Spoilers Russell T. Davies Returns to Doctor Who as New Showrunner

[Starkers]

If that's a response to me, it's a simple matter of fact that some people, not necessarily including myself (I like some of it), have not been impressed by RTD2, just as it's a simple matter of fact that Disney dropped the show.

Correlation does not imply causation though, I wonder if the Disney deal would have failed no matter who the Doctor and/or showrunner was?

And we still don't know how successful (or not) Who was on Disney. It wasn't a huge outlay either (compare it to how much they spent on Andor for example). I guess we may never know the real reason(s).

 

[Rich Watson]

Correlation does not imply causation though, I wonder if the Disney deal would have failed no matter who the Doctor and/or showrunner was?

And we still don't know how successful (or not) Who was on Disney. It wasn't a huge outlay either (compare it to how much they spent on Andor for example). I guess we may never know the real reason(s).

Their spending on 26 episodes of DW & TWB almost certainly cost them less than the budget of two episodes of 'Andor'.

The reality is Disney have dumped multiple shows that they didn't fully own, including ones like 'Nautilus' which they didn't even bother screening at all. (As have all the other streamers.)

 

[Brendan Moody]

RTD said in late November that he hadn’t started the script for the Christmas special and wouldn’t be working on it until 2026, so the odds that a complete draft is already circulating at the BBC and preproduction is underway seem pretty slim.

 

[Rich Watson]

RTD said in late November that he hadn’t started the script for the Christmas special and wouldn’t be working on it until 2026, so the odds that a complete draft is already circulating at the BBC and preproduction is underway seem pretty slim.

The end of S2 seems to be setting Piper's character up for a much increased role in Wednesday S3, so that's going to keep her busy for the first half of the year too.

 

[Mr Awe]

She's a British comedy actress who first gained fame playing Philomena Cunk for Charlie Brooker. Mandy is an little comedy show she writes and directs. It's just finished it's 4th season.

Does seem that the Christmas special was filmed in January and because it relates to international diplomacy something that's happened recently no longer plays well. I wonder if it took the piss out of Trump and the BBC decided now's probably not the best time to do that (even though Mandy would be far from the only tv show taking the piss out of the big orange buffoon, don't HIGNFY do that weekly?)

I thought she was great in Motherland!

 

[The Wormhole]

What would people rather?

8/10 episodes every two or three years or a guaranteed three 90 minute episodes plus a Christmas special every year?

Between those two options, the guaranteed three 90 minute episodes and a Christmas special annually is definitely the preferred choice.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

RTD said in late November that he hadn’t started the script for the Christmas special and wouldn’t be working on it until 2026, so the odds that a complete draft is already circulating at the BBC and preproduction is underway seem pretty slim.

For that reason alone, those rumors are more than likely pure rubbish.

Which is a relief because I hate that plot synopsis and I hate the idea of making Doctor Who event epsiodes only. That's less to do with the episode count and more about not wanting the show to become too focused on the spectacle. The show's best stories, both classic and modern, are the quieter ones. I certainly want a lot more than three episodes per series and, yes, I'm willing to wait if necessary.

As for the showrunners, there isn't much point in going through that list for the aforementioned reason, but I will agree with the hard no on Pete McTige. I also agree on the idea that getting someone from outside of the franchise might be the best course right now.

 

[Mr Awe]

What would people rather?

8/10 episodes every two or three years or a guaranteed three 90 minute episodes plus a Christmas special every year?

While I know shorter seasons are a financial necessity, I don't buy that the BBC couldn't produce 10 episodes of DW annually.

A guaranteed three 90 minute episodes plus Christmas special is just not enough (4 evenings with 6 hours of content for an entire year). It'll be hard to develop the characters. Every episode will face pressure to be an epic event because they're few and far between in addition to being expanded in length.

Do a 10 episode season every year plus Christmas special. You can develop the characters and get to know them. You can include the more quiet, small scale stories that can be done on a smaller budget.

DW is a prestige series for the BBC. They should be willing to put the resources into it. And, I don't mean to have the best SFx ever but enough to make 10 episodes a year consistently.

 

[Mr Awe]

If that's a response to me, it's a simple matter of fact that some people, not necessarily including myself (I like some of it), have not been impressed by RTD2, just as it's a simple matter of fact that Disney dropped the show.

RTD2 has been a decidedly mixed bag for me. While I don't hate all of it, I didn't love most of it either. I liked some and disliked others. But I did hate a few episodes. I found the second season to be better than the first, so there were signs of improvement. Most of the 2nd season was entertaining to some degree but again, I didn't love it. Just entertained.

Even in the stories I enjoyed, I found the pacing too rushed and there were logical gaps in the flow of events.

Personally, I would be happy if RTD was done with DW. Nothing against him but I think he gave his all for DW and it would be hard for him to give more effectively.

On the other hand, I have no idea who should take over. I'm glad that decision is not mine!

 

[jaime]

While I know shorter seasons are a financial necessity, I don't buy that the BBC couldn't produce 10 episodes of DW annually.

A guaranteed three 90 minute episodes plus Christmas special is just not enough (4 evenings with 6 hours of content for an entire year). It'll be hard to develop the characters. Every episode will face pressure to be an epic event because they're few and far between in addition to being expanded in length.

Do a 10 episode season every year plus Christmas special. You can develop the characters and get to know them. You can include the more quiet, small scale stories that can be done on a smaller budget.

DW is a prestige series for the BBC. They should be willing to put the resources into it. And, I don't mean to have the best SFx ever but enough to make 10 episodes a year consistently.

The ‘few specials’ has always been the cheap way to keep a series going if it’s otherwise too expensive, but also a valuable property. Especially if the cast have got expensive and popular elsewhere, or were to start off with. (See: Only Fools and Horses, Sherlock itself, or even the recent one-off Gavin and Stacey.) It’s become *more* prevalent because of the state of financial affairs in broadcast television. (See: Red Dwarf The Promised Land, and the cancellation of its next special over at U&)
It’s a sort of life support option.
Doctor Who really shouldn’t be as susceptible — it’s entire cast can be replaced if you need to, and it’s not tied to a single writer or production team like many Comedies (and CHM Era successful Top Gear) are.
But it has other things that make it a little more expensive, and there really is very little going on in screen production atm.
I think the evolution of BBC Studios is a mistake, because any savings made from in-house BBC production is now well and truly gone. Before, a show making money wasn’t the point, but was a ‘nice to have’.
Now, if shows don’t sell elsewhere (or shift merch) they are a bit done for. (Or in the case of ITV and the commercial channels, sell advertising space and sponsorship — the bottom is out of that market in part due to government interference.)

 

[Steve Roby]

Here's some of the 21st century UK shows I've been watching from the last few years and the number of episodes in their most recent season. I've left out shows that are one and done. I also haven't checked which are BBC and which are ITV or if any are streaming exclusives, but I think they're still valid data points for UK TV in 2026.

Shetland: 6
Ludwig: 6
Bookish (Mark Gatiss's new series): 6
Karen Pirie: 3
Lynley: 4
Vigil: 6
No Offence: 6
Crime: 6
Endeavour: 3
Grace: 4
Sherwood: 6
Annika: 6

That's a mix of shows with hourlong episodes and shows with 90minute episodes, with more of the former, I think. Also mostly cop shows, but if there are any recent SF shows on UK TV with multiple seasons in the last few years that aren't Doctor Who, I guess I haven't seen them or forgot about them.

The thing about cop shows compared to Doctor Who is that they don't have to build a new world every week or do lots of special visual effects, makeup, prosthetics, or costumes. Some of them have more regulars than Doctor Who, but in general, it seems unlikely that many of these would be more expensive or challenging to produce than Doctor Who. And yet they aren't getting 10 episodes a year.

 

[jaime]

Here's some of the 21st century UK shows I've been watching from the last few years and the number of episodes in their most recent season. I've left out shows that are one and done. I also haven't checked which are BBC and which are ITV or if any are streaming exclusives, but I think they're still valid data points for UK TV in 2026.

Shetland: 6
Ludwig: 6
Bookish (Mark Gatiss's new series): 6
Karen Pirie: 3
Lynley: 4
Vigil: 6
No Offence: 6
Crime: 6
Endeavour: 3
Grace: 4
Sherwood: 6
Annika: 6

That's a mix of shows with hourlong episodes and shows with 90minute episodes, with more of the former, I think. Also mostly cop shows, but if there are any recent SF shows on UK TV with multiple seasons in the last few years that aren't Doctor Who, I guess I haven't seen them or forgot about them.

The thing about cop shows compared to Doctor Who is that they don't have to build a new world every week or do lots of special visual effects, makeup, prosthetics, or costumes. Some of them have more regulars than Doctor Who, but in general, it seems unlikely that many of these would be more expensive or challenging to produce than Doctor Who. And yet they aren't getting 10 episodes a year.

6 is the new 12, which long ago was the new 24.
Or thereabouts.
The problem is audience retention, especially amongst the younger end of the audience.
Adult shows even historically can have years between seasons, and it kind of works out — time genuinely feels shorter as you get older. As a point of reference, Summer lasted forever when we were kids right? Even into our twenties? Christmas too… but now? It’s over as soon as it begins. Relative I guess.
But back to TV and two years for a ten year old — Who’s original bread and butter audience, or a part of it at least — is literally a *fifth of their entire life to that point*and they are going to move on to other things when there’s no blue box on the telly.
It could even be argued that that is part of what did for its popularity in the eighties too — shorter seasons, the hiatus, kids getting invested in the non-serial adventure series on the other side that could often be repeated and you almost wouldn’t notice you’d seen it already when you are small.
Top Gear had the audience it did because twice a year the chaps were being silly and the Stig was being cool. Away just long enough for the smaller ones in the audience to start missing them, or be busy on holidays and what have you, then back on the telly box to do new things.
Now? Well, there’s the repeat channels, so nothing is *really* gone, but new things are rarer and rarer, whether thats new episodes of a thing thats loved, or genuinely new things in general. Especially on Broadcast Telly.

Granted, it’s all just the shape of modern telly, and modern telly finances (and 4k UHD is still the exception rather than the rule on broadcast) but Who hasn’t found its way yet.
But when you look at the success of things like Slow Horses (which admittedly is not a family show) it’s clear the old model still has a place. It’s just… gone somewhere else.

 

[Mr Awe]

Here's some of the 21st century UK shows I've been watching from the last few years and the number of episodes in their most recent season. I've left out shows that are one and done. I also haven't checked which are BBC and which are ITV or if any are streaming exclusives, but I think they're still valid data points for UK TV in 2026.

Again, I just don't buy it for DW specifically. I don't recognize most of the shows on your list. And the ones I've heard of, I literally just have heard the name mentioned. Whereas DW is recognized around the world.

But, I get it. Finances are a concern and there are competing interests. I'm ok with the situation as it is, especially because I don't think DW has been producing top quality content for awhile now.

But I'm not sure it's the smartest decision on the BBC's part. I get the life support analogy. However, it just seems like it's a real tall order to revive DW to its previous glory with so few episodes spread out so much. It'll keep going among existing fans (probably) but hard to create new fans.

 

[The Wormhole]

A guaranteed three 90 minute episodes plus Christmas special is just not enough (4 evenings with 6 hours of content for an entire year). It'll be hard to develop the characters. Every episode will face pressure to be an epic event because they're few and far between in addition to being expanded in length.

I don't think character development should be too hard under this model, particularly if they just keep it at Doctor and one Companion. Sherlock did a pretty good job developing its cast of two with the three 90 minute episode model, along with a handful of supporting characters. I do agree such short seasons will face pressure to be epic events. Indeed, one complaint I saw about the later seasons of Sherlock which I agree with was at that point they knew the seasons were Event Television and tried a bit too hard to make it bombastic and memorable.

 

[JD]

DW is a prestige series for the BBC. They should be willing to put the resources into it. And, I don't mean to have the best SFx ever but enough to make 10 episodes a year consistently.

Is it? I was getting the be under the impression that at this point it was failing, and barely surviving on just enough of the hardcore fanbase to keep it on the right side of cancelation.
Wasn't the Disney deal and whatever next deal they make with someone else, their last desparate attempts to keep from having to canceling it?

 

[Steve Roby]

I don't recognize most of the shows on your list. And the ones I've heard of, I literally just have heard the name mentioned. Whereas DW is recognized around the world.

Doctor Who is a British TV series by the British state broadcaster for a British audience that has managed to get a fan base in other territories. But it's part of the British TV industry, so I compared it to recent British TV series.

The others are newer and haven't had as much time to become well known, but Endeavour is the third TV series based on or inspired by the internationally bestselling Inspector Morse novels: Morse (1987-2000), Lewis (2006-2015), and Endeavour (2013-2023). In the US they've been repeatedly run on PBS.

Going back a little farther, there's Line of Duty (2012-2021), which started on BBC 2 then moved to the main BBC channel. Its last season, 2020-2021, had seven episodes and an average viewership of nearly 14 million, almost three times the number of Doctor Who viewers that year. Despite being one of the biggest shows on UK TV at the time, its six seasons had five to seven episodes each.

Granted, Coronation Street is still in its first season (11,765 episodes since December 1960), so by that standard Doctor Who has really been a slacker.

 

[jaime]

Can’t we just cancel Eastenders, sell the real estate that set is on, and get Doctor Who at 20 episodes?

 

[Steve Roby]

Can’t we just cancel Eastenders, sell the real estate that set is on, and get Doctor Who at 20 episodes?

Or keep the real estate and keep running the show in tandem with Doctor Who. Dimensions in Time: The Next Regeneration!

 

[Set Harth]

Gallifrey may come and go. Eastenders is eternal.

 

[Mr Awe]

I don't think character development should be too hard under this model, particularly if they just keep it at Doctor and one Companion. Sherlock did a pretty good job developing its cast of two with the three 90 minute episode model, along with a handful of supporting characters. I do agree such short seasons will face pressure to be epic events. Indeed, one complaint I saw about the later seasons of Sherlock which I agree with was at that point they knew the seasons were Event Television and tried a bit too hard to make it bombastic and memorable.

Yeah, I'm not saying it's impossible. But there is just something nice about seeing the characters across more episodes. And having the screen time for the slower character based stories as well.

Well, I'll be glad to have more DW regardless of how much it is!