Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat on life after Doctor Who

Steven Moffat couldn't resist interrupting our Russell T Davies interview!
Together, the two former Doctor Who showrunners look back on their time working for the hit show, reveal their reactions to the latest series and ponder which movies would be improved with the inclusion of a Dalek...
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[@normietwiceremoved]

When combined, these two made doctor who the best it ever was.

[@edgymoji8260]

I love your moderately upset David icon

[@Elyiscool]

@@edgymoji8260 haha yes

[@HDx03]

100% agreed. Since chibnall has taken over, doctor who has fallen in my opinion

[@NewtonDKC]

@@HDx03 absolutely agreed - and I’m not at all a Jodie hater, it really is due to the massive decrease in quality writing and production, and by production, I mean things that just don’t “feel” proper Who, like even the interior of the TARDIS, 2 series in and this set, this room with stuff in it is just vague and has none of the warmth or feel that “oh we’re home!” When the Doc and her 3 companions get back...heck, with so many people aboard we have seen nothing but the console room, they all 4 have literally been in one room together in the TARDISfor 2 whole series and I couldn’t tell you a thing about the companions, they are 3 nice people who take turns asking questions and that’s about it. Now 2 are gone - for some reason - oh my beloved show, what has happened, I used to could not wait to watch and now when I watch I check the clock to see how much longer til the epi is over. It’s just painfully dull, poorly written, no excitement, no sense of danger or any real stakes, just predictable, cookie cutter this then thus happens, twist here, immediate counter twist, end epi. How about Chibnall leave and someone do a decent series? Please push him out been, say he decided to leave with Jodie or I fear we’ll get to the 60th for $$ alone then put on hiatus. There’s no reason at all this show should be boring!!!

[@mrmeerkathead6871]

@@NewtonDKC Yeah. I feel like Jodie would make an AMAZING Doctor but the writing is just god awful.

[@LewysC]

They both genuinely sound like proper fans here it's quite nice to see this side of them both

[@MichaelM28]

I seriously wonder how Moffat can be a fan after raping the First Doctor in Twice Upon a Turd

[@LewysC]

@@MichaelM28 I never said he was the best showrunner by any measure 😂 However sometimes you blame someone for everything so much that you forget that they're human as well and just want to make a good show people will enjoy. You can tell he misses DW by the way he's taking.

[@Wannabe_Baby]

@@MichaelM28 Oh fuck off. Everything from the moment the group returns to the battlefield in TUAT is perfect, to the point where if they decided to end the show there and then and not bring it back, you couldn't ask for a better send-off for the character.

[@katycoppens8846]

The BBC is at the bottom of all of this. If they could sell tell It to the US they would be over the moon. They are working towards this since Matt Smith stopped.

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

Michael McGrath what is wrong with you?

[@tjnewton71]

These two seriously need a sketch show.

[@TheSkully343]

Russell and The Moff.

[@ellenmurphy2150]

tjnewton71 these two do need their own show. They don't need anybody else.

[@doopnamnam4275]

Have you ever seen coupling?

[@kobeangelesd]

I never knew the height difference

[@lwaves]

I was thinking the same thing. I knew Moffat wasn't tall but didn't realise that RTD was that much taller.

[@katycoppens8846]

My god they are Scots are by definition short D Tennant excep. But RTD is massive.

[@shs2109]

me too

[@pferreira1983]

RTD could fit Moffat inside his coat.

[@FlashMarker]

@@katycoppens8846 RTD isn't Scottish, he's from Swansea, which is in Wales.

[@theweirdofengland]

"And Kembel. People forget about Kembel" Steven Moffat is such an incorrigible nerd. Only 1% of those watching this interview will get that reference but he went ahead and said it anyway.

[@ToaOfGallifrey]

I always found it hilarious when Moffat would poke fun at Davies in conmentaries for being a Doctor Who superfan, and then Moffat casually flexes his nerd powerlevel.

[@Erdago]

The only issue is that the Daleks were never made at Kembel. They had a notable base of operations there filled with Varga plants, sure, but it wasn’t an alternate origin planet like Telos for the Cybermen.

[@theweirdofengland]

@@Erdago I don’t think Moffat was implying that.

[@Erdago]

@@theweirdofengland Moffat was asked where the Daleks were from. It would be bizarre to interpret the question as anything other than a place of origin. And if we were going to count Kembel as that, then why not include other planets like Spiridon, or even Earth in the 22nd Century.

[@jhc1979]

I'm here after it was announced that Russell T. Davies is returning as showrunner. I'm optimistic for the future!

[@MashedPotatoeComedy]

Moffat name dropping the daleks master plan made me respect him a lot more

[@august7535]

Either one of you, please come back, we need you now more than ever lol

[@sunday1409]

Russel t Davis. Moffat can give ideas or jog on

[@edgymoji8260]

Imma still wait till they come back

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Love to see somebody beg, plead or threaten RTD to come back. At least the very least as creative consultant.. EDIT, RTD is back,he's back he's back!!! He couldn't stay away.

[@raumanu1001]

Prophet

[@timetraveller07]

@@sunday1409 RTD IS OFFICIALLY BACK

[@Irrev77]

The dynamic duo. I want to see these guys do another show together. Moffat and Gatiss is great too, but there relationship between these two is so pure. I love it.

[@Irrev77]

I really would like to hear Moffat discuss his genuine thoughts about Series 11. What he loved, what he didn't, and where he from a fans POV rather than an ex-showrunnner would like to see the show go next.

[@tomkenning5482]

@whyemceeay How sure are you? They're clearly half cut here, they'd probably let slip if they thought so.

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

Moffat has no right to criticise anybody he was awful

[@sabiro6747]

@whyemceeay They're busy working men who probably haven't had the time to actually sit and watch the series all the way through. Just because fans can go online and complain about a series to no end, doesn't mean they will.

[@stubie]

@whyemceeay Absolutely. You're never going to get the truth from either of them. Or, indeed, many people. I think there's all kinds of crap going on in my industry, but I am NEVER ever going to make a single negative comment about it. Ever :D

[@kobeangelesd]

JustSomeRandomGuy Online False

[@boozie773]

I would pay good money to have either one of these guys back as show runner on Doctor Who.

[@aloysiuswhiteboat2934]

Boozie 77 Have RTD be the showrunner and Moffatt script editor. Allow some improvisation on set (it seemed really stiff to me), and the show will be back on track.

[@MichaelM28]

Bring Hinchcliffe back!

[@AndrewHsieh96]

Boozie 77 Maybe they should co-write a Big Finish audio!

[@robbytomminson5807]

@Barry William Teske it wouldn't bankrupt the series, people don't give a shit about that they are old writers, it would make the show a lot better and have you seen how many people are begging for one of them, especially Russell, to come back to the show as it's so shit that anything would be better anyway? and these two are way better writers for the show than chinballs. Again, especially RTD.

[@venerablebeade]

Doctor Who ended when Moffat left- the politically motivated car crash that was season 11 is yet another reason to stop paying £3 a week for political bias. Rant over. These guys made New Who brilliant- I suppose being fans of the show was what made their tenure so memorable.

[@SashaRicky]

Lovely to see how fond and respectful they are of each other. :)

[@themightythor1160]

I love how they’re actually best friends.

[@tomimpala]

Whenever they're together it's magic. All cylinders firing. We need them to do a podcast or something. Just lovely.

[@themightythor1160]

They've done one! An episode of one that is - look up "RTD Steven Moffatt Forrest of the Dead commentary". It's HILARIOUS. It's an hour of them watching Doctor Who and having a great time.

[@TIMELORD327]

The Trip starring these two visiting Dr Who old and new filming locations and chatting. That's all I need

[@AlmostAnimixers]

Wonderful chaps. Both of them.

[@yannatoko9898]

I know you're almost quoting but obviously you don't need to clarify anything after "chaps". How could that refer to anything other than both? It can't.

[@AaronBallvideos]

Love Russell! He brought the show back, I will always love him for that and how he gave me an amazing childhood and Moffat, he had some stinkers but also some great stuff, he made the show continue and gave us matt and capaldi! Thank you 😊

[@Irrev77]

As much as I love RTD, I think he had quite a few more duds than Moffat. Yet they both had their flops. RTD's was series 2 and Moffat's was series 10.

[@ukatofarticus9046]

And now he's back baby!

[@Splatinum69]

@@Irrev77 nah RTDs was 4 and moffat was 10

[@maouliamediaofficial]

@@Splatinum69 what was wrong with series 4?

[@Splatinum69]

@@maouliamediaofficial i said that series 4 was rtd's best series...

[@TheFallofTheEleventh]

Russell looks like someone in 6th Form and Moffat is his little Brother starting Year 7 😂😂

[@samuelmyth8392]

That's funny because Moffat is older than RTD

[@katiehough2499]

Love these guys! RTD really brought the human element into all the wacky sci-fi and made me care about the characters back on Earth, and Moffat has some of the best episodes ever under his belt.

[@carb_8781]

agreed! they have indirectly made me So Happy and i'll always be grateful

[@wrennewman6868]

Russell and Steven are fun at parties!

[@benoneill1840]

these two need a podcast where they talk about doctor who week to week

[@jakeratcliff9926]

I love this interview. I come back and watch it everytime I'm feeling down and need a pick me up

[@LondonCelt]

Hard to believe it’s 10 years since Russell oversaw his final stories as showrunner, same for David Tennant as Ten.

[@TheFallofTheEleventh]

LONDON WHOVIAN yup! And on January 1st 2020 it will officially have been a Decade

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

10 Years since Doctor Who has been shit

[@TheFallofTheEleventh]

JustSomeRandomGuy Online except it was still good with Matt Smith and Capaldi......

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

TheFallofTheEleventh lol 😂 you are in the minority with that opinion Series 5 wasn’t as received as well compared to Series 1 to 4 which were acclaimed and every series after got more criticism

[@TheFallofTheEleventh]

JustSomeRandomGuy Online except im really not you dumbass LOL Series 5 and 6 are what made Doctor Who more popular in the US... And Series 5 is considered one of the best seasons of New Who by many of the fans Now unless you stop talking blatant bullshit I suggest you pop off lol

[@thomashaigh6098]

You don't know what you've got till it's gone...

[@ItsMeGPZ]

this has just made me realize how much of a behemoth russell T davies is. Man is at least 6''9

[@Lupus_Solitarius]

I just love these two together!

[@NoahAG]

I love how they still love the show

[@enorth7301]

Please, please, please come back to Who! It's been so sad and dark and depressing and lonely without you!!!!!

[@cyberbeanie5387]

What a lovely pissed couple!

[@pferreira1983]

When RTD and Moffat are a safer choice today for running Doctor Who...

[@oracletv1557]

Welcome back Russell (and hopefully Steve), we missed you so much!

[@grump9001]

"We're in the back bedroom tonight, love~" oh Russell.. lol

[@chanceneck8072]

Steven, please come back! We miss you! Your writing was phenomenal!

[@justsomerandomguyonline1144]

No it was shit

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

JustSomeRandomGuy Online you’re a twat

[@carb_8781]

@@justsomerandomguyonline1144 you're the epitome of just some random guy online

[@matygoo1644]

They have different styles, it would be interesting if they both ran Doctor Who

[@chloexianah3070]

Awwwww... save Doctor Who you two marvellous men

[@sunday1409]

Moffat is part the problem given too much creative control

[@chloexianah3070]

Too much? The mans a genius

[@sunday1409]

@@chloexianah3070 granted he's a genius. He's the man behind many of the greatest creatures conceptualized. I think his first seasons arc was pretty great and the stories that ruined the doctor were written by chris chibnall during moffats time as lead writer. That said his talent goes only so far. And he's been able to challenge his wholesome reputation by ruining the daleks, writing clara, changing the doctor with absolutely 0 character development to show of that transition... ruining the weeping angels (his masterpiece), ruining the cybermen... thats just scratching the service. Russel T Davis should be put in charge. Chris Chibnal should be executed and Chris Moffat should be kept in a comfy cage in Russels dungeon for whenever the one and true lead writter seeks mofats profound ideas.

[@caleb7551]

@@sunday1409 Wait what? What do you mean "changing the Doctor with 0 character development"? And what do you mean ruining the Cybermen? I think Russel T Davies should write the seasonal arcs and half of the episodes and Moffat should write the other half as well as writing the characters (besides Clara. Fuck Clara.). Why are you treating Davies like a God? "ThE oNe TrUe DoCtoR WhO WrItEr", no there are many. Moffat, Russel T, Robert Holmes, Terry Nation, there are a lot.

[@maggieseider8769]

i miss Doctor Who so much. just hoping curent nightmare ends without killing the franchise. Until then, rest in peace, Doctor Who, may you find a Showrunner who cares about the show, an actor (male of female) capable of playing the Doctor, and some real science fiction writers...and one day regenerate as the wonderful series this always was

[@tomkenning5482]

I propose all interviews should now be performed while the interviewees are drunk

[@lukeyread]

My faves 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@LewysC]

I think they've both had a bit too much to drink 😂

[@XxDyneXxFreeEnergyx]

They definitely hit the drink a little too hard when they said Chris chibnall has done a great job xD

[@ishaandw]

I watched an interview of them both. They were exactly the same.

[@Gay_Jesus]

my god I knew Americans didn't drink much but you think this is drunk

[@TheDwarvenPeople]

@@LewysC Why would they? They don't work for the show anymore. They've both makes jokes about the bad stuff of their own eras lmao, there's no diffference

[@LewysC]

@@Gay_Jesus I meant that they both seemed so relaxed it was like they'd forgotten there was even a camera there. Not drunk, just tipsy and very genuine with their responses.. Also, I'm no American mate 😂

[@AndrewHsieh96]

Miss them both!

[@timetraveller07]

RTD IS BACK 💜💜

[@jakegodfrey4320]

I'd pay good money for a series of these two sitting round a table just chatting and cracking jokes.

[@stevenrobertgill7306]

Watching this in retrospect is fascinating.

[@MrCdawson17]

Let's have these two cast in Doctor Who. They're hilarious 😂

[@shane55pwnt]

Come back.... please.... just come back...

[@katekha5353]

These two are so hilarious together! 😂❤️

[@themightythor1160]

Moffat! Check out that retirement beard!

[@aisey100]

People hated them at the time, now everyone loves them. You never know what you've got til it's gone! I particularly miss Moffat's brand of epic, crazy bombastic witty Who. Not to everyone's taste I know, but I loved (most) of it. Chibnall's Who feels very underwhelming so far though Resolution showed some signs of improvement. Something is just missing. I think Davies & Moffat completely imbued their versions of the show with their strong personalities. I can honestly say, I have no idea what Chibnall's personality is at all yet. I'm not blaming a female Doctor either, though I feel Jodie hasn't really hit her stride...as least not yet. Here's hoping. But anyway, British TV is very lucky to have these excellent people writing for it, for all the stick they sometimes get. God bless 'em! They certainly knew how to sell Doctor Who, I'm not sure Chris Chibnall quite has that spark of magic.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Maybe H8s a bit strong, but I think the strong criticism was usually constructed and founded on respect, informed by the fact that both could create magic on screen when on a winning streak. No such CV for Chibnall, even extra-curricular-ly speaking! Chibnall even managed to ruin Law and Order occasionally with poor research and plot holes. Russell-haters would brand him a 'soap writer' but he devised some of the best scripts for TV's greatest soap Coronation Street which spawned other notable writers like Paul Abbot, Cotteral-Boyce etc. Not the 2nd/3rd string daytime soap writers etc working for Chibnall (employed because they don't answer back? I think we should be told).

[@MartinRodriguez-cv5xc]

Steven moffat has to come back and direct doctor who again!!!!

[@originalnickname6993]

Самые лучшие!!!!! Обожаю этих ребят))))

[@BrianBorkowski]

Can they both come back.....

[@Problembeing]

Come back, all is forgiven.

[@daringnote6269]

0:50 Aged interestingly

[@iestyndavies7287]

Please, come back, either of you!

[@docwho10th88]

Both of you PLEEEEEEESSSE COOOOOOOME BAAAAACK!

[@memelordmarcus]

The Demogorgon from Stranger Things could totally be a doctor who monster.

[@ChuckstaGaming]

Yeah, most definitely.

[@abcdefgh6951]

they are hilarious together like honestly this si so cool

[@jnielson1121]

I love these guys so much. I wish they were both my uncles 😊

[@watchmanuk74]

My two favourite show runners whoooo I likeee

[@10thdoctor15]

It's a good thing there were lots of Daleks in The Lego Batman Movie.

[@AndrePPJ]

Life-goal: be their new best friend ASAP

[@XenoKnightAlpha]

2:47 Me: 2019! What do you have to say!? 2019: Uh... watch reruns! Listen to audio dramas, Big Finish! Doctor Who is still on.

[@NobblaSparrow]

Legends!!

[@jarjared3522]

I would love it if Russell T. Davies brought Torchwood back.

[@TimesFM4532]

And he’s back. Should do a joint show runner series

[@HaroldTheFarmer]

Wholesome

[@ellenmurphy2150]

The Sound of Music with Daleks. RTD and Moffat are great together. Fanboys. ❤ ❤

[@lucygittins7896]

Love this 🤗

[@bohdan_lvov]

Jesus, Moffat is tiny

[@pigslaundry5593]

He's slightly below average height, but he probably looks smaller because Davies is almost a foot taller than him.

[@coladict]

Davies is 198cm. That dude is a TOWER!

[@sallyatticum]

RTD is something like 6'5

[@RoseDelirium]

not so tiny, he is 5' 8" . RTD is 6' 6"

[@Unlimi-PT]

Russell is huge

[@connormcrae2907]

"Life After Doctor Who" - well this aged like milk

[@callac]

Moffat come back, plz!!!

[@MichaelM28]

After he raped the First Doctor? NO!

[@ChuckstaGaming]

@@MichaelM28 the man raped everything about that show. I hardly enjoyed a single episode since Tennant left, which coincides with Moffat taking over as writer for the series.

[@fumetsu6164]

@@ChuckstaGaming de gustibus

[@Adam-nb6im]

He won't. Get over it. Neither will RTD.

[@mikehunt3842]

WOW, I thought I’d never agree with Michael McGrath on something. Me, a Series 11, Jodie Whittaker fan! You’re right, Mikey. I’m glad Moffat is gone. Never to return. PS: Stop pretending that, in the absurd fantasy world in which Moffat does come back, literally anything would change. He ENDORSED Chibnall, he’s just as “bad” as you people think Chris Chibnall is! Fortunately, we live in the real world where Moffat is never, ever, ever, coming back as head writer and you have to accept that fact.

[@thehorrorcounselors4747]

I wish Russell T Davies was to come back I miss his ideas

[@oracletv1557]

Oh boy, do I have news for you........

[@Xbox4life457]

Please come back Russel 😔

[@CharlieWoodwardMedia]

brilliant!

[@JJungleJapeson]

RTD: life after Doctor Who and back on Doctor Who

[@thuaners]

so goood!!!

[@like_miaow]

I never realised Russel was so tall

[@theqwertyqwistle6972]

He's 6'6

[@davidyoung5114]

These two should be invited back to co-write the 60th anniversary D.W. episode in 2023.

[@ciarantimothy8081]

Well, your half right

[@john_is_insane_]

Oh....what a prediction 😂

[@BeyondGaming1101]

Time traveler?

[@wibblywobblytimeywimey4669]

Time traveller?

[@mikeharvey2129]

HES BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@markandresen1]

Like the two Davids from Spitting Image. Never knew Mini-Moff was literally in RTD's pocket...

[@coffeeafters3x]

Lads, please come back.

[@laminage]

I had no idea that Russell T. Davies also did Dr. Who. I still know him as The Man who did Queer As Folk. I first saw The US Version then The UK Version, and it explains why Vincent was so obsessed with Dr. Who. Either way, the man is nothing short of brilliant in terms of Writing about Gay Life in such a positive light. No US Writer was brave to do what he did. The UK Soap Writers are also brilliant as well. Sadly Mal Young's Tenure on The Young & The Restless recently ended although Daran Little (Ex-Coronation Street) now worked on The Show who previously worked on All My Children.

[@maouliamediaofficial]

Personally I think his work on doctor who is a lot more impactful than queer as folk. Without him, the show wouldn't have become the mainstream culture juggernaut it was at the time of his era

[@lukeevans6070]

RTD is camp but SM is really cool....wow it really shows on each of there eras lol

[@enorth7301]

Moffatt is a genius!

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

True.

[@DarthVader-il2cy]

I preferred RTD's writing

[@tomimpala]

1:23 "Russel will remember that"

[@kamsel79]

hahahahahahahahahahaha I love these 2 together!

[@flavio3.095]

Les 2 meilleurs showrunners et de loin ... Sans eux la magie a disparue !

[@meris8486]

Wow Davies is so tall he makes Moffat seem tiny

[@snazzyquizzes2336]

Why don't they write some Doctor Whos together? That would be good.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

2:10 METAPHOR 2:48 ho ho, yeah...

[@shs2109]

Russell's Doctor Who was the best.

[@carb_8781]

i liked Moffat's run just a little bit more, but they have both indirectly made me soso happy and i will always be grateful

[@moiragoddard592]

Sunday is a bad day for Doctor Who, Saturday is its home.

[@thedoctorand]

One of them should come back to save Doctor Who before Chibnall ruins it beyond repair.

[@Squicx]

Too late...

[@Squicx]

Everything is destroyed...

[@barryhomeowner9293]

Ah yeah, Moffatt could come back to save doctor who!! 'I am the hybrid', great moment. Russell T Davies too, let's bring back farting aliens in human suits and burping wheelie bins!! Both were excellent showrunners with not a bad episode.

[@williamwatson4354]

@@barryhomeowner9293 Ah sarcasm. Sure there were weak episodes. Frankly I can't stand Oxygen. But in the 42 years since I first watched Who, this is the first I can watch it anymore.

[@barryhomeowner9293]

@@williamwatson4354 it just depends what you're into but really, I think Series 12 was stronger than the 5 series that preceded it

[@tolland4433]

Is Moffat tiny or RTD huge?

[@ellenmurphy2150]

Tolland RTD is probably taller than everybody on Who at 6 feet 6 inches.

[@ebthenerd6191]

"I think how much better almost everything would be if Doctor Who was in it." It's good to know I'm not the only one who thinks that way lol

[@victorkong82]

How many glasses of wine? Jeez!

[@dorothydotson7154]

And RTD is back!

[@FlowerProductions1]

If they came back as co-showrunners, "Doctor Who" would be saved

[@timrob12]

Why these guys aren't dating yet, I genuinely don't know. Also, my headcanon is that Russell created the #dwsr hashtag.

[@Jake-vy2bh]

I'd pay good money to see a show where these two simply sit down and have a chinwag. About writing, television, whatever!

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Have Tom Baker knocking on the door as the landlord/ neighbour...

[@Kschreck]

The A Team!