Who Is The Best Doctor Who Writer?

[@IsaacWhittakerDakin]

Robert Holmes: That is all. 😊

[@SpectrumStorms]

TV: Robert Holmes Expanded Universe: Robert Shearman

[@thatsci-firogue]

For me its Robert Holmes, Douglas Adams, Eric Saward, Steven Moffat and pretty much every writer of Season 26.

[@Henry-oj1oo]

Toby Whithouse, I just love how much thought he puts into all of his scripts. Probably some of the best scripts for Smith and Capaldi, like 'under the lake' and 'before the flood' has to be the strongest two part story of the Capaldi era.

[@jadominek7116]

Especially the finale of Monks' Trilogy, with the Doctor faking regeneration to someone who had no idea it even exists :P

[@Henry-oj1oo]

Ja Dominek okay his not perfect, but apart from that, he has a lot of good stories, also he brought back Sarah-Jane

[@jadominek7116]

Without any knowledge about who she is. And with that idiotic suggestion she had a crush on 4th Doctor.

[@Henry-oj1oo]

Ja Dominek well when I first saw that episode I had no idea of who she was, Sarah-Jane isn’t my favourite companion, but I can see Toby was trying to expand the character.

[@FreeTheDonbas]

um, Vampires of Venice was garbage though, mate.

[@waziotter]

I’m really surprised you didn’t mention Douglas Adams. He didn’t write many, but Pirate Planet, City of Death and Shada are 3 of my favourite ever stories. Plus it would have given you the chance to say “Goodbye Duggan!”.

[@WingyMedia]

Can't disagree, I love all them but I tried to mention writers that wrote a fair few so that's why people like Adams and Shearman didn't get the nod

[@Ben-vf5gk]

There is only one answer (for me) Rob Shearman. You want reasons? Wrote Dalek and the audio it's based of Jubilee (which might be even better). Wrote the Holy Terror which is so good Heaven Sent and the Empty Child borrow ideas from, the Chimes of Midnight- a story you can tell is going to be the best simply from it's opening and Scherzo- the most terrifying story in Canon which provides the reason the Doctor takes companions (the answer is a lot darker than you'd think). Other good ones include: . Robert Holmes . Malcolm Hulke . David Whittaker . Douglas Adams . Terrence Dicks . Russell T Davies . Paul Cornell . Stephen Moffat . Neil Gaiman . Nick Briggs and any other Big Finish writer, Marc Platt, James Goss, Guy Adams, Matt Fitton, John Dorney and Jonathan Morris.

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

Yeah. I've heard Jubilee, nothing like Dalek.

[@jezt42]

“Chris Chibnall... never in a f***ing million years”. *Salutes Wingy*. Fave Who writer for me is also Robert Holmes, for the reasons you mentioned but also for the other stories he wrote from scratch but doesn’t get full credit for, such as Pyramids and Brain of Morbius. Caves was his absolute best. I was 11 when that was broadcast and kids were a bit sneery about the show, but EVERYONE was talking about it, especially after parts 1 and 3. Bob Holmes, top man. 👍

[@bythebreach]

Pip & Jane Baker, obviously!

[@arguspanoptes9510]

Yep. Even wrote for the first series of Space 1999

[@roguebritgravy1]

I dunno time and the Rani

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Chris Chibnall! You made it!

[@harold5337]

Mark of the Rani is pretty good, and Pip and Jane I do have a soft spot for. Also RIP Pip

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@Harold They kinda had the last laugh on Chibnall if you look at that spat they had with him on daytime TV back in 1986 and what the vast majority are saying about Chibnall; all on KZbin by the way!

[@Nchubbz]

Ben Aaronovitch gets a mention from me, he wrote two of my favourite episodes from the 80's; 'Battlefield' and 'Remembrance of the Daleks.' Ian Briggs also gets a shout out for 'The Curse of Fenric.' Don Houghton gets one for 'Inferno.' Derrick Sherwin gets mention for 'The Invasion', and Terrance Dicks credits him as the person who came up with the Time Lords. Saward is my all time favourite because I love the darker tone and the grimness, all of his stories were on repeat when I was younger. Malcolm Hulke wrote 'The Silurians', 'The Sea Devils' and 'Invasion of the Dinosaurs' that were my childhood favourites and felt like mini-epics, particularly 'The Silurians.' That's still good even today, and one that I can return to anytime.

[@ftumschk]

Don Houghton gets another point from me for The Mind Of Evil. He only wrote two stories, but they were both excellent.

[@gordonw.8831]

I actually met Ben Aaronovitch today and asked him about a possibility of writing for DW again, as Battlefield and Remembrance are one of my favourites. Unfortunately, it probably won't happen soon (he said), but we will still have those two amazing scripts!

[@ftumschk]

@@gordonw.8831 That's nice to know, if only from an hypothetical perspective. I'm sure Ben Aaronovitch has it in him to produce some mighty fine Doctor Who stories. Ditto Cornell, Shearman, Whithouse, Mathieson et al. As a plus-point from the Chibnall era, Vinay Patel seems promising. (And Pete McTighe... Kerblam was fine, and IMHO Praxeus was pretty good, too.)

[@FreeTheDonbas]

Colony in Space is surprisingly good now that I'm older.

[@sbi168]

Ian briggs writing curse of fenric is enough to make you a legend. My fave original series doctor who episode ever.

[@kelprofitt]

Completely agree with everything you said. I would also have mentioned Rob Shearman and Paul Cornell. But yes, Robert Holmes was the absolute man! 👍🏼

[@peterthompson1989]

I agree with the list but would put Jamie Mathieson in there. I feel like he could have been the new Moffat and heard he has a lot of ideas but not sure if he wanted the show runner job. Also while he's only done one episode in the series, I do think rob Shearman deserves some love

[@ftumschk]

I agree - Mathieson would probably be in my Top Ten, along with John Lucarotti, Kit Pedler/Gerry Davis and David Whitaker (plus the 6 Wingy mentioned). Mathieson may only have written three episodes, but they each contained clever ideas, were beautifully written and made for truly gripping television.

[@robo3007]

Completely agree and IMO Paul Cornell and Phil Ford are also criminally underrated writers!

[@robo3007]

@@ftumschk He wrote four episodes, you're forgetting Oxygen :)

[@ftumschk]

@@robo3007 I was thinking of Mummy, Flatline and Oxygen. What's the fourth? Edit: I forgot he co-wrote _The Girl Who Died_ with Steven Moffat. That episode's not as high up my list as the other three, so it slipped my mind.

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

Actually I’ll do a top 5. Coz I love sooo many. 5. Eric Saward: I just love a writer who tries to get as high a body count as possible with balls to the wall madness with ideas that make you think; Christ can you actually do that. 4. Paul Cornell: This is a guy who understands what makes a story compelling and watchable. He manages to bring an A game to exactly what made me start watching doctor who and arguably what made me a super fan. The combination of mundane everyday life and the fantastical concepts of doctor who and sci fj in general. 3. Russel T Davies: The leading man in the era of who which made me a fan. He also knows how to make a story perfect for children and adults. Like I said about Saward he knows how to make a bloody big body count. 2. Terry Nation: Every single one of his scripts tells various different stories in one. Character arcs, story arcs, strong ideas and brilliantly terrifying landscapes with villains you actually fear. 1. Robert Holmes: I don’t need to say anymore. He just writes exactly what I want not just out of doctor who but stories in general. I know it’s not very original but hey you can’t ask me to change my opinion for the sake of originality. Edit: I would also have Robert Bank Stewart on here because he wrote my favourite story: the seeds of doom but I found the terror of the zygons a bit of a let down.

[@anonymousreviewer2092]

Suprised no one ever mentions David Whitaker. He wrote a number of decent stories: The Edge of Destruction, The Rescue, The Crusade, The Power of the Daleks, The Evil of the Daleks, The Enemy of the World and he contributed to The Ambassadors of Death.

[@TheMastermind729]

Anyone who has written power of the daleks deserves to be on here

[@jadominek7116]

1:35 - I've never ever agreed with somebody so much about something :P

[@josephsorrell9919]

Sort of knew it was coming but I thought “if he doesn’t mention Robert Holmes, something is wrong here!” 😂

[@Prowl1701]

I really like sun makers. One of most underrated of Tom’s era imo.

[@danielemberson5321]

Da

[@MatthewsStopMotions]

Yesssss prowl

[@Nikioko]

It is the second best story of Season 15 after Horror of Fang Rock and one of the best stories of the Williams era.

[@JJfromPhilly67]

Before I watched the video, and off the top of my head for the Original Series: Terry Nation, Robert Holmes, Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Malcolm Hulke, and [of course] Terrance Dicks. With an Honourable Mentions of Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler who created the Cybermen and Eric Saward for Earthshock which is the best Cyberman story of TOS and ranks around the top overall.

[@DCSMedia]

Really enjoyed this. Quite interesting and I agree with what you said about Moffat.

[@alantully455]

Nice video and critique. I agree with pretty much everything you say, though I like Moffat more than you do and I would have him in a second a tiny bit behind Robert Holmes. Both for me do humour so well and it elevates their scripts to another level. Watching Chibnall’s writing makes me miss Moffat so much.

[@grfgtbhh34]

Ben Aaronovitch! Dude wrote "Remembrance of the Daleks" (in my opinion, the objectively best Doctor Who episode ever) and "Battlefield" (which is still pretty fun). If we're including extended universe, Robert Shearman, who wrote what I think is the best Doctor Who story in anything, "The Chimes of Midnight", and Marc Platt, who not only wrote the episode "Ghost Light" (a personal favorite) but also the audio stories "Spare Parts", "The Silver Turk" and was the guy behind "Lungbarrow". Regardless of what you may think of that last one, it's at least a pretty ballsy one.

[@MichaelFreckelton]

iirc Holmes also wrote Pyramids of Mars under a pen name, and that's also a phenomenonal script. I love Holmes, and it's a damn shame he didn't live to write for New Who

[@helengrant1075]

Agreed, it's nice to note the writer's and not just the actor's. I would also include Kitt Pedler~I love all his Cybermen stories:)

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

At last he gets a mention. I think he was a bit hamstrung by being viewed as an ideas man rather than full-blown screenwriter, which is why I couldn't shoehorn him in sadly.

[@helengrant1075]

@@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears fair enough :)

[@kristind8354]

When I heard you say Chris Chibnall my mouth dropped and was like oh no you didn’t. Then I heard what you said next and went back to loving you. 😁 Robert Holmes is the greatest hands down. I do wish that he wrote Tom Baker’s last story because it would have been epic. Instead Christopher Bidmead who hated Tom Baker wrote it and (sorry if you disagree) it was garbage. But that’s another topic. My favorite Holmes story is the Deadly Assassin. He invented the (now broken) rule that the Doctor could only regenerate 12 times, he invented the Matrix, he showed the Time Lords as people that you could understand why the Doctor ran away, he invented the Eye of Harmony, and the list goes on and on.

[@maxpower3698]

I can't argue with Bob, but an honorable mention to Malcolm Hulke, The War Games (with T Dicks) The Sea Devils, The Silurians, Colony In Space etc (depends if you like Doc 3 I guess) I'm currently going through a re-run

[@EmpireEmployeeRick]

Tbh my fave is Robert Holmes. Moffat is a close second as he wrote some of my favourite characters and favourite episodes. One of my least favourites is RTD, some of his writing techniques and decisions for the show I really didn’t like. Rose being one of them and the soap drama feeling of the show, also the romance with the doctor 🙄. This is controversial but I like how moffat did experiment with his stories and characters. As much as many people don’t like Clara, I can’t help but admire the vast change in a companion, she’s unique. She’s marmite for sure, but what character isn’t? 🤷🏼‍♂️ (also I’m biased for liking Clara as I love Jenna Coleman 😂) also series 6... the arc was ballsy, it got lost half way through the series and in the end the arc didn’t work well but the ambition in the first half of the series I think was great! Side note: I don’t like how Clara was such a big deal to the doctor, hate that about all the new who companions that are made out to be super important. I.e. bad wolf, doctor Donna, impossible girl etc. What I like about her is 12 and Clara’s dynamic and her development from this school teacher into a woman who just got more and more like the doctor (which I personally find believable) and in the end it got her killed. I just think they was great and unique. Not counting hell bent as that isn’t canon to me as it undoes all her arc 🙄

[@samuelmyth8392]

RTD could never write logical conclusions to finales too. I still think he is a solid writer. He gave us Utopia, Midnight, Turn Left and Waters of Mars

[@TheMastermind729]

With you 100%, Holmes and moffat. I’m heavily biased toward David Whitaker too because of power of the daleks

[@Nikioko]

I actually can't understand people that praise RTD and hate Moffat. Moffat gave us the objectively best stories of the RTD era. Series 1: The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances, series 2: The Girl in the Fireplace, series 3: Blink and series 4: Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead. RTD, on the other hand, gave us Love & Monsters and is responsible for The Idiot's Lantern and Fear Her.

[@darrellburgess1803]

Great videos: I had lost interest in Doctor Who over the past couple of years, but your videos had me revisiting my old DVDs and it reminded me how good this great show once was.

[@menwithven2862]

I think Charley Brooker is the best show runner doctor who has ever had. This message comes from the future. Stick with it fellers we will get through this.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Wow! Where did that information come from? I WANT TO BELIEVE

[@menwithven2862]

Git Mulhaney the future

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@menwithven2862 (Looks at the sky, nods sagely)

[@seanm1955]

Ok Robert Holmes is the definitive choice by far and Russell T Davies and Douglas Adams trailing behind however my personal favourite is Robert Shearman. He only wrote 1 TV episode but his audio work is phenomenal. The Chimes of Midnight is my all time favourite Who story and Scherzo is almost as good

[@joelmole3157]

Classic Who: Terry Nation Terrence Dicks Robert Holmes (the king of Who writers) Eric Saward Ben Aaranovitch New Who: Russell T Davies Steven Moffat Paul Cornell (he seriously needs to come back!) Toby Whithouse Jamie Mathieson Big Finish: Robert Shearman Nicholas Briggs Matt Fitton Torchwood: Chris Chibnall Catherine Tregenna Sarah Jane Adventures: Gareth Roberts (I said he’s a good writer, not a good person) Joseph Lidster Phil Ford

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Blimey! CHIBNALL FOR TORCHWOOD? No PJ Hammond! IX-0)

[@MelancholyFM-Lain]

@@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears Nope! Remember my cyberwoman and the alien parasite who feeds on organisms? I'm the best writer!

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@MelancholyFM-Lain Aaaaarrrrrrrrrggggggghhhh!

[@callumwarren3342]

Certainly not Chibnall lmao

[@ScorpiusZA.]

I've heard more than 1 person call him Chinball. Sounds accurate.

[@callumwarren3342]

@@ScorpiusZA. absolutely.

[@insert-name-here3651]

For me, it's David Whitaker, all his stories (haven't seen Wheel in Space or Evil of the Daleks although the clips I've seen look great) are some of the best Doctor Who stories of their time, with Enemy of the World and Power of the Daleks being my personal favourites. But his biggest accomplishment when it comes to Doctor Who was pacing, his stories never drag and always leave you on the edge of your seat.

[@ftumschk]

Whitaker would be in my Top Ten for sure. Apart from his TV scripts/stories, he also wrote two of my absolute favourite novelisations, "The Daleks" and "The Crusaders".

[@ftumschk]

I can't argue with that list, so I'll add a couple of thoughts. First, although Robert Holmes' script brought him vividly to life, the character of the Master was conceived by Terrance Dicks and Barry Letts - a decent writer in his own... er... write :) So that's another feather in the cap for "Uncle Terrance". Second, whilst I can see why some Moffat plots aren't everyone's cup of tea, he always wrote _good words_ at all points on the scale: he was adept at the pithy, witty one-liner, but he was also brilliant at writing memorable, emotional speeches - for me, he's unsurpassed in the latter aspect.

[@FreeTheDonbas]

nah, Moffat's talent begins & ends with his monsters, which fulfilled the 3 C's: Creative, Creepy & Cheap. His dialogue is atrocious. The jokes fail to land & the "speeches" sound like a toddler doing an improvised impersonation of Jeremy Kyle. I believe someone described his dialogue as "comedy baby-talk".

[@ftumschk]

@@FreeTheDonbas I couldn't disagree more.

[@user0237]

I called the chibnall switcheroo 😂

[@jedisalsohere]

I'd have to give it to Tom MacRae. He only wrote two stories, but they are absolute gold - Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel, and The Girl who Waited (my favourite episode ever). Oh, and Jamie Mathieson too.

[@paulwalker3758]

As a Pertwee fan, Robert Holmes is my top classic pick. Moffat is my NuWho pick.

[@f1since08]

For me Dicks and Moffat are opposites of each other. Dicks is a brilliant showrunner, but his scripts were often solid if unspectacular. Moffat could write amazing standalone stories but, S5 (and imo S10) aside, never pulled off the showrunner aspect very well.

[@f1since08]

@@LukasOfTheLight S9 Capaldi is class but it's spoiled by Clara

[@f1since08]

@@LukasOfTheLight She's The Doctor is exactly why people don't like her!

[@TheEldritchGoth]

Moffat feels like the George Lucas of Doctor Who

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Nice.

[@jonathan.palfrey]

I started watching "Doctor Who" in 1964, and saw most of the Doctors in action, although my access to UK television was intermittent in the 20th century (because I spent time in other countries). For me, although Moffat is flawed in some ways, at his best he could outwrite any of the others. It's important, though, to distinguish between writing ability and showrunning ability, because I think Moffat was better as writer than showrunner. In fact, he wrote some of his best stuff before he became showrunner. "Who was the best showrunner?" is another question, and perhaps a more difficult question.

[@theunknowntimelord8494]

Robert Holmes & Terrance Dicks for me because that was my childhood in the 70s & for me was the best era of the show.

[@markcrorigan554]

robert holmes, terry nation, david whittaker, don houghton, russell t davies, eric seward, terrance dicks, ben aaronavich, malcolm hulke. there are just so many phenomenal writers on this show. the reason why holmes is my favourite is because he writes my favourite types of stories. gothic horror, very dark. pyramids of mars is a great example of this and talons is probably his best script as he balances the fun of doctor who and the really dark aspects.

[@Nikioko]

The Golden Era of Doctor Who are the Barry Letts and Philip Hinchcliffe eras, seasons 7-14.

[@Problembeing]

Douglas Adams, Robert Holmes, Terry Nation (come on... He created not only the Daleks but Blake's 7 too), David Agnew, Terrence Dicks, Robin Bland, Don Houghton, Eric Saward, Bob Baker, Chris Boucher, Stephen Harris, Kit Pedlar, Ian Briggs, Paul Cornell, Richard Curtis, Robert Banks Stewart, Stephen Wyatt, Steven Moffat (though not consistently). The Hinchcliffe/Holmes era with Tom Baker is THE definitive Doctor Who era. Can't be bettered; can't be replicated. Listed all my favourites that I can think of, the reasons are self-explanatory and given that the majority of them wrote under Hinchcliffe and are classic era writers shows the stark contrast of how great Classic era Who scripts simply outshone and outclassed NuWho, though credit due to those who at least came close.

[@dubliam8064]

Robert Holmes Steven Moffat Eric Saward Russell T Davies Terrance Dicks Honourable mention Terry Nation David Agnew (even though he didn't exist) Malcolm Hulke Chris Chibs (He is actually getting better and he is writing some good season 12 stories) Douglas Adams Ben Aaronivich

[@FreeTheDonbas]

RTD is the worst writer if you consider the fact that he wrote 30 DWs & not a single one made it into the top ten. Shambles. What about Chris Boucher?

[@bigimp5485]

the way you described Robert Holmes reminded me of Robert Shearman’s Big Finish work.

[@bobdallas4860]

I'm not saying he was the best writer on the show, but admit it or not, Steven Moffat is one of the most important writers, if not the most inportant. Come at my throat all you want, I don't neglect the importance of Terrance Dicks, Robert Holmes, RTD etc, but arguably New Who is the more popular version of the show and Moffat helped a lot with that, I mean, how many friends did you get into Doctor Who by making them watch Blink? During the revival's first 4 seasons he wrote universally considered great stories and I mean great with capital g. Once he became showrunner he brought to us Series 5, which I agree with Wingy here that it is the best New Who had to offer, it all went downhill from there, but occasionaly he would write genuinely interesting stories, Heaven Sent, World Enough and Time. Not to mention he was also the longest running and if he hadn't written Hell Bent most of us would've think he was a plus to Doctor Who, I, for one, still do. At least he didn't rewrite the entirety of the Doctor Who canon in one episode. Give credit where is due, Steven Moffat, imo, deserves a round of applause, he wrote exceptional SF stories during RTD's era and he took massive risks as showrunner, some that worked, some that didn't.

[@feilvei4498]

Yeah dude, Robert Holmes. These are my favorite writers: Robert Holmes Terrance Dicks Steven Moffat Dennis Spooner Terry Nation Kit Pedler Gareth Roberts David Whitaker

[@Bannakafalattta]

Robert Holmes, Terrance Dicks, Terry Nation(For giving us the most evil villain in the universe the Daleks), Russell T. Davies, Steven Moffatt to name a few.

[@fadikhoory5350]

10. Paul Cornell- really underused we could have had an extra five more episodes 9. Terry Nation- What he said 8. Dennis Spooner- I loved the historicals, he introduced us very well to Patrick Troughton, The Daleks' master plan 6, 9, 11 are rubbish but 8, 10 and 12 were great, the time meddler is my second best Hartnell story 6. Terrance Dicks- What he said 5. John Lucarrotti- Marco Polo and the massacre are missing, but even watching the Aztecs- he's a great writer 4. Steven Moffatt- The New Series Eric Saward 3. Eric Saward- he should be given at least three episodes 2. Russell T Davies- The New Series Robert Holmes, but what I hated was the orange regeneration light and the orange Gallifrey, the crush of the doctor and the companions. 1. Robert Holmes- I don't think doctor who would have carried on without him and the monsters and creatures probably would have been used once or twice. It's unfair how his life was cut short, imagine him writing a new series script. Could you the worst writers. When you watch an adventure in time and space, the Daleks would have easily been out of the window, also, Verity Lambert actually supported the idea of the Daleks, so without her again, the show wouldn't have carried on.

[@FunK0Slap0GB]

Couldn't agree more, Robert Holmes was a genius. Despite Who being, let's be honest, a crappy little sci-fi show, his writing; his scripts, the development of characters, intrigue and humour were phenomenal. Holmes had it all. He was arguably one of the best TV writers of the era and is full of quotables. We're lucky to have so many stories to enjoy.

[@arguspanoptes9510]

Neil Gaiman wasn't bad in his contribution and let's face it, any are better than the current crop under Chris Chibnall

[@barry1369]

Argus Panoptes Chibnall is the worst of the Chibnall era

[@arguspanoptes9510]

@@barry1369 actually agreed

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

lol I can guess 3 to 4 names guaranteed from Classic Who... oh look you have them 😁👍

[@markandresen1]

David Whitaker, Robert Holmes, Malcolm Hulke, John Lucarotti, Robert Banks Stewart...in that order.

[@tbass94]

Heaven Sent is the best episode of Doctor Who full stop for me. The way it portrays grief. The themes of eternity that are established earlier in the series. The music, the directing, the acting but all of the that would’ve fallen apart without the script. Moffat is my favourite Who writer. Yes he misfired on occasion but even when he did at least he had an interesting concept. Vast majority of proper fans would take him back in a second in place of Chibnall

[@TARDISTelevision]

Bob Holmes I 100% agree with you on that

[@MrPaulmorris7777]

So many, Holmes, Whitaker, Houghton...

[@stevencassidy6982]

definitely Don Houghton

[@Pulsarnix]

While he wouldn't make this list, I'm giving an honourable mention to Ben Aaronovitch. Remembrance of the Daleks, was his first of only two doctor who scripts and it's the number one Doctor Who story for me.

[@sbi168]

Moffat. For me it is always Moffat. Love his work and love his tenure as showrunner. He is clever, funny and dark when needed. I enjoy his writing of the doctor and companions (yes including your most hated Clara!) Series 6 is my fave of all time which demonstrates all the above all the way through.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

12:55 the compulsory job description for any Doctor Who writer, too often ignored. On that riff, tragic that Holmes wasn't employed early enough to write for Hartnell (especially when they softened the character).

[@nerdaholics1613]

Agree with every one of those choices. Even RTD and Moffat who I've verbally crucified over the years - they still knew how to write good Doctor Who unlike the charlatan in charge at the moment. I'd also chuck Paul Cornell in there - not the most prolific writer but bloody hell Human Nature/Family of Blood is a masterpiece in my view, novel and the TV story! And yeah, Bob Holmes is quite simply the guvnor of Who!

[@MelancholyFM-Lain]

I suppose Gareth Roberts the transphope is the perfect showrunner. Because having cybermen invading a womans underwear shop whilst Matt Smith fucks around in the toy section was gold right?

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@MelancholyFM-Lain Worst thing is it wasn't even a particularly large underwear section (which is why Roberts could never write Father Ted, such narrow horizons).

[@MelancholyFM-Lain]

@@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears gareth roberts couldn't write a shopping list. The fat bastard!

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

@@MelancholyFM-Lain I feel compelled to email BBC's Diversity Office and call out the show's current trajectory as fattist. But yes "Planet of the Dead" is bloody awful!!!

[@peter7711]

Though he only wrote 2 stories, I would still have to say Robert banks Stewart. Both his stories show really unique aspects for doctor who stories, be it the way horror is used in terror of the zygons or how he creates a prelude of events in Antarctica, showing how deadly the krynoid is in its worst living conditions, to that of sunny plant infested England it’s best.

[@ftumschk]

In similar vein, I'd give an honourable mention to Don Houghton. Another writer who only contributed two stories - Inferno and Mind Of Evil - but they're both excellent.

[@peter7711]

Absolutely another two very good stories

[@scottbennie8299]

Moffat, Adams, Holmes, Lucarotti, and Aaronovitch.

[@JJfromPhilly67]

After the video. I agree you do need to include Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat. Yes Robert Holmes was awesome. As you said, aside from the first and last, his stories are awesome.

[@Nikioko]

And The Space Pirates was in season 5, Trial of a Timelord season 23. Almost 20 years lie between those, making Holmes also the longest serving script writer of the show.

[@DrWhoAndMaster892]

I'm reading the writers tale atm, Russell written Last of the Time Lords in 4 days.

[@FreeTheDonbas]

That long? lol was it in crayon with half the words misspelled?

[@matthewburrows4359]

Peter Harness, his Branagh Wallander's alone are amazing. Plus i personally loved his War Of The Worlds adapt.

[@fadikhoory5350]

RTD should have stayed for the 11th Doctor ( he could have done the 50th Anniversary), That way we could have Steven Moffat all the way up to the 14th Doctor and into the 60th Anniversary.

[@IanCullen]

I'd say, Robert Holmes, Terry Nation and you'd have to have Douglas Adams and Terence Dicks on there too. In terms of the modern era, I'd have to say, Steven Moffat, Paul Cornell, and Toby Whithouse.

[@slumdogjay]

I’ll throw Derek Sherwin in there too. The Invasion is a phenomenal story.

[@thedoctorsassistant1]

3 for me would have to be Douglas Adams Paul Cornell and Robert Sherman they bring comedy but also the dark side to the show and all seem to have a good understanding of the show and its charters

[@itsshaz1333]

Nice to see you back Wingy

[@ozdocwho5177]

I find it hard to choose between Robert Holmes and Russell T. Davies. Both had phenomenal and epic stories, but when they were off they were off. Probably Robert does just tip over the line, but he wrote "The Space Pirates". Big clanger in my opinion. No matter how many times I listen to the audio I still can't get into it and it's really forgettable. I only remember the basic storyline and that's it. But I enjoy all other Holmes scripts. Some are let down by production values, costs, etc. But still enjoyable. Whereas there are a few Davies scripts I don't really enjoy. The Long Game for example. As an aside. If it wasn't for the Absorbaloft in Love & Monster's, I wouldn't have an issue with that episode. I find it fun.

[@cbpoppet1288]

Yup, Bob Holmes. Carnival of Monsters is probably the most sophisticated DW story ever written. He gets the brief of writing a low budget, bottle story because the season's cash is getting spent of Frontier in Space and Planet of the Daleks. Then he goes of and turns in a fun romp, which features a satirical subtext which touches on colonialism, class prejudice, bureaucracy, xenophobia and political game playing. But it also includes metatextual elements, mocking the show's premise and its audience. Genius.

[@stevencassidy6982]

I quickly checked that Robert Holmes is number 1. But also would like to add David Whittaker, Terence Dicks and Malcolm Hulke

[@MultiShriek]

Terence Dicks was involved in the best writing in the history of the show. His collaboration with Robert Holmes. The golden age. My favourite

[@GhostLightPhilosophy]

Pip and Jane Baker hands down!

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Who else could 'invent' "The catharsis of spurious morality"?!?

[@Epsilon1Zeta]

My favourite era thus far of Doctor Who is the Tom Baker era. I like the way in which there is a fusion of science-fiction and gothic horror with black comedy. I saw all of Tom Baker's episodes when they were first broadcast and adore his version of the Doctor. I agree with most of your choices for best writers Wingy Media. But to frank I don't feel that there were any bad or mediocre stories in the first six out of the seven seasons in which Tom Baker played the Doctor. Chris Boucher wrote was it three or four stories for Tom Baker's run - The Face of Evil introduced Leela of the Sevateem as a brilliant companion - but Boucher went on to be the script editor (and second most prolific script writer) for Terry Nation's 'BLAKES SEVEN' (my second favourite seventies science-fiction drama after Doctor Who). I have stopped watching Doctor Who since episode two of 'SPYFALL', as I am tired of Chris Chibnall's Sunday Sermon. It comes to something when as an obsessive fan of the show I watched Doctor Who 'Resolution' on January 1st 2019 and wanted the Dalek to win! And in Spyfall part two wanted the Master to triumph over the Doctor! It shows just how alienated I am from the main character played by Jodie Whittaker, that I want evil beings to win against a good person.

[@powerspyin2]

Some that I would have in the conversation of the best writers are RTD, Moffat (on his best days), Sayward, Holmes, Dicks, Nation and Shearman.

[@yussepig6629]

I forgot Malcolm Hulke. Barbara Clegg was a good one off. Eric Saward could be great at times I agree.

[@harold5337]

Bob Holmes is a given, but I feel Malcolm Hulke, Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler, Terry Nation, Terrence Dicks, Eric Saward, Ben Aaronavitch, Brian Hayles, Ian Briggs, Mervin Haysman and Henry Lincoln, David Whittaker, Stephen Moffat and Chris Boucher are other great writers for Doctor Who. I have a soft spot for Bob Baker and Dave Martin as well.

[@FreeTheDonbas]

Why do people keep saying RTD? He wrote 30 DWs & not 1 makes it into the top ten, which undoubtedly makes him the worst writer. There is no justification for commission 30 stories from someone who is mediocre at best. Ugh, think of all the stories we missed out on to make space for crap like Rose, End of the World, Aliens of London/WW3, Boomtown etc.? The best stories written during his tenure weren't written by him, despite him being the biggest contributor.

[@illaveyoubutler2]

Robert Holmes

[@mr.fandango6223]

Toby Withouse is my favourite writer- why in gods name no one asked him to be show-runner is beyond me

[@martinpakes5436]

I agree. School Reunion is a wonderful piece, especially for those of us who grew up watching Lis Sladen as SJS in the 70s. Under the Lake is another great one.

[@jadominek7116]

And the finale of Monks' Trilogy, with the Doctor faking regeneration to someone who had no idea it even exists :P

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Because he has a mind of his own, not the best time for that skillset! ; )

[@tardisnet9487]

Robert Holmes is my favourite writer but but Steven Moffat and Robert Shearman would also be up there as well

[@oliverpaulwatkins184]

Winky media, I just happen to agree with all your choices ps keep up the great work

[@robo3007]

If you exclude old Who and writers that only wrote one episode (like Robert Shearman), to me these are the 5 clear standouts. 1. Jamie Mathieson 2. Paul Cornell 3. Russel T Davis 4. Steven Moffat 5. Phil Ford

[@Phoenix-bi9bn]

I know it's unpopular but I don't think Chibnall is bad. He showed us in series 11 that he can handle character, plot, politics, comedy ect. Not for all viewers but for many, he ignited the love for the show and blended things. Many NuWho only viewers have started watching the Classics due to The Timeless Child I also think Russell is damn good because he could write almost any plot at all and make it watchable. He would struggle to do a bad episode I feel

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

Also lets hear it for C E Webber if you're going to mention Anthony Coburn (woo! woo! )

[@bigboymedia453]

I enjoy Eric saward

[@Nikioko]

Modern Series: Steven Moffat. He wrote the best episode from each of the four RTD era seasons. Need to say more? Classic Era: Robert Holmes. He had some duds like The Space Pirates or The Power of Kroll, but also a lot of really strong stories. And you can see that he hardly contributed to 80s Doctor Who with its poor quality stories in which Caves of Androzani absolutely peaks out. Honourable mentions (only Classic Who): Douglas Adams, Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, Malcolm Hulke.

[@deltadom33]

What i am amazed at is how Dr who has the brevity of writing from big finish yet they chose people like Chris chibnall What do you think about season 12 of Dr who I like some of the early episodes is faceless ones written by malcomb hulke he also wrote some other good episodes

[@boxbymclastname5668]

Since you mentioned Terry Nation, does anybody else think that 'The Chase' is a rather underrated 1st Doctor story?

[@ozdocwho5177]

The chase is a favourite of mine. Maybe because it was the first Hartnell I ever saw. But I still really enjoy it.

[@boxbymclastname5668]

@@ozdocwho5177 For me, I love it because of how it jumps from place to place without spending too much time slowly burning through a story in the same place with the same characters (a major gripe I have with the Hartnell era), I love how stupid and fun it can be, like having the Daleks walking the plank or being thrown around by Frankenstein's monster, and the ending with Ian and Barbara leaving is a genuinely bittersweet moment with one of the best character moments for the 1st Doctor. Honestly, I think it's a rather important story in the progression of the 1st Doctor as a character. It's definitely a hidden gem of a story.

[@fraserwhitely9199]

have you watched series 12 yet im interested in what you think?

[@dexterhill5843]

Interesting how Bob Holmes struggled to write The Five Doctors though and Dicks is the one who succeeded where he struggled

[@zakjaggs9761]

Including big finish Robert shearman Dicks Ian Briggs Phil martin Holmes

[@treknobabble1701]

Robert Holmes. Easy. Wasn't a fan of RTD, respecting what he did and think his choices were probably correct for the show at the time though. Midnight is a blinder too tbf. Moffat was probably the strongest of the nu-who writers, at least early on, till he started to lose the plot and replace logic with swagger too often.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

RTD was hamstrung by being populist by necessity and remodelling Who for soap audience as well as the kids; 15 years later here we are. Love the Moffat description 'logic to swagger' : D

[@bootsey7196]

I would never say that Chris Chibnall is a good Doctor Who writer, but he is a great ideas man. 'The Ghost Monument' is not a good episode, but I reckon a story entirely devoted to an interplanetary space race to the death is honestly pretty brilliant. I feel as though his episodes have such great premises that if perhaps put in the hands of better writers, could be pulled off greatly. Which is why it's all the more disappointing when they don't pan out that way in terms of dialogue and character. He's definitely improving (I actually find that series 12 is one of the more interesting series DW has ever had, which is a lot better than what series 11 could muster up), but he's still very problematic.

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

Bootsey watch the 5th Doctor episode Enlightenment. 😁 interstellar space race to the death..

[@bootsey7196]

@@SirMeowsAlot89 I always forget about Enlightenment heh. Nevertheless, I feel as though there are others to consider

[@SirMeowsAlot89]

Bootsey Arachnids in the UK - The Green Death. Season 11 episode 10. Planets crushed down to the size of basketballs... The Pirate Planet. Ghost Monument - Enlightenment 😁😎 I think Chibs era has been heavily inspired by Classic Who. Which is good. I have been liking series 12 so far! I hope it keeps getting better and better! I wonder if the Doctor will be the “Timeless child”. And it’s Chibs doing his version of “The Other”. 🤔 💭

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

This is the tragedy in that he's not self aware as a writer and so surrounds himself with INEXPERIENCE, whilst ANYONE from the last 15 years could set him straight and clear up where its not actually working.

[@scix8794]

Imo Moffat even with hell bent being the worst

[@KevTheImpaler]

I would have said Terrance Dicks or Terry Nation. I did not remember Robert Holmes, but I cannot argue that choice. I was disappointed with RTD's revival of Doctor Who. Initially I was enthused because the special effects were so much better and programmes zipped along. Old Who was often ponderous. I wished they hadn't kept the Paul McGann doctor's Tardis interior, as I wanted that episode just not to have happened. I did not like the Galifrey having been destroyed neither, but I thought RTD was allowed at least one big change. However, I soon got fed up with RTD's sexual politics and social politics and the ludicrousness of some of the plotlines. It was the episode in which the ghostly gargoyles started pulling down the scenery because Rose had tried to change history that finished it for me. Even my ten-year-old self would have thought that was lame. I just wished the BBC had access to some proper science fiction writers.

[@GyitMulhaneski-GloriousYears]

1. David Whitaker, then Robert Holmes, Malcolm Hulke, Moffat, Douglas Adams, Terry Nation,RTD, Terrance Dicks, CH Bidmead, David Fisher? (Controvertial). maybe Robert Sloman, P Martin & J Lucarroti (low story count); a whole raft of new series writers especially Toby Whitehouse IF/when they return to the series once LEGS AKIMBO have been shown their cards and the show can return to normal again. The coefficient here is based on quantity as well as quality (which is why Bidmead is low in the list and I vote Adams as partly honorary with just two credited broadcast stories. Munro, Aaronivitch and Platt etc also have this problem with the (old) new writers. Moffat.would have been top 2 (pre 2014 before the show unravelled, lots of minus points on here unfortunately). Also Grimwade and Saward should be given mentions for valour: Grimwade had at least one of his stories ruined by poor realisation and Saward ran the show's storyline with his hand behind his back and a gun to his head for 4 years (and wrote 4 arguably classic serials) but he also royally buggered up show's continuity too. I'd love to award #1 for Richard Curtis' "Vincent" as it is majestic but we shouldn't count one hit wonders (and I hate most of his feature films which doesn't help). Wild card for Top 10 Bob Baker (with Dave Martin)

[@Sh0tgunJust1ce]

Moffat is outstanding in small doses, but becomes far too predictable, and ends up trying far too hard to top himself to the point that his stories become hard to follow. I've never been a fan of the Silence for example, because they seem far too much like a gimmick or Madlib villain; they're basically the Weeping Angels but if you turn away, you forget about them instead of them coming to life to attack you. It just seems like it's trying too hard and yet not trying hard enough simultaneously. Paul Cornell is way up there in terms of excellent writers though. Father's Day and the Family of Blood two-parter are among my favourites of NuWho.

[@frazzlesreviews5379]

Hmmmmmmm is this an unpopular opinion that I’m about to say? . . . . Nah ROBERT HOLMES!!!!!!!!!! Best who writer. Probably for the same reason as you wingy, the stories he wrote perfectly embody everything I want out of doctor who.

[@lewissmith8606]

Oh my god