BBC Writersroom Interviews: Russell T Davies

[@MushroomHaterProductions]

My childhood hero who changed my life forever. So excited that he's coming back as Doctor Who showrunner.

[@friendlyotaku9525]

I could listen to RTD talk all day, he is clearly a very smart man and I am interested to see what he will do with Doctor Who again!

[@puzzles7413]

is your pfp and name like a thing people often use on youtube or do you just comment on every doctor who video?

[@friendlyotaku9525]

@@puzzles7413 I don't comment on every video though I would say I'm fairly active on some of them. I do apologise!

[@puzzles7413]

@@friendlyotaku9525 no need to apologize about anything! sorry if i came off as accusatory in my comment, i was just curious

[@NoName-fv1gw]

@@puzzles7413 have you ever kissed a girl

[@adamcerutti2268]

This was recorded in December 2019 at a conference in Wales for those who don't know.

[@EalesOnWheels]

I got excited for a second

[@adamcerutti2268]

@The Doctor Cause Russell was just announced as the new show runner, so they can get easy views by re-posting it...

[@TorchwoodPandP]

This man’s writing made me care who wrote television and film scripts for the first time! And I will literally watch anything he has written for the sheer exuberant life-confirming joy that somehow seeps through everything this man does.

[@harvey9514]

RTD is honestly one of the greatest British writers of all time. He’s a hero

[@JackMellor498]

Seeing as this guy singlehandedly shaped and beautifully sculpted my childhood with his time on Doctor Who between 2005 and 2010, I am excited to see him return to the show, but I’m not going to let nostalgia completely blind me. I did recently read one or two things that stated he likes the Timeless Children twist so I’m like “Hmm well, that’s a thing I guess” so idk, I’m cautiously giddy!

[@gallopinggargoyles7891]

i'm sure RTD would say it was good, even if he thought it was shite like the rest of us. I'd think he'd be respectful to other writers regardless of his his true feelings. I expect he'll just hope we forget about it lol

[@MarshPlays]

Pretty sure he is friends with Chibnall so yea I doubt he would say anything bad, plus his job back in Doctor Who he would have to like what has came before his return

[@RosieOleanderDallinger]

He found it hard to admit there were things about Moffat’s decisions he didn’t like in an interview with Frank Skinner’s radio show. I think he likes to just focus on the positives when it comes to other writers. I think he just loves writers and the art of writing so he’ll always be glass half full about it all.

[@jakegodfrey4320]

To be absolutely fair, he's hardly going to come out and say that he hates it, especially given he and Chibnall are friends.

[@WayneTully1]

I’m finally looking forward to Doctor Who again when Russ comes back!

[@Quboi123]

I'm so glad hes back in Doctor Who!

[@lewisfrisby5673]

That man is amazing I wouldn't be the boy I am today with out the world of doctor who he has created I cant begin to imagine what my life would be like with out doctor who

[@jameswheeleranimations2023]

He's so knowledgeable and completely understands how to write. I'm confident that Doctor Who is in safe hands when he returns

[@jackbennett9040]

I owe every short story and poem I've ever written to this guy. Without his work on Who, I doubt I'd be starting my MA in Creative Writing TOMORROW!! Thanks so much Russell xxx

[@Jake-d8d]

Reading The Writer's Tale, it is astonishing how brilliant his episodes of Doctor Who are considering how quickly he wrote them under extreme pressure.

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Yes RUSSELL ITS ALL YOURS!!! Our wishes were granted. The return of RTD!

[@HellfireComms]

Very happy to have him back, even if it's just for a while.

[@DanielJChilvers]

Such a talented man. Inspired me to Write. Could listen to him all day!

[@helenmoore9528]

Thank God Russel T Davis is back as Head Writer on Doctor Who, pure genius writing. Maybe Doctor Who can start wining awards again and viewing figures will go up again.

[@TheGava4]

Jesus I’m soooooooo glad this genius is coming back to WHO! By god it needs him

[@thesimpsons17]

Not my favourite Doctor Who writer by any means but he has such a passion for the show which has been missing. I hope he can reinvigorate the show, it's greatly needed!

[@bmvthemoviefanatic7282]

YES! Ecstatic to see an interview with my favourite writer in my subscription feed, and just when he's been announced to be returning to Doctor Who, no less. Always love hearing from RTD. Whatever he does is FANTASTIC! #RTD2

[@backtothefutureman1]

I still cannot believe that he’s coming back to Doctor Who.

[@williamhumes7332]

Welcome back, RTD

[@abhikganguly]

Such a lovely talk by him, love his work 🙏

[@radic888]

This man understands Doctor Who. He completely gets it.

[@thearchive1132]

This guy is just awesome.

[@marcos-ll2yr]

I love this man so much.

[@TravisLee33]

Great interview, lots of brilliant bits of knowledge included here, gotta love Russell.

[@shelliingle571]

I love he is the master on writing to Doctor Who. I am glad he's back. I wonder he will have store for us Whovians. 😇

[@PRESIDENT_LEMON]

It’s everyone’s favourite Welshman, hope it’s going good RTD

[@Char10tti3]

Ah you know the question on if he writes dialogue as well makes sense, especially on something like Doctor Who since Russell was the showrunner writing the broader story and everything. That and I think everything he writes for dialogue is just amazing and so natural, or especially in his science fiction based shows, just so grounded.

[@Char10tti3]

There are two scenes in Cucumber and Years and Years I know Russell had been thinking about for so so long. I think the Cucumber one might have made it into the Writer's Tale book he was writing while Doctor Who series 4. So interesting seeing how he'll cut so much out, seemingly easily

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey4669]

I’m SO fucking EXCITED for his Doctor Who return!

[@radic888]

I love this guy.

[@nightowl8477]

I hate the bloody cards thing, cheers Russell. Unlike most professional writers, Russell's always understood that there's no "right" way to write. We all have our own ways, and those arrogant sods telling you otherwise with their lectures and their books are just trying to feel more secure in their own writing, at the expense of your's (and to make some extra money). It's the bullying mentality. Writers are more superstitious than you might think. Writing isn't a science, it's an art. Think the education system could do with some tinkering in that regard.

[@peakhumanchannel]

Only person missing now is Murray Gold

[@thomashall8701]

Can you please add all the Doctor Who series 10 scripts to the writers room? There's only 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11 and 12 on there at the moment.

[@allamedits]

If I have to listen to Chibnell bungling for another two years, I'll be glad to waiting for Russell

[@tomimpala]

So glad Russel is back writing the adventures of mister who who became a doctor

[@wildsurfer12]

Hopefully he’ll make Doctor Who good again!

[@Widdums]

When did he do this interview?

[@FahadAyaz]

This is from an event in 2019

[@thetardiszoneofficialyoutube]

Great to see him back. Now we will see how its done correctly the stories the politics he will do it right unlike chris chibnall.

[@mxrichardsonsneighbourhood5402]

Based on what he's saying, I should be a writer.

[@minecraftrotisseriechicken]

I just realized I've never heard him speak

[@wonderwoman5528]

I wish he could give me a writing job or work experience - I’m Welsh too :)

[@yannatoko9898]

Can't even put the apostrophe in "writers". Doesn't bode well. Also, I'm sure I've heard this interview before. A quick re-upload because of his return?

[@missallsundayx]

Depends if the writers are in possession of the room, or if it’s a room for the writers. I think it’s the latter?

[@wonderwoman5528]

@@missallsundayx touché

[@joshuajoshua2732]

Is this a recent interview? Because I noticed he's referring to The Doctor as a "he" alot?

[@joeswift1064]

Because he is a he

[@joshuajoshua2732]

@@joeswift1064 not anymore he's a shim now :)

[@joeswift1064]

@@joshuajoshua2732 shimmerrrrr

[@doctorllama8015]

Nah this was recorded in 2019

[@WhoStuff]

mas que SENHOR HEIN

[@anon5263]

Russell writes very human characters. I often don't agree with him on the political spectrum but he always writes good characters. Side human characters were usually the mouthpiece which is fine because you're going to new places and meeting different people who are all bound to have an opinion. However, he never turned The Doctor into an "always right" infallible political mouthpiece. The Doctor was functionally a hero but his moral choices were always INTENTIONALLY grey and questionable and you were encouraged to question them and thus question yourself. With Jodie's Doctor they made her completely immoral yet presented all her questionable deeds as "always right all the time", because it was written by petty childish people who rose to their ranks by spouting the "correct ideology" rather than any talent at writing. I'm cautiously excited and optimistic for Russell's return, and I hope if he or the BBC ever read this, the world is in chaos. Nobody wants propaganda. Nobody wants to be told how to think and feel. And the raging anti Trump scripts aren't nearly as clever or relevant as you guys think they are. Let's explore real morality. The eyes of a human, the eyes of a Time Lord. Male/Female. Two hearts. One heart. Somewhere between all those things lies the human experience. Somewhere between those things, we can heal as a species. Russell's analysis of the cleverness of characters relative to the cleverness of the writer leading to characters being stupid goes a long way to explain the Chibnall era.

[@allenrhys844]

Have they ever done one of these with Chris Chibnall?

[@abcdefgh6951]

[@Frank-Einstein-Madman]

Four Chris Chibnall fans have disliked this video...

[@xavierviolin]

You listening, Chibnall?

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Nope, Chibnall never learned anything.