Russell T Davies reveals why he will never write another Doctor Who episode
The former series showrunner has novelised his first adventure – but he says he won’t be coming back to the main series for a very good reason
Russell T Davies has recently adapted his very first Doctor Who episode for a new novel, and included some interesting changes to the original story – but if this had you hoping he might return to the main series, the former showrunner is putting all such speculation to bed.
“People keep asking me if I’ll write another episode,” Davies wrote in the latest Doctor Who Magazine, where he took over the regular Production Notes column that he used to pen during his time as showrunner from 2005-2010.
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“But really, think about it. Go back to the job you had 13 years ago. Or go back to your old school. Walk in, say hello, take your old seat. And start giving instructions! Watch everyone’s faces. Shortly before they call the police.
“There’s a wonderful play by Alan Bennett, A Visit from Miss Prothero, which is a ruthless warning against ever feeling you’ve been missed,” he continued.
“Move on! And besides. Why look back? The future is golden.”
Still, fans shouldn’t feel too sad about the prospect of an RTD-less Doctor Who future – if you haven’t read it, there’s still his brilliant novelisation of Rose to enjoy, and in any case the screenwriter says he’ll never truly leave the Whoniverse behind (a fact he’s actually emphasised to us before).
“People keep saying, ‘Oh you’re back, you’re back in Doctor Who, back, back, back.’” Davies said of the new Target novel project.
“But…I never went away! I’m a Doctor Who fan. It’s permanent. It’s indelible, it’s instinct.”
We’re sure millions of Whovians around the world can fully understand that sentiment.
Doctor Who returns to BBC1 this autumn, and Russell T Davies’ novelisation of Rose is on sale now
Authors
Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.
