Doctor Who (Disney+) interview: Showrunner Russell T Davis wants to draw in new viewers to the series

Note: This feature was first published on 21 June 2024.

Russell T Davies is a big, big fan of Doctor Who and his return as showrunner is a significant moment for the long-running series, and his passion is immediately evident the moment the interview kicks off.

"I just love the show. I have loved it all my life. I think about it all the time," he says, adding that he has even collected every issue of Doctor Who Magazine. This lifelong commitment to the series made the opportunity to return irresistible when approached by the BBC.

The timing of Russell’s return is no coincidence. After years away, he found himself contemplating the future of Doctor Who. When the BBC presented their plans, he was immediately captivated. "They sprung their ambitions on me to make Doctor Who bigger, with worldwide streaming, a simultaneous drop, a production partner with a global scale and ambition. And it literally fit exactly what I thought the show should be doing," he explains.

One of the most exciting changes in the new Doctor Who is the casting of Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor. Russell is full of praise for Ncuti, calling him "one of our great actors" and predicting a bright future, even suggesting he could be the next James Bond. "When you see him in action as the Doctor, he's just astonishing," Russell says.

Joining Ncuti’s Doctor is Millie Gibson as the new companion, Ruby. Russell highlights her extensive experience and natural talent, noting that she has been in Coronation Street since she was 14 years old. "I used to watch agog as they piled more and more plots on her," he says of her skills and energy. We think Millie’s youthful perspective and genuine portrayal of a 19-year-old bring a fresh dynamic to the show too and could better draw in a viewer who is new to the world of Doctor Who.

This season of Doctor Who promises thematic depth and emotional resonance. During the interview, Russell hinted at a mysterious backstory for Ruby, intertwined with the Doctor’s own history. "This emotional man I've been talking about opens up about his family in a way that he's never done before," he says. "It's 2024, so we're all writing a show that sounds like it's in 2024."

Ultimately, Russell hopes the new series will inspire future generations of viewers. "Most importantly, I hope...that some six-year-old will start to draw that blue box and will run around the school yard with a sonic screwdriver," he says, and adding that a core trait of the Doctor is tolerance and is something he believes is more important than ever.

"He is simply accepting of everything and everyone. If they cross the line, he’ll do everything to stop them. But until then, he is the universe’s friend."

The TARDIS is set to explore uncharted territories, both emotionally and across time and space, and the new Doctor Who might be its most changed and evolved version yet.

Doctor Who is now streaming on Disney+, and subscription to the streaming services starts from S$12.98/mth.

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