Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[jaime]

I know it's mostly spin but Russell says everyone is happy with the ratings the series is getting, particularly with the under-30 age group, which he was apparently asked to make the series more attractive to. (Hence Gatwa instead of Capaldi Mk II presumably.)

On the positive front tThe Live +28 numbers have continued to grow, with Episode 1 adding another 1.6 million over the Live +7.

https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/rtd-doctor-who-series-14-ratings-102279.htm

Think I caught sight of a break down where 7-14 viewers are basically non-existent though. At this rate they’re gonna have to dump a truck of cash outside Matt Smiths house for the 25th anniversary of the new series, and course correct again. (Smith was def popular with the kids at the time)
Eight episodes is too short, two with little to no presence by lead actor throughout, and inconsistent costuming, it’s not enough to be a base to grow off.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

RTD's five adventures to revisit before the finale are:

Spearhead from Space
Bad Wolf / Parting of the Ways
The Bells of Saint John
A Good Man Goes to War
The Church on Ruby Road

Um, source?

 

[Rich Watson]

Um, source?

Russel T Davies in the Radio Times.

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

Russel T Davies in the Radio Times.

Ah, fair. Don't read that. Greece.

 

[Mr Awe]

I thought I saw that the 28-day figures for the earlier episodes in the season were in the BBCs Top 10. I don't see those now, but if true, that's still pretty darn good!

 

[Rich Watson]

I thought I saw that the 28-day figures for the earlier episodes in the season were in the BBCs Top 10. I don't see those now, but if true, that's still pretty darn good!

If the Live + 28s for every episode are over 5 million the series has nothing to worry about. Well, from the BBC anyway. What Disney thinks is the real mystery. Not in it's Top 10 shows on the one hand but costs them a fraction of, for example, The Acolyte's 180 million (!!) for eight episodes on the other hand.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Davies told Radio Times (annoyingly ScreenRant doesn't link the interview and I can't find it, so maybe it's behind a paywall) that he's already working Gatwa's third series even though it hasn't been commissioned by Disney or the BBC yet:

I'm working on the fourth script now for season 3. It's not actually commissioned, that's still up in the air. But that's the same for every TV programme. I shouldn't say we're confident, because that's asking for a fall, but we're very confident, to be honest. And we'll just keep going.

I can't stop, that's the problem!

Ncuti's off to do a play, The Importance of Being Earnest. And so were coming back after that. Amazingly, we might be shooting those scripts early next year. Those scripts have to be ready by about August, for prep. And it's June. We're not behind - but all my deadlines are just going to slap me in the face like mad. That's my summer ruined, ha!​

 

[Captaindemotion]

Ian Levine's had a meltdown on Twitter this morning. He appears to feel personally betrayed by RTD, as if all the other times he felt personally betrayed by RTD didn't happen.

This is *chef’s kiss gif* https://x.com/robritchie409/status/1801632688970899785?s=46&t=4gRLv-uovddel5zbS4TQ9g

 

[Turtletrekker]

This is *chef’s kiss gif* https://x.com/robritchie409/status/1801632688970899785?s=46&t=4gRLv-uovddel5zbS4TQ9g

Brilliant!

 

[Rich Watson]

Ian Levine: A 70 year old man with the mentality of a teenager.

******************

And re that Radio Times interview, while they usually put their DW stories on their website this is only in the print version.

So we should have an idea in a couple of months what's happening ( or not) since Bad Wolf usually are recruiting crew/production people once pre-production starts.

I think it shuts the door on any spin-off though, if Russell is head down getting S3/16 into shape.

 

[Rich Watson]

I'd totally forgotten about it until now but this photo from the day Varada was unofficially revealed to the world would seem to confirm the "evil gods" story isn't getting wrapped up next Friday/Saturday.

 

[tenmei]

I'd totally forgotten about it until now but this photo from the day Varada was unofficially revealed to the world would seem to confirm the "evil gods" story isn't getting wrapped up next Friday/Saturday.

How do you get that from this picture?

 

[Rich Watson]

You mean apart from most of the letters of the movie title being blown away leaving the word Harbinger behind?

 

[tenmei]

You mean apart from most of the letters of the movie title being blown away leaving the word Harbinger behind?

No need to take a tone like that.

And with all due respect, you can't see that in the first picture you posted.

 

[Rich Watson]

No need to take a tone like that.

And with all due respect, you can't see that in the first picture you posted.

You can see the "R B INGER". Hardly "Wheel of Fortune".

 

[Mr Awe]

I'd totally forgotten about it until now but this photo from the day Varada was unofficially revealed to the world would seem to confirm the "evil gods" story isn't getting wrapped up next Friday/Saturday.

Thanks for reposting that! I was wracking my brain. I knew the idea of harbinger had come up before and during Harriet's reveal I couldn't remember where that was! I was almost starting to think I had dreamt it.

 

[Iamnotspock]

No need to take a tone like that.

Indeed.

You can see the "R B INGER". Hardly "Wheel of Fortune".

If you know what to look for.

 

[Samurai8472]

Russel's finale teaser

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Far away on a distant planet there's a kind woman with vital information.

 

[jaime]

Russel's finale teaser

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Far away on a distant planet there's a kind woman with vital information.

(A) New Teeth Rusty?
(B)”All of these people are brilliant. And of course Mel’s still there.” Brutal.
(C)Is it Susan this time?

 

[JoeZhang]

I'd totally forgotten about it until now but this photo from the day Varada was unofficially revealed to the world would seem to confirm the "evil gods" story isn't getting wrapped up next Friday/Saturday.

There is another photo that seems to support that so be careful out there...