Russell T Davies Reveals Doctor Who Revival Challenges and Lost Plans

Russell T Davies has revealed that Doctor Who's latest transition was shaped by a difficult anniversary launch, the end of its Disney+ partnership, and cancelled plans for a third series, according to excerpts from his memoir The Queerest of Folk and reports from RadioTimes.com, The Guardian and other outlets.

Davies, who returned as showrunner for the 60th anniversary era in 2023, said the decision to combine a new global launch with a major anniversary celebration created challenges for audiences and the production team.

"It was a confused launch," Davies wrote in his memoir, according to RadioTimes.com.

The 60th anniversary specials brought back David Tennant and Catherine Tate before Ncuti Gatwa took over as the Doctor. The era later included two full seasons, Christmas specials and the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea.

"We knew it would be, but there was no way around it. It was the sixtieth anniversary, which meant going to a streamer to say this is a brand-new show that's celebrating sixty years. It's launching and regenerating at the same time.

Quite a difficult concept. I think that f****d it from the start." Davies wrote, according to RadioTimes.com.

Davies also described the uncertainty after Disney+ ended its Doctor Who partnership with the BBC. He said the production team had prepared for a possible third series before the future of the show changed.

"Disney's solution was to throw away the three anniversary specials, more or less. They dropped them on to the platform, but they didn't really advertise them. I don't think David Tennant did a single interview with the American press.

And I accept that, because we'd created that oddness. But it was a stumbling start in America, from which I think we never quite recovered." Davies wrote, according to RadioTimes.com.

Davies revealed that three scripts for a planned third series had already been completed. The unused stories included an adventure set during the Great Fire of London, a horror story on a NASA-style space station and an episode based in a Manchester council estate.

He also said the team had discussed bringing back Jonathan Groff as Rogue in a story possibly set in 1980s Blackpool, along with a four-part Dalek finale. According to DoctorWhoTV.co.uk and CultBox, Davies said the ideas were ready before the partnership ended.

The BBC is expected to select a new production company for Doctor Who after a competitive tender process, with the result due to be announced in spring 2027.