DOCTOR WHO: Former Showrunner Steven Moffat Reveals Whether He Has Plans To Write Any Future Episodes

DOCTOR WHO: Former Showrunner Steven Moffat Reveals Whether He Has Plans To Write Any Future Episodes

With Russell T Davies returning to Doctor Who for its latest relaunch, speculation has run rampant that Steven Moffat might also make a comeback. Here's what he had to say about a possible future return...

By JoshWilding - Feb 07, 2024 03:02 AM EST
Filed Under: Doctor Who
Source: Radio Times (via SFFGazette.com)

There's just a few months left until Doctor Who returns and it's then that we'll get to see more of what Russell T Davies has in store for the Time Lord. He was the showrunner when the series returned to our screens back in 2005 and oversaw both Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant's respective runs in the Tardis. 

Davies was succeeded by Steven Moffat, the Sherlock scribe who penned some of the best episodes - "Blink," for example - during his predecessor's tenure. 

Moffat was showrunner when Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi were playing the Doctor but could he reunite with Davies to write an episode or two of Ncuti Gatwa's stint as the Doctor? Talking to Radio Times (via SFFGazette.com), Moffat revealed whether a potential return is somewhere on the horizon. 

"Look at my ageing face. How can I fit in?" he wondered aloud. "And I know, because I've seen the feedback, that people think I'm being evasive on the subject. The truth is, if I say anything negative about Doctor Who it goes everywhere, like boom, everywhere, right?"

"It doesn't exactly bring joy to the world that I just say something negative about Doctor Who. The fact is, it's fine without me," Moffat continued. "We've got Russell there. We've got a bunch of new writers there. We've got Ncuti [Gatwa, Fifteenth Doctor] there. It's all good."

The showrunner shared a similar sentiment in 2022 when he explained how challenging it was to spearhead Doctor Who

"It was at the same time as Sherlock and, for a moment there, those were the two shows in that area that were massive," he explained. "They were massive."

"So they both needed to be thought about every single day. And by the time I did my sixth and last season of Doctor Who - which was two beyond what I had planned to do - I was surviving episode-to-episode. I was tired."

Doctor Who is the longest-running action-adventure television series in the world spanning 60 years and winning over 100 awards. This quintessentially British show has a massive global following, with 9.6m fans across social platforms/channels and 100m video views on YouTube in the last year alone. 

The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios, for BBC and Disney Branded Television. Executive producers include Davies (writer and showrunner), Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, Joel Collins, and Phil Collinson.

Would you like to see Moffat return to Doctor Who? Let us know in the comments section below.

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lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/7/2024, 3:59 AM
I'm sort of interested in starting this series. However, there's SO much content with the entire show that it seems it would be a huge undertaking and I'd grow disinterested.

Is it worth the time to try and binge Dr. Who?
MarvelousMarty
MarvelousMarty - 2/7/2024, 4:10 AM
@lazlodaytona - Up to Tennant's first stint maybe, after that it's utter sh*t. The early stuff is great. In its prime up to Peter Davidson.
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 2/7/2024, 4:16 AM
@lazlodaytona - If you try going from the start... as in Hartnell's first Doctor... then you will probably struggle, especially as it starts off in black and white, along with some of the aged visual effects.
If you are going to start from the newer era from Eccleston onwards, there is still a lot to watch but it is much more palatable, you could potentially start from the TV movie, although that isn't great...
DevilsDreams
DevilsDreams - 2/7/2024, 4:17 AM
@MarvelousMarty - I think Matt Smith grew into the role, although I wasn't a fan of Amy as a character.
the writing definitely went downhill after that, although I can't help but like Capaldi.
ZomZom
ZomZom - 2/7/2024, 4:18 AM
@lazlodaytona - Totally depends on what you want to get out of it. If I were you, I'd invest the time and start with Eccleston. The 60's - 80's has some great elements but the poor production values are too much of a barrier for a modern audience. Eccleston's turn was a rebirth so easy to pick it up there.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/7/2024, 4:21 AM
@MarvelousMarty - cool. thanks for the response.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/7/2024, 4:25 AM
@ZomZom - I think that's what I'll do. You are the second person to say starting with Eccleston is the best move. Would I need to look up synopsizes from previous seasons to get caught up from where I am starting?
dragon316
dragon316 - 2/7/2024, 4:39 AM
@lazlodaytona - someone comic con maybe celebrity guest play dr who said should check out series it’s good I check out original black white episode I can’t get into it
ZomZom
ZomZom - 2/7/2024, 4:56 AM
@lazlodaytona - Tbh there's a lot to unpack but don't forget this is ostensibly a children's drama so nothing is unfathomable. As long as you know the basic premise of who he is, where he's from, key bed guys and the background of his nemesis 'The Master', you're good to go . .
ZaphodDent42
ZaphodDent42 - 2/7/2024, 5:08 AM
@lazlodaytona - in short yes, it's worth the time. However I found that some Doctors just didn't resonate with me, so basically Doctor who starts with Paul Mcgann and ends with Matt Smith for me. My advice would be choose an actor you know you like and watch his first few episodes and see what you think
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/7/2024, 5:19 AM
@ZaphodDent42 - that's sound advice. Thanks man
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 2/7/2024, 5:35 AM
@lazlodaytona - It is not worth reading up crib sheats for Dr Who in advance as it always assumes the audiences knows nothing unless it is VERY recent and can get lost in the loose canon of the audio plays and books too then (plus been a lot of retcons over time even during Classic Who). That is why companions are typicaly only around for a year or two as they are the audience rep who asks the questions and/or the Doctor has to tell what is needed to know.

It is a time travel show end of the day with mostly standalone stories contained within one to three episodes (esp with classic Who). Having long arcs only started with new Who. Even then that was more Easter Egg clues at first to get online engagement not need to know stuff (as in constant Bad Wolf references but the actual Bad Wolf story is across only a couple episodes at the end).

Every new Incarnation is designed as an easy jump on point, it is ultimately targeted primarily at kids (in the enough there for all ages family viewing way) so never expects them to know anything from decades past.

Eccleston's one season gives you EVERYTHING you need to know of the lore to fully embrace the show even if he isn't the best Doctor on any lists (typicaly at best fourth). Tennant's first run tend to be the favourite these days so watching his three seasons isn't a bad plan as continues to be referenced a lot as is Matt Smiths run straight after but nothing should be considered REQUIRED viewing just can help understand an appreciate more if you have.

TLDR JUST watch Eccleston, then maybe Tennant prior to the recent specials, can then go back and watch Matt Smith or anything else if/when you want but shouldn't be required viewing. However never a problem with only jumping in with the first full episode of a new Doctor.
Origame
Origame - 2/7/2024, 6:19 AM
@lazlodaytona - id say just focus on the 9th doctor first. He's got a nice small series that introduces the concept of doctor who for new audiences. Then, if you're still interested, it leads straight into the 10th doctor, a fan favorite era.
marvel72
marvel72 - 2/7/2024, 8:06 AM
@lazlodaytona - Start at the beginning and stop before they introduce the female Doctor.
lazlodaytona
lazlodaytona - 2/7/2024, 12:51 PM
@marvel72 - you are easily one of my favs so i'll do as u say sir :)
Mugens
Mugens - 2/7/2024, 5:53 AM
Moffat's run as show runner was interesting and had some good episodes but you can tell by the end of his run he was basically worn out and ready to go. But to have him come in here and there and pen an episode or two would not be bad at all in my book. He has written some of the best from the new era.
Twenty23Three
Twenty23Three - 2/7/2024, 6:04 AM
Moffat was the best showrunner and writer the show has had. It has to move in though, going back to RTD is already a sketchy choice
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/7/2024, 6:07 AM
@Twenty23Three - i like RTD but yeah , Moffat is the one that made me truly love the show out of the 3 modern showrunners we have had so far…

1. Moffat
2.RTD
3.Chibnall

TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/7/2024, 6:08 AM
That’s disappointing to hear as someone who started watching the show in the midst of his run and still considers it the best era of NuWho so far (even the latter Capaldi seasons)…

However I understand it aswell , running a big show like that for six seasons (along with Sherlock which started the same time he started his Who run) seems exhausting and he seems like he’s doing fine still since he’s written a few shows since then and even a play.

Selfishly though , I do hope he reconsiders and maybe is willing to write an episode or 2 in the future since his episodes such as Blink were standouts in RTD’s initial run on the show.

RolandD
RolandD - 2/7/2024, 7:45 AM
@TheVisionary25 - Cumberbatch looks like a kid there. Wow!
Beer85
Beer85 - 2/7/2024, 6:46 AM
Current show is terrible. It just is. Writing is dumb as h*ll.
TheFinestSmack
TheFinestSmack - 2/7/2024, 7:41 AM
What a reveal!
RolandD
RolandD - 2/7/2024, 7:51 AM
No, I don’t want Moffat to return to Doctor Who because I want Sherlock season 5 although that’s probably a


dream.
TheVisionary25
TheVisionary25 - 2/7/2024, 8:17 AM
@RolandD - I have been reading a collection of Sir Conan Doyle’s Sherlock stories post Reichenbach Falls and man…

Sherlock has his dickish moments but he’s overall much nicer and gentlemanly then I have seen him in iterations , especially Cumberbatch’s

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