James R | On 25, Sep 2021

Russell T Davies will return to take control of the TARDIS once more as the next Doctor Who showrunner.

Responsible for Doctor Who’s revival in 2005, Davies is credited with propelling the show into a global phenomenon and making it one of TV’s biggest hits. His tenure on the show oversaw a surge in popularity, but also the expansion of the Doctor Who universe, with two spin-offs launched, including Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Davies left the show in 2009 and has since worked with the BBC on projects such as Years and Years, A Very English Scandal and A Midsummer Night’s Dream and, most recently, with Channel 4 on It’s A Sin, which won Best New Drama at the National TV Awards this month.

His return comes as current showrunner Chris Chibnall prepares to step away from Doctor Who in 2022. Having been in charge of the TARDIS since filming for the 13th Doctor began in 2017, Chibnall made the groundbreaking decision to cast Whittaker as the first female Doctor, also bringing in new friends Tosin Cole (Ryan), Mandip Gill (Yaz) and Bradley Walsh (Graham), not to mention Sacha Dhawan as the latest incarnation of The Master, plus Jo Martin as the mysterious Fugitive Doctor

Chibnall is currently writing and producing the 13th season of Doctor Who, comprising six episodes that will air later this year. It will be followed by three specials – the first of which will transmit on New Year’s Day 2022 – with another in spring 2022. Chibnall and Whittaker will then leave the TARDIS, paving the way for Davies’ return.

Davies will then be on board to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who in 2023, with BBC Studios once again partnering Bad Wolf to produce the upcoming seasons.

Davies says: “I’m beyond excited to be back on my favourite show. But we’re time-travelling too fast, there’s a whole series of Jodie Whittaker’s brilliant Doctor for me to enjoy, with my friend and hero Chris Chibnall at the helm – I’m still a viewer for now.”

Chibnall adds: “It’s monumentally exciting and fitting that Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary will see one of Britain’s screenwriting diamonds return home. Russell built the baton that is about to be handed back to him. Doctor Who, the BBC, the screen industry in Wales – and let’s be honest everyone in the whole world – have so many reasons to be Very Excited Indeed about what lies ahead.”

The casting of the new Doctor will be announced at a future date. In the meantime, see the trailer for Season 13 here.

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