{"id":20487,"date":"2022-08-19T09:00:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T07:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1695469"},"modified":"2022-08-19T09:40:25","modified_gmt":"2022-08-19T07:40:25","slug":"doctor-who-director-james-strong-has-had-conversations-about-returning","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-director-james-strong-has-had-conversations-about-returning\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who director James Strong has had \u201cconversations\u201d about returning"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Morgan Jeffery\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 19 August 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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James Strong, director on ITV\u2019s new thriller The Suspect<\/a>, has confirmed he\u2019s discussed a possible return to Doctor Who<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Strong \u2013 also known for his work on Vigil<\/a> and Broadchurch \u2013 directed seven episodes of the BBC sci-fi series between 2006 and 2009, including the acclaimed two-parter The Impossible Planet \/ The Satan Pit<\/a>\u00a0and festive episode Voyage of the Damned<\/a> featuring Kylie Minogue.<\/p>\n

Speaking to RadioTimes.com<\/a> to promote ITV\u2019s The Suspect, Strong revealed there had been \u201cconversations\u201d about his stepping back aboard the TARDIS to take the helm for new adventures.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had such an amazing time on it\u2026 I\u2019d be lying if I said there hadn\u2019t been some conversations,\u201d Strong said.<\/p>

It was announced in September 2021 that Russell T Davies would return to Doctor Who as showrunner<\/a>, having previously served as head writer and executive producer from 2005 to 2010, with former executive producer Julie Gardner also confirmed to be back.<\/p>\n

In January, it was announced that they\u2019d be joined by Phil Collinson<\/a>, who had previously acted as producer during the Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant eras.<\/p>\n

Strong continued: \u201cI love Russell [T Davies] and Julie [Gardner] and Phil [Collinson] who are doing it so much \u2013 so yes, I would be very keen to discuss a way that we could do that. That would be great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another Doctor Who directing veteran, Rachel Talalay, will serve as director for the show\u2019s 60th anniversary celebrations<\/a>, meaning Strong would be helming an episode or episodes starring Ncuti Gatwa.<\/p>\n

The Sex Education<\/a> star is expected to begin filming as the new Doctor in November<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Shaun Parkes as Detective Inspector Ruiz in ITV\u2019s The Suspect.<\/span><\/figcaption> ITV<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Strong actually reunites with one of his former Doctor Who colleagues on The Suspect \u2013 actor Shaun Parkes, who played Zachary Cross Flane in The Impossible Planet \/ The Satan Pit and stars as Detective Inspector Ruiz in the new ITV drama.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s where I met Shaun and we\u2019ve been mates ever since,\u201d Strong explained. \u201c[Those episodes] still stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Based on the novel of the same name, The Suspect casts Aidan Turner as Joe O\u2019Loughlin, a psychologist whose squeaky-clean image comes under scrutiny when he becomes entangled in an investigation into a young woman\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n