Feature by Dominic Parkes.
Let me say this right from the start. I have a great deal of respect for Russell T Davies. Without him, Doctor Who might not even exist in the 21st century. He brought the show back from the dead in 2005, gave it energy and relevance, and helped define an entire era of modern British science fiction. His influence is enormous and rightly celebrated. But respect is not the same as immunity from criticism.
In case you missed it, Davies recently announced he was “pausing” his long-running column in Doctor Who Magazine. After recapping the narrative arc of the last two seasons, he signed off with, “No, not the end, don’t be mad. Doctor Who will never end!” Then came the caveat: “We don’t know what’s happening yet, and while everyone works that out, I’ll take a pause on this page.”
And that’s it. Doctor Who will return, yes, one day. You don’t mothball a 62-year-old cultural institution forever. But the shift in tone from Davies is significant. The familiar bravado, the energetic confidence, has given way to something less certain, more evasive, like someone sidestepping a difficult truth rather than facing it head-on.
Davies has always been a consummate showman. A storyteller, yes, but also a skilled promoter. When he returned to the franchise in 2023 and 2024, he spoke in grand, sweeping terms: the creation of a “Whoniverse”, global expansion via Disney, spin-offs, new creative frontiers, and a revitalised core series. It sounded like the dawn of a new golden age. But increasingly, that vision feels less like a plan and more like a glossy pitch. And that dissonance is beginning to show in the work itself.
Let’s be honest. The regeneration from Ncuti Gatwa to Billie Piper felt like a narrative panic button. The sort of twist you reach for when long-term planning gives way to short-term damage control. There has been no firm word on Series 16. No clear word on the next Doctor. Just a fog of ambiguity. And in this context, the silence is deafening.
What we’re seeing now isn’t leadership. It’s obfuscation. “We don’t know what’s happening yet” is not the language of a production team with a roadmap. It’s the language of delay, of hoping fans will stay patient while the cracks are quietly papered over, desperately hoping things all come together later.
The closing line of Davies’ column is particularly telling: “Hopefully, we’ll have news soon… Until then… It has been an absolute joy.” That doesn’t read like someone gearing up for the next big announcement. It reads like someone quietly edging towards the door.
If he has taken a step back, creatively or otherwise, then a bit of honesty would be welcome. Fans are not blind. We saw the huge drop in ratings. We saw that Series 14 and 15 didn’t land with the general public in the way they were meant to. Nor did the Fifteenth Doctor. These aren’t minor stumbles, either. They’re symptoms of deeper creative and strategic issues. And pretending otherwise does nothing to reassure a fanbase that senses the show faltering.
I don’t believe Davies has stopped caring. Quite the opposite. Doctor Who is clearly personal to him. That connection may be why it’s so hard to admit when things are going wrong. But true leadership means setting that aside and facing the moment with clarity and accountability.
What Doctor Who needs now isn’t more spin. It’s someone at the top willing to say, “This hasn’t gone the way we hoped.” Someone ready to own the problems, not just sell the vague possibilities. If Davies wants to stay in charge, that process must begin with honest reflection. If not, the BBC must consider whether it’s time for a change, if they still believe the show has a future worth fighting for.
The wider Doctor Who universe will carry on. Spin-offs, audio dramas, comics, the legacy, all of that will endure. But the flagship show, the beating heart of the franchise, is what’s in danger. And it will not be saved by hollow optimism or vague promises. Only a clear vision and honest leadership can restore it.
