MOFFAT NAMED NEW DOCTOR WHO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

**MattBrady** · 05-21-2008, 10:14 AM

As expected, the BBC has announced that current Dr. Who Executive Producer Russell T. Davies will step down from the series he brought back in 2005. Steven (Coupling, Jekyll) Moffatt will move into the Executive Producer role for the series as well as that of lead writer.

Moffat will assume the new position beginning with season five of Doctor Who, while Davies will be in charge of four Dr. Who specials which will be shown in 2009. Doctor Who Season Five is slated to begin broadcast in spring of 2010.

Telling the BBC that his entire career to this point had been a plan to get Doctor Who, the new Executive Producer joked that he had applied for the position before, but was turned down because the network wanted someone else and, “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."

durkadurka · 05-21-2008, 10:31 AM

Moffat has some big shoes to fill. Davies' work on Doctor Who has been incredible.

Corpulent1 · 05-21-2008, 10:38 AM

Very much looking forward to Moffat's tenure. RTD's time as showrunner has given me some good Who amidst a lot of really terrible crap, and some of the best have been Moffat-scripted episodes. Here's hoping Moffat brings back Sally Sparrow as a companion.

Reliant · 05-21-2008, 10:44 AM

I've been out of touch with the behind-the-scenes stuff with Who, so has it been confirmed that Tennant will be in season five or at least part of it? Or are the specials in 2009 leading up to something?

SpyGuy · 05-21-2008, 10:44 AM

This is best news since the announcement back in 2004 of the series return. Davies deserves credit for updating the series for a new generation of fans, but it's way past time to drop his penchant for camp and get back to darker, spookier stories that Moffat scripts so well. I honestly couldn't be happier.

And it seems there's another reason to believe a regeneration may be in store for "Journey's End," the final episode of this series. I'm not totally sold that those pics of Tennant with the Cybermen for this year's Christmas special aren't an intentional red herring. Unless the story is framed as an "untold tale" or something...

Jason Seaver · 05-21-2008, 10:54 AM

Isn't the entire reason they're doing specials rather than a regular series next year to work around Tennant's other commitments?

durkadurka · 05-21-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

And it seems there's another reason to believe a regeneration may be in store for "Journey's End," the final episode of this series. I'm not totally sold that those pics of Tennant with the Cybermen for this year's Christmas special aren't an intentional red herring. Unless the story is framed as an "untold tale" or something...

I hope not. I love Tennant as the Doctor. I didn't even watch the series until The Shakespeare Code was on Sci-Fi, but i got hooked right there.

Corpulent1 · 05-21-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Seaver

Isn't the entire reason they're doing specials rather than a regular series next year to work around Tennant's other commitments?

That's what I heard. Tennant's going to be involved in some kind of theater production.

I'm personally hoping Tennant sticks around for a while. Too many frequent regenerations and I can't really invest in the Doctor too much. It was a shame to see Chris Eccleston go after just one season, in fact. I'm not as much a fan of Tennant's Doctor as I was of Eccleston's, but I certainly like Tennant enough to see him continue. It's always a mixed bag when they introduce a new Doctor; you never know what you're gonna get.

ParisCub · 05-21-2008, 12:23 PM

That's brilliant news! If someone can improve Doctor Who, it's Moffat!

Somebody · 05-21-2008, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Seaver

Isn't the entire reason they're doing specials rather than a regular series next year to work around Tennant's other commitments?

Tennant intimated in an interview that he was treading the boards for a summer because DW was on a break anyway, not the other way around.

Robb Welch · 05-21-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpyGuy

I'm not totally sold that those pics of Tennant with the Cybermen for this year's Christmas special aren't an intentional red herring. Unless the story is framed as an "untold tale" or something...

tell me more about these.... "pictures".

Michael D. · 05-21-2008, 12:58 PM

"some kind of theatre production" is the lead in an obscure little play called "Hamlet".

I keep hearing there will be 3 specials but Matt Brady mentions four. Not sure if a Christmas Special is included in either tally.

Lestat de Lioncourt · 05-21-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattBrady

"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."

This made me giggle like a mad crazy fool!!

Long Live The Doctor! Absolutely Fabulous show!! And I actually like a bit of camp in it! Hopefully RTD will be able to still script the odd episode! Who knows? (pun intended)

Somebody · 05-21-2008, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael D.

"some kind of theatre production" is the lead in an obscure little play called "Hamlet".

With Patrick Stewart as Claudius: http://www.rsc.org.uk/WhatsOn/5723.aspx

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael D.

I keep hearing there will be 3 specials but Matt Brady mentions four. Not sure if a Christmas Special is included in either tally.

Three next year, with this year's Xmas Special making four (it's filmed as part of S4 - unlike previous Xmas Specials, which were filmed at the start of the shooting for the following year). Easter & Xmas almost certainly, with another one somewhere in the middle.