Doctor Who Showrunner Wanted to Make as Many New Episodes With David Tennant as Possible
Russell T Davies wanted David Tennant and Catherine Tate to stick around for as long as they could.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has revealed that he was so excited by the prospect of stars David Tennant and Catherine Tate returning to the series that he wanted to make as many new episodes with the duo as he could.
Speaking with Radio Times as part of their buildup to Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials, Davies said that Tennant and Tate’s availability dictated how many specials were made. “It was simply as many episodes as David and Catherine could do,” Davies noted. “If they had said, ‘We’ve got time to make 12,’ we would have made 12. If they had said, ‘We’ve got time to make one,’ then we’d have made one. But I think a one-off would have been a disappointment.”
Tennant and Tate will return for three specials, with the first titled “The Star Beast,” airing on November 25 on BBC in the UK and Disney+ internationally. Tennant himself recently spoke about the new episodes as well. The Scottish actor has been enthusiastic about his return to the role, and gave fans some hints at what to expect in the new specials. He said, “[Each one] is very different. Each one is really quite unique. The first one is the sort of world of Doctor Who that you’ll recognize, I think. The second one is unlike any episode of Doctor Who ever done before. And the third one is…bananas.”
The TARDIS Is the Key to Doctor Who, Davies Says
Showrunner Davies has been active in recent weeks as he promotes the return of the show, and the writer went on the record to state why Doctor Who is so special and continues to captivate audiences six decades after its initial debut. The crucial element of the series, and the one that helps it feel so adventurous and real for the audience, is the Doctor’s time Machine itself.
“Doctor Who’s greatest idea is that the TARDIS can land anywhere,” Davies told the press, before sharing a personal anecdote. “I’d walk home from school wishing I could turn the corner and see that blue box and run inside to escape everything. I don’t think that wish has quite gone.” In his quotes, Davies is explaining how the series can appeal to both children and adults at the same time, hence its widespread popularity for years now.
Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary specials begin airing on November 25.
