Who would you like to see write for Doctor Who? [slight spoilers]

[Captain Pike]

Stephen Fry, obviously.
Richard Curtis. Ok, well we are getting that. While we are at it, may as well have..
Ben Elton

Terry Jones (with Terry Gilliam directing!)

Terrance Dicks
Chris Boucher (possibly revisiting past companion Leela)

Alan Barnes
Jacqueline Rayner
Nicholas Briggs. (Together with Rob Shearman, they coulld write the ultimate dalek 2-parter)

 

[Bones2]

While we are at it, may as well have..
Ben Elton

 

[Stevil2001]

As for Fry, I don't really harbour anything dislike for him aside from the fact he's on everything and cited as a genius for not much reason. That's more what other people make of him I suppose. But it would seem to me that his being hired as a writer is for the same reason as Curtis; he's not got any experience in sci-fi, but he is a big name.

1. Doctor Who does not really require any experience in sf.
2. Stephen Fry has, in fact, written a science fiction novel!

 

[Bones2]

Whether or not DW works better when the author has experience in SF is open to debate (I can't really argue it too strongly, because I listed myself as someone who should write for the show and I'm known for fuck all), but having written a sci-fi novel doesn't necessarily qualify Fry (certainly not jumping Mad Larry in my queue of should-be-writingers). After all, is that what he's known for? I still think the choice of him as a writer was motivated by his being a celebrity, and he's not really a celebrity for his writing.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

I still think the choice of him as a writer was motivated by his being a celebrity, and he's not really a celebrity for his writing.

The guy has written several novels as well as dozens of comedy sketches, he's worked in television all his adult life, and like Doctor Who, he is a national institution. His being famous is just icing on the cake.

 

[Classic Fan]

Well, Mark Gatiss was a great writer, especially on The League of Gentlemen comedy show, when he wrote The Lazarus Experiment for season 3, i was expecting greatness from a great guy, but it was ok, and Victory of The Daleks isnt that great either. Its a shame really. Maybe it got lost in translation somewhere.


As for writers. Well, Stephen Fry again would be cool, maybe he will get a chance to put his script forward again.

Wouldnt mind seeing someone like Joss Whedon contribute something, i know is a leap of faith, but it would be cool.

I wouldnt mind seeing Paul Cornell return to another Who story. His adaptaition of his own book 'Human Nature' was brilliant. Great concept, great execution and class emotionally driven performance from Tennant in the closing scenes.

I think Fry appears on Bones, as well. But, I don't know for certain. Just what the wife told me...

As established earlier in the thread, yes he does appear on Bones and just like everything else he appears in, he is excellent.

I remember all the Stephen Fry stuff about him writing an ep for season 1. always wondered what came of it.

Fry is excellent. Intelligent, funny, talented actor/comedian/writer/everything.

He's a national treasure.

While we are at it, may as well have..
Ben Elton

Ben Elton is a dick. There, i said it.

 

[Bones2]

Well, Mark Gatiss was a great writer, especially on The League of Gentlemen comedy show, when he wrote The Lazarus Experiment for season 3, i was expecting greatness from a great guy, but it was ok, and Victory of The Daleks isnt that great either. Its a shame really. Maybe it got lost in translation somewhere.

Gatiss didn't write The Lazarus Experiment, merely starred in it. He wrote the wonderful Unquiet Dead, the underwhelming Idiot's Lantern, and after the dreadful Victory of the Daleks, I wouldn't be sorry to see the back of him.

 

[Classic Fan]

Well, Mark Gatiss was a great writer, especially on The League of Gentlemen comedy show, when he wrote The Lazarus Experiment for season 3, i was expecting greatness from a great guy, but it was ok, and Victory of The Daleks isnt that great either. Its a shame really. Maybe it got lost in translation somewhere.

Gatiss didn't write The Lazarus Experiment, merely starred in it. He wrote the wonderful Unquiet Dead, the underwhelming Idiot's Lantern, and after the dreadful Victory of the Daleks, I wouldn't be sorry to see the back of him.

Oooops, my bad memory there. didnt think to google it.

 

[Captain Pike]

While we are at it, may as well have..
Ben Elton

Ben Elton is a dick. There, i said it.

Well I thought his novel, Gridlock was rather good (Stark also has it's moments). Also the guy really does know an awful lot about about history (to the extent of being a walking encyclopedia in some areas). Then there is all that work he has done writing for television ...

 

[Bones2]

Ben Elton is a dick. There, i said it.

Well I thought his novel, Gridlock was rather good (Stark also has it's moments). Also the guy really does know an awful lot about about history (to the extent of being a walking encyclopedia in some areas). Then there is all that work he has done writing for television ...

If his idea of sci-fi is that agonisingly bad musical of his (I don't like Queen, and their music was the best part of it for me), then I don't want him anywhere near Doctor Who. Or anywhere near breathable atmosphere for that matter.

 

[Captain Pike]

Never saw that as I have zero interest in musicals. It sounds terrible though.

Still, it seems like apples and oranges to me. I doubt that musical stage thing was "his idea of sci-fi", nor could it be said to be truly representative of most of his work, and he has done an awful lot of other stuff beside that which has met with much critical acclaim.

 

[Starkers]

I'm curious why anyone would go to a Queen based musical when they dislike Queen? But that's by the by.

I've read a few of elton's books. They're not great but I probably prefer him as a writer than as an alternative (or not funny) comic. He has some good ideas, but he isn't subtle. Probably more of an RTD writer...

 

[Bones2]

I'm curious why anyone would go to a Queen based musical when they dislike Queen? But that's by the by.

Seemed like a good idea at the time. People talked about it like it was the best thing ever. I forgot at the time that people are idiots.

 

[VDCNI]

I don't get why having experience in Sci-Fi is at all relevant? After all how many of the old series writers had that experience really. People like Robert Holmes may have written the odd Out Of The Unknown but the vast majority were jobbing TV writers who worked on a variety of different genres.

Some certainly took advantage of the DW format more than others but I struggle to think of any writer on the old or new series who would be considered a sci-fi writer.

 

[Starkers]

I'm curious why anyone would go to a Queen based musical when they dislike Queen? But that's by the by.

Seemed like a good idea at the time. People talked about it like it was the best thing ever. I forgot at the time that people are idiots.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Seemed like a good idea at the time. People talked about it like it was the best thing ever. I forgot at the time that people are idiots.

Misanthropy is a cheap way to feel unaccountable.

 

[Bones2]

Seemed like a good idea at the time. People talked about it like it was the best thing ever. I forgot at the time that people are idiots.

Misanthropy is a cheap way to feel unaccountable.

...?

Is that a particularly inept attempt at a personal attack? Shame on you.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Is that a particularly inept attempt at a personal attack? Shame on you.

An attack? No, that was not my intention. It's true that I despise misanthropy but I'm perfectly able to tolerate misanthropes.

 

[Bones2]

Why not tell a misanthrope about it instead then? This topic's about people who should write for Doctor Who.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Why not tell a misanthrope about it instead then?

I did, though I probably shouldn't have. I'm sorry.

This topic's about people who should write for Doctor Who.

Was it? People seemed to be talking about musicals.