Moffat to take over Dr. Who from Davies

Manus Celer Dei · Post by **Manus Celer Dei** » 2008-05-20 12:58pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7411177.stm

Doctor Who guru Davies steps down

Russell T Davies oversaw the 21st Century relaunch of Doctor Who

Russell T Davies is to step down as executive producer of Doctor Who, the BBC has announced.

Davies is credited with breathing new life into the show which he brought back to television screens in 2005.

Bafta-winning writer Steven Moffat will succeed Davies as lead writer and executive producer of the fifth series of Doctor Who.

Moffat said that the whole of his career had been "a secret plan to get this job".
DAVIES' CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Children's Ward (1993-1995)
Touching Evil (1997)
Queer As Folk (1999)
Casanova (2005)
Doctor Who (2005-2008)
Torchwood (2006-2008)

BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter said the past four series of Doctor Who had been "brilliantly helmed" by the "spectacularly talented" Davies.

"As lead writer and executive producer, he has overseen the creative direction and detail of the 21st century re-launch of Doctor Who and we are delighted to have his continued presence on the specials over the next 18 months," she added.

Davies will remain in charge of four specials to be shown in 2009.

The fifth series, with Moffat at the helm, is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One in Spring 2010.

Moffat has already written some of the most spectacular Doctor Who episodes of recent times.
I applied before but I got knocked back 'cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven
Steven Moffat

Earlier this month, he picked up the best writer Bafta for the Blink episode of series three which featured terrifying weeping angels.

Moffat said: "I applied before but I got knocked back 'cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven.

"Anyway, I'm glad the BBC has finally seen the light and it's a huge honour to be following Russell into the best - and the toughest - job in television.

"I say toughest 'cos Russell's at my window right now, pointing and laughing."

Wooooooo! Good news. Won't actually affect anything until 2010, but still.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2008-05-20 01:03pm

....You beat me a by a smegging minute. You utter bastard

And it is indeed very good news. No doubt I'll be eating my words in 2010, knowing my luck....

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2008-05-20 01:20pm

There is a god, and She is the BBC Fiction Controller. Moffat really knows how to pour his heart and soul into the series he works and his Who work was no exception.

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2008-05-20 01:24pm

He's going to be damn busy for a few years then, what with this and the TinTin film

I'm sure he'll do well.

Ryushikaze · Post by **Ryushikaze** » 2008-05-20 01:27pm

Excellent news, though I can't say as it surprises me in the least.

Why, though, do they list Davies' career, and not Moffat's?

Dartzap · Post by **Dartzap** » 2008-05-20 01:42pm

Ryushikaze wrote:Excellent news, though I can't say as it surprises me in the least.

Why, though, do they list Davies' career, and not Moffat's?

Thats a fairly standard thing: list the achievements of those who are pissing off/dead not those who take over.

Ryushikaze · Post by **Ryushikaze** » 2008-05-20 01:51pm

No, I understand why they list Davie's stuff, I was just curious why Moffat's history wasn't considered worth mentioning.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-05-20 01:59pm

Very good news: the programme's now in the hands of a veteran writer and one who's delivered some of the best episodes of the new series, including "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances". All kudos to Russell Davies for the work he's done, but the ascension of Moffat promises a whole new level of quality storytelling in Doctor Who.

Zixinus · Post by **Zixinus** » 2008-05-20 02:27pm

What I wonder is why is this happening? Did the BBC notice that the new series is getting more and more suck or did I miss something?

Bounty · Post by **Bounty** » 2008-05-20 02:31pm

Moffat said that the whole of his career had been "a secret plan to get this job".

You know, with Moffat, I'm sorta inclined to believe it.

What I wonder is why is this happening? Did the BBC notice that the new series is getting more and more suck or did I miss something?

Moffat has been chomping at the bit for this, so my *guess* is that the BBC waited until Davies mentioned going to new projects pushed through the change. I doubt the BBC would fire Davies over less-then-stellar reviews, especially when the viewer figures are still healthy.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » 2008-05-20 03:14pm

Best. News. Evar.

Manus Celer Dei · Post by **Manus Celer Dei** » 2008-05-20 03:50pm

I guess this means no more JesusDoctor?

Plekhanov · Post by **Plekhanov** » 2008-05-20 04:34pm

Zixinus wrote:What I wonder is why is this happening? Did the BBC notice that the new series is getting more and more suck or did I miss something?

Maybe the execs lurk here or something

Anyway brilliant news Moffats' an excellent writer who's shown he can do damn good scifi.

Big Orange · Post by **Big Orange** » 2008-05-20 04:38pm

Very exciting news, however I am very wary of the glowing honeymoon between Steven Moffat and DW fandom coming to an abrupt, ugly close when he becomes the show runner.

Anyway Russell T. Davies has mainly done a wonderful job, many of his better stories have been underrated, he has saved the revamp of Doctor Who from being bland and cheerless and he has wisely quit while he was ahead, not outstaying his welcome.

Steven Moffat is as great a choice as any, I really enjoyed "The Empty Child", "The Doctor Dances" and "Blink", although "The Girl in the Fireplace" was a tad overrated (but I'd still give it a four star rating). Although sadly I won't be surprised that the fickle fans will violently turn on him, especially if Moffat genuinely respects Davies' writing and wants to emulate RTD's showrunning style.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-05-20 07:48pm

Oh come on, where's Helen Raynor? Moffat smoffat!

Moffat doesn't generally stick with shows very long; a good thing in drama generally, but I'm sure Helen will be next on the list!

I want to know what planet Orange lives on, though. I mean, being pompous is one thing, but saying Davies didn't outstay his welcome is fucking hilarious. Many people were sick on him TWO YEARS AGO.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-05-20 09:06pm

Stark wrote:I want to know what planet Orange lives on, though. I mean, being pompous is one thing, but saying Davies didn't outstay his welcome is fucking hilarious. Many people were sick on him TWO YEARS AGO.

Not quite sure of that. But I would agree that one more year of Russell Davies would have been too much.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-05-20 09:13pm

God you're both from another planet. Let's ignore the years of 'jesus not another flying-alien-with-red-laser-conquers-earth-and-then-is-reset finale' jokes! His writing has been parodied on this very board since late S2 (especially after the finale started).

Why do people feel the need to excuse someone's flaws because they did something good? He worked on S1 and made it a success, that's good. But as time went by he went more and more stupid and uninspired. So many bad decisions can be placed directly at his door (like Torchwood and Freema) and saying you're 'not sure' people were sick of him years ago is just crazy. Do one good thing != get out of jail free card for years of mismanagement.

Oh, unless by Satan's beard S4 gets good.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2008-05-20 09:29pm

Stark wrote:God you're both from another planet. Let's ignore the years of 'jesus not another flying-alien-with-red-laser-conquers-earth-and-then-is-reset finale' jokes! His writing has been parodied on this very board since late S2 (especially after the finale started).

Why do people feel the need to excuse someone's flaws because they did something good? He worked on S1 and made it a success, that's good. But as time went by he went more and more stupid and uninspired. So many bad decisions can be placed directly at his door (like Torchwood and Freema) and saying you're 'not sure' people were sick of him years ago is just crazy. Do one good thing != get out of jail free card for years of mismanagement.

Oh, unless by Satan's beard S4 gets good.

And who said anything about excusing RTD's flaws? I didn't. I haven't seen the latest series as yet, but the only real "reset-button" finale I've witnessed was the late and unlamented Master trilogy. Neither "Bad Wolf/Parting Of The Ways" or "Army Of Ghosts/Doomsday" qualify for that tag and you know it.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-05-20 09:37pm

No, you didn't, it's just my lack of proper quoting that made it look like that was directed at you. Sorry.

And regardless of the reality, some people WERE already sick of it after S2. Remember, some people think Love and Monsters was a 'filler episode'.

I was something of a Davies defender until the end of S3; however much the season was dodgey, it wasn't really his fault until that awful finale. I can simultaneously acknowledge that he did good things for the show AND be fucking glad he's gone while wishing they'd ditched him sooner. Davies' eps and his writing have always had detractors, and it's become more and more open as the show has declined.

Ohma · Post by **Ohma** » 2008-05-20 10:17pm

Stark wrote:And regardless of the reality, some people WERE already sick of it after S2. Remember, some people think Love and Monsters was a 'filler episode'.

I really don't get those people. "ONOES! Teh Doc-tor isn't the focus of the episode! Fat alien guy! Dorky people!" What? Since when wasn't DW campysillyfunscifi with a bit of emotional drama on the side? (though I think The Satan Pit two parter was mediocre at best so my opinion may be worthless)

But yeah, from what little I've seen past S2, nu-Who has gotten itself into a rather lame rut.

Big Orange · Post by **Big Orange** » 2008-05-21 04:16am

Stark wrote: I want to know what planet Orange lives on, though. I mean, being pompous is one thing, but saying Davies didn't outstay his welcome is fucking hilarious. Many people were sick on him TWO YEARS AGO.

The shrill 'RUZZEL TEE DAVIZ TEH EVUL HAAK' bandwagon which you boarded by the time of "The Sound of Drums" has been ongoing since "Rose", even though the viewing figures and mainstream reviews have mostly contradicted the exggerated/distorted Internet chatter.

Torchwood's S1 shiteness mainly fell to Chris Chibnall, Freema Agymen was largely replaced after one season (and she isn't that bad anyway) and SJA is seemingly a much more worthwhile spin-off.

Season Three was a story of two halfs, certainly, but I didn't mind "Smith & Jones", "Grildlock" or "The Sound of Drums", while "Utopia" was a very good episode even though it's goodwill was squandered when RTD lost the plot with "Last of the Time Lords" (which was still watchable).

I find that Season Four is pretty formulaic but more level in quality, Tate makes for a refreshing atypical companion, with Helen Raynor pulling off a virtual 180 with the Sontaran episodes and we've got Moffat's bumper two parter next. The real gamble this season is Davies deciding to do something genuinely different with his last set of episodes.

Stark · Post by **Stark** » 2008-05-21 04:29am

Oh please. I hear going from 'RTD has written some of the best episodes of the series' to 'fucking christ he's out of ideas' is BOARDING THE BANDWAGON. You realise that you've just shown yourself a complete fucking idiot by missing my whole point; that it's totally possible to be huge fans of his early stuff and SIMULTANEOUSLY accept that he's gone down the tubes? You even provide excellent examples of what I mentioned before - excuses for the show's lackluster performance recently under RTD. I mean, 'Freema was bad but they replaced her'? Yeah, that makes it not a bad decision he made just because he liked her in the S2 finale. Why didn't I see it?

I should stop forgetting that 'pompous BO opinion based on nothing more than 'I like it' = good' and 'anything Stark says = bad', I guess. Helen Raynor pulls 'a virtual 180'? So now she's CLIMBING the sides of the hole she dug for herself? Oh, sorry, you're trying to emulate the writing style of critics to make yourself sound more reasonable, I missed that. Remember, guys, your opinons are just 'exaggerated/distorted internet chatter', as distinct from what BO thinks.

All your outrageous pomposity aside, I said 'many people were sick of him two years ago', which is true. I know that means they disagree with you, BO, but you don't have to cry. I hear people are enjoying S4 even though I don't like it - OH SHIT BANDWAGONERS!

Frankly, looking back at BO's original posting style, reading his current 'I'm for serious' commentary makes me want to poke knitting needles in his eyes. He used to be a normal person who could discuss things (even if his speculation was generally fannish); now he's just a robot that uses verbiage to hide his opinions.

Remember, you can dismiss anyone - ANYONE - who doesn't like RTD in ANY WAY even if they think his early work was good and perhaps underrated simply by saying 'bandwagon'. That's a fucking good move, sez I. Every time I watch S1 and think 'wow this is better than the current stuff', that's because I'm ON THE BANDWAGON of INTERNET CHATTER and irrationally hate RTD and not because I refuse to make excuses for producers, right?

Post by **NecronLord** » 2008-05-21 09:16am

Jesus, BO. Stop provoking Stark into talking sense. It's unsettling.

Xon · Post by **Xon** » 2008-05-21 06:39pm

I can respect a person without having to agree or like what works he has produced. This is one of the key tenents of scientific enquiry. A person is not thier work, and attacking the work is not an attack against the person.

I know this is a revolutionary method of thought, but it is damn well required for being able to sucessfully apply the scientific method over any length of time.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2008-05-21 07:12pm

Stark wrote:Oh come on, where's Helen Raynor? Moffat smoffat!

Moffat doesn't generally stick with shows very long; a good thing in drama generally, but I'm sure Helen will be next on the list!

I want to know what planet Orange lives on, though. I mean, being pompous is one thing, but saying Davies didn't outstay his welcome is fucking hilarious. Many people were sick on him TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU! Stop jinxing this. If I see Moffat retire after one season and some Beeb controller hand the reigns over to Raynor, I will come down there and beat you. Then enjoy the sunshine and women.

And BO, everyone here has long since accepted that Davies is a shit writer. His magnum opus is brining the series back to prominence after the BBC consigned it to a horrible death with that horrid US TV movie that scars McGann's career to this day. The man has had his 15 minutes, but now it's time for an actualy writer, not a visionary with a dream, to, y'know, write.