May 19, 2008

Next: *Insert witty title here* *survey edit*

Doctor Who guru Davies steps down

Russell T Davies is to step down as executive producer of Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.

Davies is credited with breathing new life into the show which he brought back to television screens in 2005.

Bafta-winning writer Steven Moffat will succeed Davies as lead writer and executive producer of the fifth series of Doctor Who.

Moffat said that the whole of his career had been “a secret plan to get this job”.

BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter said the past four series of Doctor Who had been “brilliantly helmed” by the “spectacularly talented” Davies.

“As lead writer and executive producer, he has overseen the creative direction and detail of the 21st century re-launch of Doctor Who and we are delighted to have his continued presence on the specials over the next 18 months,” she added.

Davies will remain in charge of four specials to be shown in 2009.

The fifth series, with Moffat at the helm, is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One in Spring 2010.

Moffat has already written some of the most memorable Doctor Who episodes of recent times, including The Girl in the Fireplace and The Empty Child.

Earlier this month, he picked up the best writer Bafta for the Blink episode of series three which featured terrifying weeping angels.

Moffat said: “I applied before but I got knocked back ‘cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven.

“Anyway, I’m glad the BBC has finally seen the light and it’s a huge honour to be following Russell into the best – and the toughest – job in television.

“I say toughest ‘cos Russell’s at my window right now, pointing and laughing.”

Doctor Who’s return after a 16-year break from the screen received praise from critics and fans alike.

Speaking after the first series of the revamped show in 2005 – which starred Christopher Eccleston as the Time Lord – Davies said Doctor Who had been in desperate need of regeneration.

“I love Doctor Who and I love the old Doctor Who,” he said.

“But, even with all that love, you have to admit that the name of the programme had become a joke and its reputation had become a cheap joke at that – you know, rubber monsters and shaky sets.”

He added: “It’s been everything we planned and more, and it’s very rarely in life you get the chance to have that happen.”

Story from NEWS

Published: 2008/05/20 16:56:39 GMT

Â© BBC MMVIII

The RTD thing had been rumoured for ages. But Moffat is the perfect replacement. His episodes have been uniformly brillant. Even Dr Who And The Curse Of The Fatal Death which I posted in this entry.

Will

Smegzilla

May 20, 2008

interesting….i know he wrote “Coupling” i didn’t know he was writing Dr Who episodes. I loved it when i was little, but i actually haven’t watched any of the newer episodes

dear_gertrudeperkins

Yup I’m happy that this is a safe pair of hands and am confident of at least a season 8.

Kaly

ha ha, I love his comment about his whole life leading up to this. ryn: Okay, jeeeze, I won’t steal your shirt! LOL ;-P

A Rather Shady Mogwi

I was pouting at first, but when I saw Moffat was taking over I breathed a sigh of relief. Honestly, if it had been anyone else I’d have cried, but Moffat has kicked some SERIOUS ass so far! 🙂 ~Shady

quine ahin the lens

more classics to come i think

toile_de_jouy

May 21, 2008

I wouldn’t say uniformily brilliant, “Girl in the Fireplace” was half brilliance half kerfuffle. BUT he has an excellent record. So I suspect most people are overjoyed. And COTFD is excellent.

Rodge

May 22, 2008

RYN: Aw balls, think I messed up the date a bit there, will edit as soon as I can be arsed. Thanks for noticing 🙂

May 23, 2008

ryn: What’s Smash? I don’t get the reference.

Loves Snogs

I love rainy days. Just hate driving in the rain here. People get instantly stupid when anything falls from the sky.

nocturna

May 24, 2008

I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone really slate a Moff who episode before, looking forward to next week! And S5 of course! I’m not sure how he will get on with RTD’s job though – will he be able to churn them out like RTD does?

Oribeth

May 25, 2008

Yay for Moffat! The man’s a genius :o)