The New Doctor Who Era Explained by Showrunner Russell T. Davies | Interview

Russell T. Davies brought Doctor Who back in 2005, and now he's returning to bring Doctor Who into the future as the series gets a global translated release on Disney+. Davies spoke with MovieWeb's Valerie Parker about the changes to the show, the arrangement with Disney, what he's retconning, and how he's approaching the whole Timeless Child thing.

The new Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson heads to Disney+ on May 10, 2024.

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[packgrog]

EXCELLENT answer on the Timeless Child approach. I dislike Chibnall's creation of the ark, but I adore how it's inspired Davies to create new stories and depth for The Doctor. And on top of all of it, to expand further upon the already expanding approach to inclusion and representation. "If you are adopted into something, you become that thing!" Beautiful answer.

A lot of people who gravitate (sorry, mavitate) toward this kind of escapist fantasy are people who feel like "others" in our society. A fantasy of finding a place where we can belong, where we can be accepted, in spite of (or because of) our "otherness", is a great comfort. I suspect this is part of the historical appeal of Doctor Who for the Queer community (probably the campiness doesn't hurt), just at appeals to those of us not in that community. Now I'm seeing more inclusion of different ethnicities, trans people, disabled people, etc., and I absolutely LOVE IT, particularly since Davies does a better job of normalizing these individuals than I felt was done by Moffatt or Chibnall. It feels to me to be a natural extension of what Doctor Who was always trying to accomplish.

[cheydiahthomas]

Baby Reindeer brought me here to observe.

[CallumMcPherson]

One of the things I like about the Timeless Child storyline is that it can be used to partially retcon the Eighth Doctor's "half human" claim. Perhaps the woman who raised the First Doctor really was human, but now we know that the Doctor was adopted it makes no difference either way.

[CJFSs]

( 4:19 ) It was mentioned in Hell Bent.

[DanielPreston-]

when i watched the 1996 story my head canon was human dna showed to the master cause he was kissing grace. i mean i was a child when i thought that but i've kept that head canon lmao

[humanlegacy]

My only issue was in "The Giggle" at the end. Two Doctors got a "prize" could have had anything. Why did neither of them be like okay. Restore the universe so the destruction the flux caused was reversed. Because half the universe is gone, so I'm troubled by how much The Doctor can really explore now. Or is RTD ignoring the Flux even though he mentioned it in the second 60th episode.

[JoshuaMNeff]

As the father of an adopted daughter (I usually say I'm an adopted father, because she told her mom she wanted me to be her dad before her mom and I even got married--she adopted me), thank you, RTD, for your comments about the Doctor being adopted. There's so much I love about this show (it's been my favorite show since I first saw it in the mid '80s) and the direction it's going, but that particular sentiment made my heart swell.

[emperorholocron]

“A very vocal minority who didn’t like the timeless child”

Lady… you’re talking about the majority of the fanbase. The ratings dive during the Chibnall era is why the BBC brought Russell, David and Steven back in the first place 😭

[kbgila]

Vocal minority... Almost everyone dislikes the timeless child arc. Even people who liked Jodie's era. The vocal minority is those who like it.

[icarusandtherabbit]

Thank the Time Lotds that RTD added the line from The Toymaker. “I made a jigsaw out of your history. Did you like it?.” Lovely way to cover over plot holes.

The Timeless Child isn’t liked by a minority? 😂 Someone’s time-washing history.

[deaconjohn]

This man turned this show in to a joke

[darrenkeady]

He didn’t Reboot it. He just continued the story, it’s never been a Reboot and never will.

[bluebugs]

Minority? No, the Minority were the ones that liked it. CHIBS whole run was a mess, but the timeless child was just a shoehorn story that doesn't make one ounce of sense.

The gaslight is burning bright.. 🔥

[DavidWood-rk]

I used to love the show and then it turned into shit after Tom Baker left.
They ran out of ideas back then and just like a rock band that had a one hit song kept playing it over & over again..
I watched a few shows to see the companions only because the doctors sucked. The writers did everything they could to kill the show. I could feel their anger like they were sick of playing same song over to drunks in audience.
A few years ago i said to my friends " the only thing they could ever do to make it worse, is have Disney make a movie out if it!"
Much worse Disney took it over!! They killed marvel for me.
I refuse to pay anything to see that crap.
You tube had the last wolverine/deadpool movie on free. It was as just what i expected. 2 hours of the worst .
They killed every one of my childhood memories now.
Fortunately my family never had us watch Disney on television or the movie's so no great loss.

[ben-tendo]

Vocal minority would be the only part I'd disagree with here, general ratings through that era of the show would say otherwise I'm afraid. The adopted as a Time Lord line is a great way of steering the narrative into a more positive direction however now.

[Walesbornandbred]

It's not a reboot, Ncuti was talking about Totters lane in the 60s. I bet RTD cant even see how stupid that statement was.
He's killed Dr Who and is trying to ruin my childhood it used to be no.1 until he started sucking up to Disney.
Why didn't the finale of the music episode highlight what the Beatles would become?
What the hell was that High School musicesque piece at the end? Didn't he think todays audience would get a kick out of seeing how The Beatles began?
It is not a reboot he is a timelord with a history.
RTD doesn't have a clue.
Ncuti get out now before he ruins your career.

[topmandog]

No they haven’t the bbc wanted to cancel it for most of the 80s don’t lie rtd

[friendlyotaku]

5:45 - YES! This is what I like to hear, it makes me happy The Timeless Child will be part of this new era and be a big part of the Doctor and Ruby's dynamic, I love that!

[iamtheecho]

Disney plus shows are the best are they? Citation please.

[Apac]

I love how this comment section is like "None of us liked the timeless child arc" and then immediately say "I love that RTD is continuing it"