Russell T. Davies has given a new interview where he talks on a range of subjects, from next year’s specials, his favourite companion, leaving the show and more.
Speaking to The Metro, Davies confirmed the format for next year:
“I’m doing [an episode] for next Christmas too. The format’s changing next year, we’re doing four hour-long specials instead of a series and the Doctor will be travelling without a companion.”
And RTD confirms Sarah-Jane Smith was a personal favourite:
“Sarah Jane Smith [was my favourite companion], which is why weâve given the character a series on Childrenâs BBC. Liz is a brilliant actor and was sorely unused. I was ten when she was the Doctorâs companion, which is the perfect age to fall in love with the series.”
On leaving the show and his future plans:
“It’s business as usual. Iâ’m also working on Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Iâ’m writing until February so it won’t hit me until then. I’m not sentimental about these things so I’ll probably just move on to the next project as fast as I can… I’ve been too busy to try to get anything commissioned. Iâ’ll have a few months off then probably go back to a 9pm drama if anyone will have me. Maybe [something like Queer as Folk] but if someone says ‘adapt a Dickens’ I might be in the mood to do it. It depends what the industry wants to commission.”
The showrunner is understandably coy on the next Doctor:
“I’m not naming any names, if I do there’ll be a van-load of journalists turning up at some actor’s house asking him if heâs doing the show. A separate team is casting the next Doctor and I honestly don’t know who they are auditioning… When we brought Doctor Who back, the role was considered such a joke names such as Paul Daniels were mentioned. Now it’s serious actors. That shows how much the perception of the show has changed.”
For more from RTD, including the difficulties of companions, his comments on the message boards, proudest moment on the show and more, head over to Metro.co.uk
