Russell T Davies to return as Doctor Who showrunner
Multi award-winning Russell T Davies will take control of the TARDIS once more as the next Doctor Who showrunner, succeeding Chris Chibnall, who departs next year.
Russell T Davies will make an explosive return to screens to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who in 2023, and series beyond. BBC Studios is partnering with Bad Wolf to produce.
Responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005, Davies is credited with propelling the show into a global phenomenon and making it one of TV’s biggest hits.
His tenure on the show oversaw a surge in popularity, enjoying huge acclaim and success. The Doctor won the nation’s hearts through his masterful relaunch, which led him to create two spin-off series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, during that time.
Davies left the show in 2009. A lifelong Doctor Who fan, he has most recently achieved huge success with Years And Years, A Very English Scandal and It’s A Sin, which won Best New Drama at the National TV Awards this month.
Russell T Davies says:
“I’m beyond excited to be back on my favourite show. But we’re time-travelling too fast, there’s a whole series of Jodie Whittaker’s brilliant Doctor for me to enjoy, with my friend and hero Chris Chibnall at the helm – I’m still a viewer for now.”
Chris Chibnall says:
“It’s monumentally exciting and fitting that Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary will see one of Britain’s screenwriting diamonds return home. Russell built the baton that is about to be handed back to him. Doctor Who, the BBC, the screen industry in Wales – and let’s be honest everyone in the whole world – have so many reasons to be Very Excited Indeed about what lies ahead.”
Piers Wenger, BBC Director of Drama, says:
“As the 13th Doctor prepares to embark on new and extraordinary adventures, the winds of change are blowing… bringing with them news to delight Doctor Who fans across the globe. We are thrilled that Russell is returning to Doctor Who to build on the huge achievements of Chris and Jodie. Thank you to the two of them and the team in Cardiff for all they continue to do for the show and hello Russell, it’s wonderful to have you back.”
The next Doctor will be announced in due course.
Analysis by BBC Entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba
It’s nearly 18 years to the day since the BBC announced that Doctor Who was returning, more than a decade after it was axed. No Doctor or companion had yet been cast, but it was confirmed that Russell T Davies would be in charge of the show. At the time, the lifelong Doctor Who fan was best known as the writer of Queer As Folk (he even managed to briefly squeeze robot dog K9 into the series).
Few predicted how huge it would become upon its return, and Davies is the man credited with much of that success. As showrunner he oversaw every creative aspect of the science fiction drama, wrote many of its scripts, and was an exceptionally hands-on executive producer – the book The Writer’s Tale, a diary of daily emails and text messages between Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook. details the attention to detail he gave to almost every part of the show, from approving merchandise designs to overseeing the plans for media events.
His unexpected return to the show has delighted many, because if there is a recent golden era of Doctor Who, it’s arguably when Davies was in charge, with the programme attracting huge viewing figures and racking up awards and critical acclaim.
With the exception of the Doctor Who TV movie with Paul McGann, Doctor Who has always been produced purely by the BBC. But from 2023 it will be a co-production with Bad Wolf. The production house was founded by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner who worked alongside Davies during his time on Doctor Who. Tranter was the BBC’s head of drama, Gardner was an executive producer on the show. Both are seen as less high profile, but still crucially important parts of Doctor Who’s previous success.
Piers Wenger, the BBC’s director of drama, said the news of Davies’ return would “delight Doctor Who fans across the globe”.
“We are thrilled that Russell is returning to Doctor Who to build on the huge achievements of Chris and Jodie,” he continued. “Russell, it’s wonderful to have you back.”
‘What a coup’
Davies’ return was also welcomed by Bad Wolf, the production company founded in 2015 by former BBC executives Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.
Gardner and Tranter both worked with Davies on the Doctor Who relaunch and will collaborate with him again when he returns as showrunner.
“We are delighted to be joining Russell T Davies on a looped ontological paradox,” said the Bad Wolf Twitter account. “Where Russell goes, we are proud to follow.
“With BBC Studios, Bad Wolf will be producing the all-new series of Doctor Who. It is a privilege to be asked to support him in Doctor Who’s future.”
Actor Matt Lucas, who played companion Nardole during Capaldi’s time as the Doctor, was evidently delighted with the news.
“Russell T Davies back in the Tardis! What a coup! I’m buzzing!” wrote the Bake Off presenter and Little Britain comic on Twitter.