{"id":48595,"date":"2024-03-27T18:07:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-27T17:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2016536"},"modified":"2024-03-27T20:51:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-27T19:51:56","slug":"doctor-who-boss-talks-future-proofing-show-in-case-of-bbcs-demise","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/doctor-who-boss-talks-future-proofing-show-in-case-of-bbcs-demise\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who boss talks future-proofing show in case of BBC\u2019s demise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Russell T Davies believes the sci-fi deserves to be alongside the “big hitters” in the streaming world. <\/p>

By Katelyn Mensah\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 27 March 2024 at 17:07 PM<\/p>

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When it was announced back in 2022 that Disney Plus<\/a> would become the new home for Doctor Who<\/a> internationally, fans were reassured that the show would remain on its traditional BBC home in the UK, while allowing for a new audience to enjoy the adventures of the Doctor and their companions worldwide.<\/p>\n

Since then, the series has seen its 60th anniversary specials released on the streaming platform, along with the most recent Christmas special, and this co-production is something showrunner Russell T Davies has always thought was necessary for the sci-fi series.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the Firecrotch & Normcore: They Like To Watch<\/a> podcast, Davies opened up about the partnership between the BBC and Disney for Doctor Who.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe now live in a science fiction age, we live in a world of streaming,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe live in a world where every 11-year-old is watching Stranger Things<\/a> because there are 11-year-olds kids in it and that\u2019s their language, that\u2019s their culture, that\u2019s their references, that\u2019s their muse.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Russell\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Russell T Davies.<\/span><\/figcaption> John Phillips\/Getty Images<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Davies added that when watching shows like Stranger Things and The Mandalorian<\/a> that have such exposure on streaming platforms, he thought it would be a \u201creal shame\u201d for Doctor Who not to be up there amongst \u201cthe big hitters\u201d.<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cEven before they approached me, I had already said in various interviews, \u2018I think Doctor Who would have to become a co-production, there\u2019s no way the BBC is going to fund that\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

In terms of its future on the BBC, Davies explained: \u201cYou\u2019ve also got to look in the long term at the end of the BBC, which is somehow surely undoubtedly on its way in some shape or form.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat, is Doctor Who going to die then? No, you\u2019ve got to prepare for that kind of stuff \u2013 but all of that is kind of the flim flam on top of the fact that I love it and it\u2019s the only chance you have in television, for me, to really write in pictures.\u201d<\/p>

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He went on to say: \u201cIf Disney collapsed tomorrow and we had to go back to making Doctor Who on a normal BBC budget, we\u2019d all rally round and make it and suddenly stories would become claustrophobic ghost stories, and a lot of people would like that very much.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I\u2019m not saying you have to have this happen, but while it\u2019s happening elsewhere I think it\u2019s unfair that it doesn\u2019t happen to Doctor Who and it does open up stories that are now sometimes on a vast scale.\u201d<\/p>\n

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