Russell T. Davies, the former showrunner of Doctor Who, has spoken out about his departure from the series, describing his unresolved cliffhanger ending as "a piece of p***" for the next production team to tackle. His comments, shared in an excerpt from his upcoming memoir "The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television" published by The Guardian, also detail his significant frustration with a prolific leaker who revealed key plot points of the Ncuti Gatwa era ahead of broadcast.
Davies' tenure concluded this summer after the BBC confirmed that a planned Christmas special to wrap up the current era would not proceed. This followed the collapse of the Disney co-production deal and required significant reshoots to accommodate star Ncuti Gatwa's exit. Doctor Who is currently in a period of uncertainty as the BBC seeks a new production company.
Davies explained that the future of the Disney co-production deal was uncertain during the writing of the second season, stating that it was a matter between Disney and the BBC. He noted that if a third series had materialized, it would have been a logistical challenge but manageable. The intended finale was an open-ended regeneration, which was filmed with Gatwa, but the edited version appeared to signify "the death of the show." This led to a decision to alter the ending to avoid such a bleak impression.
While the notes don't detail the original planned ending involving Carol Ford, who played the Doctor's granddaughter Susan, Davies has not elaborated on the specifics that necessitated Gatwa's regeneration reshoot. He frames the collapse of the Disney deal as a business decision, irrespective of the success delivered by Davies and Bad Wolf. Davies suggests that the chosen alternative—a cliffhanger promising a reveal about Billie Piper's appearance and a subsequent Christmas special—may have been more frustrating for viewers.
Regarding the planned Christmas Special for 2026, Davies expressed initial doubts about its feasibility but allowed his name to be used on a press release, an action he now finds regrettable. He also acknowledged that the show's current status, being put out to tender, was an internal discussion but anticipated it for a later date, potentially 2028 or 2029.
Davies addressed the dangling plot thread concerning a mysterious appearance, calling such Doctor Who problems "simple to solve." He referenced the controversial "half-human" declaration from 1996, which was later ignored, suggesting that a new team could easily explain the event or disregard it.
The former showrunner's primary ire was directed at a leaker whose actions he believes significantly damaged the show's profile by introducing cynicism among fans and eliminating surprise. Despite efforts, the BBC was unable to legally pursue the individual, identified as a member of the public, due to copyright concerns and the potential for negative publicity. Davies expressed suspicion towards everyone involved in production, ultimately concluding that the leaks likely originated from a low-level employee rather than someone in a position of authority.