created the spin-off show Torchwood after introducing Captain Jack Harkness to the Doctor Who universe. Davies has confirmed that he is working on multiple Doctor Who spin-offs now that Doctor Who has the budget to support them. There’s no way to say whether the shows will be based on old characters, as The Sarah Jane Adventures was, or new heroes like Torchwood. With Doctor Who ready for a resurgence, Davies is intending to use its bigger budget to change the franchise entirely.
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Source: GQ
Doctor Who Showrunner RTD Explains Why He Returned
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies is one of the most beloved and influential figures in the long-running BBC science-fiction/fantasy series, and in October 2020 RTD returned to the show for a one-off special for the show’s 60th anniversary. In an exclusive interview, RTD explains why he decided to come back and the excitement he felt when he was given the greenlight by the BBC.
The Making of the Special
When asked about how he came to collaborate on the special, RTD said that he was inspired to come back to the show after recent successes like a young Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, taking the reins of the show. He also said that he was excited to collaborate with “some old friends” and former Doctor Who showrunners Steven Moffat and Julie Gardner, and that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity to put their “collective genius” into one special episode.
The Challenge of Writing
RTD explained that the challenge in writing the special was to combine elements of the show’s various eras, both classic and modern, into one cohesive narrative. He said that he put much effort into giving the special an air of familiarity while also introducing new characters and elements to the show.
The Theme of the Episode
RTD explained that the theme of the special was empathy. He said that he wanted to show the audience the power of understanding and connection that the Doctor and his companions have for the people and worlds they meet, and that he believes this is the heart of Doctor Who.
Frequently Asked Questions about “Doctor Who Showrunner RTD Explains Why He Returned”
- Who is Russell T. Davies?
Russell T. Davies (or RTD) is a Welsh screenwriter and producer best known for his work on the long-running BBC science-fiction/fantasy series, Doctor Who. He was the showrunner from 2005 to 2010.
- What was the special episode that he wrote for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary?
The special episode that RTD wrote for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary was titled “Revolution of the Daleks”. It aired on New Year’s Day 2021 in the UK.
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What was the theme of the special episode?
The theme of the special episode was empathy. RTD explained that he wanted to show the audience the power of understanding and connection that the Doctor and his companions have for the people and worlds they meet.
Summary
In an exclusive interview, former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies (RTD) explains why he returned to the show for its 60th anniversary special. RTD reveals that he was inspired to come back to the show after recent successes like a young Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, taking the reins of the show. He also explains the challenge of writing the special, which was to combine elements of the show’s various eras, both classic and modern, into one cohesive narrative. He discussed the theme of the special episode, which was empathy, and how he hopes it will show the power of understanding and connection that the Doctor and his companions have for the people and worlds they meet.
