It’s Time to Go: Doctor Who Needs a Meaningful Break — and a New Showrunner to Thrive Again
Feature article by Cameron Smith.
At the end of 2023, having watched the 60th Anniversary Specials and Doctor Who’s Christmas episode, “The Church on Ruby Road”, I wrote an article about why I’d lost interest in Doctor Who and why I probably wouldn’t watch the then-upcoming series starring Ncuti Gatwa. As I suspected, when the new series arrived, I still wasn’t interested and haven’t watched any new episodes in the last two years.
You might wonder why I’m writing this at all, and that’s a fair question. Although I haven’t seen Series 14 or 15, I’ve continued to follow the Gatwa era of Doctor Who closely through fan reactions, ratings, and discussion, to see whether the new series might be worth watching again. I believe this puts me in a unique position, still in the loop but no longer emotionally invested in the current direction of the show. That distance, I think, offers a clearer perspective on what Doctor Who may need in order to recover, and maybe even bring back lapsed fans like myself.
Time to Let Doctor Who Rest and Refresh
As the title of this article implies, the first thing Doctor Who desperately needs is a hiatus. Amidst rumours of a short break, the Disney deal falling apart, and even cancellation by the BBC, Russell T Davies has acknowledged that audiences are in for a bit of a wait before a new series arrives. However, I think the show needs more than just a short break. It needs an indefinite hiatus. Doctor Who doesn’t need to be cancelled outright, but I believe production should pause until a completely new direction can be agreed upon.
I feel a hiatus is necessary based on recent trends in other major franchises. In recent years, franchises like Marvel, DC, and Star Wars have tried to course-correct without slowing production. The results were disappointing across the board. DC Studios and Lucasfilm eventually recognised that suspending production until a clear new direction could be agreed was the smarter move.
Doctor Who doesn’t need a full reboot like DC Studios is attempting, but rather a hiatus similar in purpose to the one the Star Wars films had after 2019. New Star Wars films are now back on the schedule, showing that hiatuses can be temporary and productive. Disney allowed that break, so there’s reason to believe they might allow one for Doctor Who too, without scrapping their co-production deal with the BBC. Whether that deal should continue is debatable, but I’ll leave that for others to discuss.
Time to Find A New Showrunner
The next thing I believe Doctor Who needs is a new showrunner. If there’s one thing that many fan reviews and reactions have made clear over the past couple of years, it’s that Russell T Davies has lost his touch. While he did a brilliant job reviving the show in 2005, his latest tenure hasn’t been nearly as successful.
It has become increasingly apparent that Davies is no longer in tune with what both long-time fans and general audiences are looking for from the show. While critic reviews on sites like Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic have been positive, audience reactions have been lukewarm at best. Many fans have expressed disappointment with the storytelling, and the falling viewing figures over the last couple of seasons further suggest that general audiences are losing interest too, a far more significant concern.
Davies has said he was brought on to attract viewers under 30 and that he was “massively successful” in doing so. But the numbers tell a different story. That demographic also appears to be tuning out, just like others. At the very least, the show clearly isn’t growing its audience, which is typically the goal for any second season.
Now, to be fair, Davies hasn’t had a real chance yet to respond to feedback. Series 15 started filming in 2023, immediately after Series 14 wrapped, before the 60th Anniversary Specials or Series 14 had even aired. It’s possible he could take criticism on board and change course. But honestly, I don’t think that’s likely for several reasons.
After the massive backlash to the Timeless Child storyline during the Chibnall era, Davies not only kept it, but doubled down on it. That strongly suggests he doesn’t reflect much on any criticism. And because his own work hasn’t drawn quite as much heat as Chibnall’s, he probably sees no reason to change.
Some might call that artistic integrity. But as Chibnall’s era proved, sticking to a plan that the audience dislikes rarely ends well. As a previous contributor to Doctor Who TV pointed out, the show has also become combative. Davies pushed the Timeless Child arc further in the 60th Anniversary Specials and “The Church on Ruby Road” despite knowing how divisive it had become.
This same lack of adaptability can be seen in how some characters have been introduced. Rather than feeling like integral parts of the story, characters such as Rose Noble and Shirley Bingham have been criticised for not fully developed or meaningfully integrated into the narrative. Many viewers feel that these characters lack narrative purpose and, in doing so, miss the mark in delivering meaningful representation.
We’ve also had episodes like “Lucky Day” that bring real-world issues front and centre. Doctor Who used to be escapist fantasy, but now it frequently reminds us of the very problems most of us turn to fiction to forget. Both issues in the real world and issues within the show itself.
One of the great strengths of storytelling is its ability to offer meaningful social commentary, but that only works when handled with nuance. Fiction should explore real-life issues through thought-provoking allegory, not as not blunt, literal reminders of them. Like Chibnall before him, Davies seems to have lost all subtlety in this area. By continuing a trend that was widely criticised during the Chibnall era, Davies has only reinforced my belief that he’s no longer the right man for the job.
The simplest solution is to hire a new showrunner. A clean break from the issues created under the past two showrunners is likely the most effective solution. As Occam’s razor suggests, the simplest solution is often the best one.
Time to Reflect, Time to Renew
Russell T Davies has more or less confirmed that Doctor Who is heading into a short hiatus. Instead of rushing back with a new series, I hope the decision-makers take this time to find a strong new direction. It’s possible Davies could remain as showrunner and respond to criticism, but I think that’s unlikely.
I believe it would be far better to bring in someone new with a fresh vision. Ideally, this person would respect the show’s history and lore while staying true to its core, and still manage to bring something new to the table.
It’s a tall order, but I believe that’s exactly what many fans are hoping for now. And I, for one, am happy to wait a few years for that new vision to be realised.
