Rumours have been swirling in recent months about the future of Doctor Who beyond the upcoming Series 15. From speculation about the Disney+ deal falling through, to talk of Ncuti Gatwa quitting, and questions around Russell T Davies’ own future with the show. Now, in a new interview with BBC Newsround, Davies has strongly indicated that a “pause” is on the cards.
The segment began with Ncuti Gatwa and new companion Verada Sethu being asked if there was “any news about Series 3”. Gatwa, clearly cautious, responded, “I don’t know anything.”
Then the interview cuts to Davies, and his answer is far more illuminating. Up to now, Davies had maintained that no decisions about the future would be made until Series 15 had concluded. But now, even that cautious optimism seems to have faded.
Davies stated:
“I kind of know that the Doctor’s reached the status of like Robin Hood. Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back. So I have absolute faith that that will survive because I am living proof of it and that’s what happens to good ideas. No good idea ever dies.”
This marks the strongest indication yet that a hiatus will follow the next series. Notably, Davies’ remark about today’s viewers “growing up” before reviving the show implies that any potential break may not be brief, but a significant pause that could stretch over several years.
I actually really enjoy Tom Baker's final season - Meglos is really the only weak link there. I thought JNT was fine early on, but after 3-4 years it would have been time for a change (and IIRC, JNT tried to find a replacement during the Colin Baker era). Unfortunately for him (and us), there was nobody else to take over and so he just kept going (I think Moffat was in the same boat for the Capaldi era).
Re Colin Baker's outfit - yes, now that you mention it I remember reading that!
Some of the McCoy stories are fine, if very camp. I am probably in the minority in that I really don't like Ghost Light but enjoyed Dragonfire. The core concept of The Happiness Patrol could have been really good, but it was abysmally executed. In one respect it was probably a good thing that the show ended when it did, as I am aware of "the Cartmel Masterplan" and hate the concept - like Chibnall's Timeless Child nonsense, it would have just completely undermined established canon.