The mediaguardian website has broken a story that's been rumoured for what feels like forever: Steven Moffat will be replacing Russell T Davies as showrunner on Doctor Who next year. Moffat will take charge as executive producer on the revived show's fifth series, which goes into production next year for broadcast in 2010. [The fourth series is currently being broadcast, while three specials will be screened during 2009 to allow the show's cast and crew a hiatus.]
This is brilliant news, in my humble opinion. Moffat has written most of my favourite episodes since the show returned in 2005: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances; The Girl in the Fireplace; and the BAFTA-winning Blink last year. He's created and been executive producer for several series in the past, and will bring a new perspective to Who. Can't wait to see what Moffat does with the show, just wish we didn't have to wait until 2010 for series five.
Having said that, Davies deserves all the plaudits he's had for reviving Doctor Who. He turned something considered little more than a joke in television into must-see-TV, revived the notion of drama the whole family could watch and brought science fiction back from the dead as small screen genre in the UK.
3 comments:
Didn't detect any "science fiction" in the episodes i saw.
A heck of a lot of "fantasy" with side orders of cheap sentiment, poor characterisation and bad humour.
But definitely no "science".
I think it's been obvious throughout the current series that Davies' reign was getting stale - too many in-jokes, too much repetition of old themes, motifs and tropes.
I'm glad he's been able to recognize this himself, and took the necessary action. No easy thing, when it's still a massive popular success.
David, considering your interest in becoming a TV writer, I'm suprised that you haven't tried your hand at doing something for Who - especially considering that both Who novels and Who audio dramas have been adapted for the show (Dalek & Suddenly Human/Family of Blood).
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