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Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

Here's a thought.

Given that it's been established that the Doctor can have the same face more than once, what if the Beeb's desperation to recapture the show's glory days extends to backing the money truck up outside Tennant's house...

But with a different personality. Or..... take the face (body) of..... Rose, or Donna, or Amy :)
 
Even if some of RTD's stories were sappy or corny or whatever people want to complain about, he also was a good writer and more importantly HIRED good writers. Maybe Moffatt will come in with an episode or two.
It'll come down to the quality of writing he comissions. Let's hope, and let's hope he writes rather less than he used to. RTD does great character stuff (which is not insignificant) but doesn't do good sci-fi.

And it's not just RTD back, it's Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter as well. Now that's time travel for you.

Yup, that's Eccleston heading for the horizon.
 
On the one hand I'm delighted, on the other hand it is kind of an admission on the BBC's part that they need the man who made it one of the biggest things on TV back to save the show.

I wonder if the BBC's thinking was: RTD, Moffat, or cancellation.

RTD in 2023 is not going to make the same show he made in 2008. He can't. He's changed. The television landscape has changed. People who were ten or fifteen in 2008 are not -- and should not be -- the people he's going to be catering to in 2023.

Wonder if Eccleston knew this when he stated unequivocally that he won't be back for the 60th?

I'd doubt it.

But who will be the next Doctor? Oooo, I know Russell Tovey (not my choice, but one of RTD's "favorites").

Despite Jodie Whittaker's unequivocal statement that she and Chibnall were a team and she's leaving when he does, RTD's statement today and his praise for her makes me think he's at least going to pitch her on staying for one more series. Which I would be completely fine with.

Which leads me to...

Here's a thought.

Given that it's been established that the Doctor can have the same face more than once, what if the Beeb's desperation to recapture the show's glory days extends to backing the money truck up outside Tennant's house...

If they did that -- bring Tennant back -- then I'd really like to see RTD use Matt Smith's idea for Series 8, which would have split the series between himself and Tennant, but instead split it between Whittaker and Tennant if she could be convinced to do one more series.

That won't happen, and it would be counterproductive (since it wouldn't set Doctor Who up for another decade of success), but damn, it would be fun.

Bringing Tennant back as the fourteenth Doctor, though, would be a huge red flag in my mind, though, that the BBC has no trust in the series and doesn't even know why people watch it.
 
Here's a thought.

Given that it's been established that the Doctor can have the same face more than once, what if the Beeb's desperation to recapture the show's glory days extends to backing the money truck up outside Tennant's house...
A friend of mine is saying the same thing to me. I don’t see it happening but then again I didn’t see RTD coming back either. The thing is, Tennant is a versatile enough actor to play the Doctor totally differently from Ten and if he comes back, I think that’s probably how he’d do it.

But I’m thinking that the rumours about Olly Alexander may be closer to the mark?
 
Here's a thought.

Given that it's been established that the Doctor can have the same face more than once, what if the Beeb's desperation to recapture the show's glory days extends to backing the money truck up outside Tennant's house...
I'd say that's quite unlikely, except that it seems the first post-Chibnall story will be the anniversary special. Could they decide that bringing back the most popular Doctor is the best way to celebrate it? I'm sure the BBC would want the ratings such an event would bring in, I'm just not sure Tennant would agree to doing multiple seasons again.
 
But damn! Did anyone see this coming?
Dear God no...

Despite Jodie Whittaker's unequivocal statement that she and Chibnall were a team and she's leaving when he does, RTD's statement today and his praise for her makes me think he's at least going to pitch her on staying for one more series. Which I would be completely fine with.

Whilst obviously not being my choice, the chance of Jodie doing a season sans Chibnall might make it worth it.
 
I hope he brings us a Doctor with some swagger (dare I say BDE?) and verve. As a writer, I think he his his stride after the first season. And just think what the "gay agenda" might bring in 2022 and beyond.

I don't know that he'll bring what I want to see but I at least can imagine that he could as much as any.
 
Just wonderful, brilliant news!

I can understand the concerns, but he's still one of the best writers around in British television and is unlikely to have agreed to return unless he had new ideas, having resisted returning for years.

I would hope he's going to use the 60th anniversary to reset and reboot the show for a whole new generation, not indulge in too much looking back at the past.

But I've got faith, and I'm interested to see where he goes with casting. Looking at his recent collaborators, might be worth sticking a fiver on Lydia West.
 
WTAF? Is it April 1st already? So, Olly Alexander or Omari Douglas as 14, then...Please, gods, no more Billie Piper or Jackie fucking Tyler.
It sounds half "yay, great!" and half "The Beeb said for the 60th it had to be RTD, Moff, or cancellation, didn't they?"
 
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A friend of mine is saying the same thing to me. I don’t see it happening but then again I didn’t see RTD coming back either. The thing is, Tennant is a versatile enough actor to play the Doctor totally differently from Ten and if he comes back, I think that’s probably how he’d do it.

But I’m thinking that the rumours about Olly Alexander may be closer to the mark?

God I hope not. I mean he was amazing in It's a Sin but I don't see him as the Doctor. Lydia West on the other hand...

Anyone who's been on this forum a while probably knows I lean more towards Moffat than RTD, in fact I've probably enjoyed RTD's non-Who stuff more than I did his actual Who (Years and Years and It's a Sin were amazing) and ideally I would have a preferred a newcomer (possibly even someone not, gasp, a fan) but this is still exciting.

I guess on the one hand it suggests the BBC were really struggling to get someone to take the job, which is worrying, but on the plus side it shows confidence in the future of the show going forward.

As @Allyn Gibson says, I doubt this will be 2008 Who, RTD has matured as a writer, and presumably he'll attract a whole new raft of writers to the cause. At the end of the day even though at times he made me scream at the telly at least he could always get a reaction out of my, which is more than Chibnall's been able to do.

Kinda would like Jodie to do another year now.
 
I guess on the one hand it suggests the BBC were really struggling to get someone to take the job, which is worrying, but on the plus side it shows confidence in the future of the show going forward.
Possibly, but not necessarily. Could be that they had interested people but the timing wasn't working out, which led to the rumours that the show would be rested for three years or so.

It could be that RTD agreed to come back for a limited run to ensure the show would stay on the air and have a big 60th splash before handing over to the next person. Time will tell.
 
The thing is, Tennant is a versatile enough actor to play the Doctor totally differently from Ten and if he comes back, I think that’s probably how he’d do it.

He'd be Scottish this time! :)

But damn! Did anyone see this coming?

I was told this morning it's been rumored/expected in British television circles for about two weeks, which would be able how long the negotiations between the BBC and Bad Wolf would have taken.
 
I really don't want Tennant back (outside of him playing Ten a multi-doctor story) as I think it sets a dangerous precedent, and there are so many actors out there of all shapes, sizes, genders, colours and creeds who'd make fabulous Doctors!

We're even assuming he'd want to come back (he doesn't seem short of work)

DT as the Master however...
 
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