A lot has changed in the intervening 15 years.
These days, Chris Chibnall is theDoctor Whoshowrunner, Davies having moved on fromWho-ville over a decade ago.
“Oh God, yes,” he tells EW.
Credit: BBC/BBC America
“I can’t wait for this year.
“It’s the Daleks again, it’s Jodie Whittaker.
I am very excited.
BBC
I can’t wait!”
This isn’t even sad!”
RUSSELL T DAVIES:I love that, I love that.
I love a good emotional reaction toDoctor Who.
No one lovesDoctor Whomore than me, and I couldn’t be happier with its return.
Even to this day, I’m so happy with it.
How did the idea of doing a Christmas special come about?
The first incarnation did not really do Christmas specials.
Because you start to question what’s canon and what isn’t.
For us, it was the BBC who asked for it.
We brought backDoctor Whoin 2005.
So that’s actually secretly the first Christmas special, it just didn’t go out at Christmas.
They ordered two more series and two more Christmas specials all in one breath.
Which was wonderful, but I just saw my life disappear.
[Laughs] I was like, oh God, someone’s just slammed the prison door shut!
But I couldn’t have been happier.
I mean, it’s very different in America.
They don’t show lots of big programs on Christmas Day itself, do they?
So we had to raise the stakes!
We had to deliver a great big blockbuster and entertain everyone!
You were also introducing a new Doctor.
As a selling point for a Christmas special, it couldn’t have been better.
What a gift to put into my hands, come and meet the new Doctor!
And David Tennant turned out to be one of the most successful Doctors of all time.
So it was actually a great rush of energy.
And it was nice.
So it guaranteed thatsomeviewers would come with it.
But think the Christmas episode [has] to bring inallviewers, not just the fans.
Everyone should be watching that one.
In the episode, David Tennant’s Doctor asks, “Who am I?”
What was your approach with regard to writing his Time Lord?
Well, just to exhibit all the skills and power and passion of the Doctor.
He’s funny, he’s dramatic, he’s everything.
He’s absolutely everything in 20 minutes flat.
And I think it did!
I think it worked!
He does get his hand cut off.
Did you get any notes or complaints about that?
[Laughs] Oh, none, none.
I mean, it was bloodless.
No, no one complained, I don’t think.
The show was having so much fun at that point.
And you’ve seen hands chopped off.
It’s deliberately referencingThe Empire Strikes Back.
And you watch it grow back!
[Laughs]
You also introduce the new Doctor’s wardrobe.
What was the thinking behind that look?
So we had little gifts to those long-term fans who love that sort of detail.
And I’m one of those people.
Obviously, we had to like it too.
Where did the idea for the episode’s alien villains, the Sycorax, come from?
I wanted a race of big alien invaders.
It was as simple as that.
[Laughs] In science-fiction stories, the spaceships and the creatures are often made of metal.
It was just a different take.
In the ensuing years, did you always have the upcoming Christmas special in the back of your mind?
Yes, every year was planning ahead for the Christmas special.
I tell you, I am a great television watcher.
All my life, Christmas Day has been the biggest day for television in Britain.
Professionally and personally, it meant so much to me.
I loved that slot more than anything.
What have you been working on recently?
I’ve got a new show, which will be on HBO Max.
It’s calledIt’s a Sin.
I’m very, very proud of it.
All shot beforethispandemic, so it’s all done and dusted.
But it’s full of life.
I’m very proud of that.
