Russell T Davies criticizes Doctor Who relaunch and Disney+ partnership

Showrunner Russell T Davies has expressed significant dissatisfaction with the relaunch of Doctor Who, describing the initial rollout as a “confused launch.” In his new book, The Queerest of Folk, Davies suggests that the partnership with Disney+ contributed to these issues, noting that executives involved in the deal were unfamiliar with the show’s history and acclaimed episodes.

Davies also cited online leaks as a major factor that “destroyed the profile of the show.” He revealed that production delays led to the creation of certain episodes, such as “73 Yards” and “Dot and Bubble,” which were not part of the original eight-episode pitch. These stories were developed to fill gaps caused by Ncuti Gatwa’s filming schedule.

Regarding the recent season finale, Davies explained the decision to include Billie Piper in the regeneration sequence. The production team felt that the original edit, which featured a standard regeneration, felt too much like the permanent end of the series, prompting a change to ensure the transition felt less like a “mourning” experience for younger viewers.