Tag Archives: Russell T Davies

BBC Cancels Doctor Who Christmas Special After Weeks Of Speculation

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The BBC has confirmed that plans for a new Doctor Who special this Christmas will no longer be moving forward.

Earlier this month, Russell teased that an announcement about the special was due imminently, following reports in The Sun suggesting the one-off special could be “scrapped”, due to bosses struggling to find an actor to take over from Ncuti Gatwa as the next Time Lord.

The BBC declined to comment when contacted by HuffPost UK at the time, but announced on Wednesday morning that they were not moving forward with this special after all.

“After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and [production company] Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode,” a press release read.

“This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the Tardis lands once more, it does so in all its glory.”

Russell T Davies pictured at Comic-Con in 2024
Russell T Davies pictured at Comic-Con in 2024

via Associated Press

Elsewhere in their statement, they said that “the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year”.

“Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come,” they insisted, adding that “details of the tender will be announced in due course”.

Following the latest announcement, Russell confirmed he was stepping down as showrunner effective immediately.

“And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender,” he told his Instagram followers.

He continued: “As a result, there won’t be a Christmas special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it.

“You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!”

“For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor,” he added. “You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time.

“Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next!”

Russell returned to Doctor Who for its 60th anniversary specials, which featured the return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate to the franchise.

After that, he oversaw two series with Ncuti at the helm.

The most recent season of Doctor Who ended with a divisive episode in which Ncuti’s Time Lord regenerated into a seemingly new character, played by former cast member Billie Piper.

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Critics Hail Russell T Davies’ New Channel 4 Drama As ‘Terrifying’ And ‘Unforgettable’

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Bafta-winning screenwriter Russell T Davies has another critical hit on his hands thanks to his new show Tip Toe.

The unflinching new drama stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey as two neighbours who find themselves in a feud that quickly spirals out of control with disastrous results, while diving into thorny issues like online radicalisation, prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community, misinformation in the digital age and generational conflict.

During a recent interview with HuffPost UK, Russell called Tip Toe an “urgent” and “necessary” reflection of a world that is “out of control” and “at war with ourselves”, which critics have certainly agreed with so far.

Ahead of episode one’s premiere on Sunday, reviews have near-unanimously praised the series – the latest TV offering from the creator of shows like Queer As Folk, Years And Years and It’s A Sin – which they’ve hailed as “chilling”, “devastating”, “terrifying” and “unforgettable”.

Here’s a snippet of what the critics are saying about Tip Toe…

“This is urgent, state-of-the-nation stuff from one of our shrewdest screenwriters […] Tip Toe isn’t just sobering; it’s visceral and chilling viewing for all queer people and everyone who loves and supports us.”

“At times it feels as subtle as a brick in the face. But when Davies steps down from his pulpit and lets his characters breathe, his storytelling is visionary, devastating, passionate and humane. And we should listen.”

Alan Cumming as Leo in Tip Toe
Alan Cumming as Leo in Tip Toe

James_Stack/Channel 4

“Alan Cumming is extraordinary in this terrifying, landmark queer drama […] While this series is a fiction, and one that makes its arguments with sledgehammer grace, it is sadly not absurd, or abstract.”

“Tip Toe, the latest gut-punching drama from Russell T. Davies – his first since the life-altering It’s A Sin – is an alarming, though not inaccurate, portrayal of what it’s really like to be unapologetically gay in a Britain that hates us […] Tip Toe is Davies at his most impassioned; a wake-up call that this is not a time to be complacent.”

“Television writers will tell you that they never want to come across as preachy, and that good drama should ask teasing questions and then step away. The sense in Tip Toe is that Davies is done with this kind of pussyfooting around, and is up for a scrap.

“It makes for a drama that takes wrong turns but is never less than bold and, in the round, deeply stirring. TV polemic is back, loud and proud.”

David Morrissey plays Clive in Russell T Davies' Tip Toe
David Morrissey plays Clive in Russell T Davies’ Tip Toe

Ben Blackall/Channel 4

“Tip Toe may be an extreme example of how frenzied that intolerance can become. Its dialogue, with long, culturally-charged monologues, can also be a little tiring. But it should be all of these things […] A word of warning, though, from someone who literally watches TV for a living: by the end, this is the most distressing series I’ve ever seen. It’s not rewatchable, but it’s unforgettable.”

“[Tip Toe] lacks the discipline that made his other state of the historical/future nation pieces, Years and Years or It’s a Sin, so powerful and moving, but the strands begin to interweave, momentum builds and if the extremity of the conclusion still doesn’t quite ring true, everyone has worked hard to get it as close to authentic and emotionally credible as possible.”

The first two episodes of Tip Toe are now streaming on Channel 4, with the final three following on Sunday 7 June.

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Russell T Davies Claims BBC ‘Insists’ His Shows Have Happy Endings

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Bafta-winning screenwriter Russell T Davies has said he’s happy to be collaborating with Channel 4 on his latest show Tip Toe, as the broadcaster affords him the opportunity to be more “radical” than its rivals.

Over the years, Russell has jumped around UK broadcasters, from the BBC (as with Doctor Who, A Very English Scandal and Years And Years) to ITV (with whom he collaborated on Nolly).

However, arguably the work he’s best known for – including Queer As Folk, Cucumber and, more recently, It’s A Sin – has been at Channel 4, which is set to broadcast his new drama Tip Toe later this month.

The timely Tip Toe stars Alan Cumming and David Morrissey as two neighbours who have co-existed for decades, but abruptly find themselves at war with one another due to their opposing views in the current political and social climate.

“It’s tough. It’s a hard piece of work,” Russell told Radio 4’s Today earlier this week. “And that’s why I’m really glad to be writing for Channel 4.

“When I write at the BBC, they insist that we give things happy endings in case it drives people away! It’s true!”

Russell continued: “That’s what Channel 4 is for, to sit back and be a bit more radical and more opinionated.”

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Earlier this year, Russell told an audience at the Series Mania event: “I love Years & Years but it was only made on the assistance of the BBC, which kind of meant it had to have a happy ending.

“The world has proved me right [on the need for a sad ending] since, things are just getting worse. I loved that ending but it was a condition that you can’t be that bleak. That condition does not apply to [Tip Toe].”

Tip Toe will premiere on Channel 4 on Sunday 31 May.

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