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@janetteb   I think I agree with almost everything you said there.   Big universe-threatening episodes always depress me.   How are they going to be overcome by a couple of people, even if one of them has a time machine?   And when they are, the result seems almost trivial.   Makes the previous fearsome threat look like a scuffle outside a pub at…[Read more]

Lucky Day And Ruby is back. Interesting.
Is this spooky scene in the warehouse a throwback to the Autons? Umm no, the guy just got slimed (like Ghostbusters?)
If the guy can take a snapshot of Ruby from what – ten yards away, and get a good sharp recognisable photo, his phone must be a lot better than mine, I think.
Um, not sure where this is…[Read more]

@ps1l0v3y0u I do like arcs but they have not always “landed” well. I am perhaps thinking mostly of the two most recent series. RTD’s promise to make it “bigger and better” always made me groan. In trying to outdo himself he often “overdid” the drama, ramped it up to the point of silliness. There were too many universe ending threats. Moffat did…[Read more]

@translatorcircuit @nerys @janetteb @whohar

the cbeebies thing is frankly an insult. Kid’s show.

I might say the bbc’s behaviour was inexplicable but you may well get your wish @translatorcircuit, the days of The Corporation as we know it could be numbered. They know it. They literally cannot afford a challenging exciting show.

This may exp…[Read more]

The main problem with Doctor Who is the BBC and their mismanagement or even abuse of the series!

I feel I need to remind people that there hasn’t been a full length (13 episode) series of Doctor Who since 2020! The COVID-19 Lockdown was the excuse for the 6 episode long series The Flux, but since then there’s been no excuse whstsoever!

As for…[Read more]

@nerys Story arcs in Dr Who have been a mixed blessing. I like a story arc but I think they made them too important, some small narratives threads linking episodes, the odd little mystery to keep fans, (like us), guessing and theorising are fun and add depth but they had to make the end reveal too big, to noisy to flashy and that always fell flat.…[Read more]

Much as I love Steven Moffat’s writing, I did feel that the complexity of his story arcs led to a conundrum for Doctor Who: How do you top this? Chris Chibnall tried … with largely disastrous results. His best episodes were the stand-alones that didn’t seem hell-bent on one-upping the story arcs of his predecessor.

I’d hoped that with RTD’s…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translstorcircuit

The Big Spoof? As you say, surely not. The only explanation must be the slow motion car crash. This was coming since RTD finished series 4 with The Parting of The Ways.

At some point the special was planned and The BBC then decided they couldn’t back it. It’s not the same institution that brought the show bac…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translatorcircuit

I did have a thought that this is all a bluff by the BBC / Bad Wolf / RTD, and that the Christmas special is already in the bag – with Tennant and Piper reverse bi-generating into the new Doc. Surely not though.

Assuming we take it at face value – and remember that RTD has basically admitted that he / BBC / B…[Read more]

@whohar @janetteb @translatorcircuit

The cliff-hanger, as Belam says, does seem to be the key, almost a taunt. ‘You want a show based on continuity but without continuity? Try THIS.’ This suggests both sides knew what was coming.

I am actually very annoyed, mainly with the BBC. I’m afraid for The Corporation too; it’s been in right wing’s…[Read more]

@janetteb

I think it would be good fun. I’ve been part of / run writers groups / rooms before and found it really rewarding.

Not sure about the logistics of doing that on here though.

(I might work on it while I am on holidays in two months time.)

If you do and if you want another pair of eyes on it, I’m happy to take a look.

and the reason I came to this page was to share this  An insightful article by Martin Belam

cheers

Janette

@whohar I like that idea. I did write a draft of a story about J.W Doctor meeting up with Ian and introducing Alfred Enoch as Ian and Barbara’s grandson and potentially a new companion some years ago. I also had some convoluted theories to explain the Danny/Orson conundrum. I think though the challenge now is to explain who Billie Piper is and to…[Read more]

@translatorcircuit

I’m considering writing a script for a sci fi series which is similar to Doctor Who,

You could call it Professor Why. 😀

Seriously though, go for it. Sounds like fun and you’ll get a lot out of it even if it comes to naught.

I’ve often said that, with the creatives and the learned on here, this board could write an episode of < …[Read more]

@janetteb @ps1l0v3y0u

Bravado. Yes. Creative Differences. Also yes.

The BBC are going to go out to competitive temder for the new series, so my read is that there was definitely some tension about the show. Maybe the external discussion also affected the decision.

The BBC went out to tender for the CBeebies version of DW last year. It’s…[Read more]

I can’t tell you how much I hate the BBC for this latest announcement, especially after wasting more than a year!

I think the licence fee must now be abolished, the BBC should be forced to show commercials and even do sponsorship deals. I never watch BBC TV, so I don’t care!

Everything the current BBC management cares about should be des…[Read more]

@whohar @jeanetteb

The bbc are not holding the purse strings without creative control. But if someone else holds the purse strings and annoys the telegraphed mailfist, that’s not our fault.

yours faithfully PW

@whohar it does sound like RTD bravado. I do suspect a falling out.”Creative differences” is the euphemism generally used I think. I hope that, whoever takes over, the fine work done by AG writers is not forgotten and RTD and Moffat get to pen the odd episode. they were both at their best when writing one offs. It was the big bang series endings…[Read more]

Also this from The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/jun/10/bbc-abandons-plans-for-doctor-who-christmas-special

RTD quotes:

“As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it.”

“For the record: the…[Read more]