Congratulations! You're the new Showrunner!

[Blossom]

The BBC have greenlit (insert your name here) Productions to take over the new era of Doctor Who, with you at the helm!

With this duty, comes a lot of responsibility! Just how will you want your tenure to be remembered? How big or small will you keep the Whoniverse? Will you build upon the Cliffhanger of The Reality War, or go for a clean slate?

Me here, Hi! Not Ashildr, rather Jamie. No not McCrimmon, although yes I too am Scottish. I thought in light of recent events, it would be a nice idea to make a new thread wherein people can share how they would run Doctor Who, if given the chance. What an absolute hoot
–
Feel free to share as much, or as little as you’d like. I’ll put a few prompts below of what you could possibly give as your outline. Think this would be a nice, positive and creative outlet for everyone I’ve put a few questions below as some prompts, but there’s no pressure to answer those ones!

Will you keep the Christmas special, or introduce a new one, or bring back the NYD special?

What unique angle will you take on the Whoniverse, and what would your grand plan be?

Which writers would you hire/bring back if any at all?

What actors would you cast, and in which roles?

Would you bring back any returning monsters?

Would you make the show serialised?

Would you increase or reduce the episode count?

What would the episode runtime be?

How often would the show air under your tenure?

[Blossom]

Had this drafted since the news day but felt I’d wait to post since emotions were very high.

[shauny]

Nice idea for a topic, a bit similar to Pitch Your Doctor Who Era but specifically for carrying on after RTD2 I guess.

I don’t have the energy right now to post all my thoughts, and certainly don’t think I’m talented enough as the former showrunners - love them or hate them, I think they took an unenviable task for which they get a lot of hate and very little praise, I think it’s almost miraculous we have had 20 years of mostly uninterrupted Who since 2005.

But here are some of my main ideas:

• I’d make a fun special with Billie Piper in the lead role but make it clear she is not the Doctor. She is Rose from Pete’s World, somehow teleported into the TARDIS because she needs the Doctor, but she swapped places with him. She has to try to find the Doctor, by visiting familiar faces and working out what happened to him after reality was altered in The Reality War. A fun ending to the 2005 era of Who, with lots of cameos, it’s a Christmas spectacular but clearly draws a line under it. I haven’t thought this out fully
• I have no idea who I would cast as the Doctor, or the companion(s). I think it should be someone relatively unknown, as I think that can lead to them being more available. Sign them up for at least 3 series!
• I’d hate it to go back to the “norm” with a white male just because I think that kind of gives the impression that experimenting with female and black Doctors was some sort of mistake. How about a British actor of Asian descent? I’m just throwing out ideas.
• Two companions, I liked the married couple idea or maybe brother and sister? So the companion doesn’t have a kind of toxic relationship with the Doctor, they always have someone else to discuss this experience with.
• At least 10 episodes a year, plus a Christmas Special. Being back mid season two-parters with cliffhangers.
• Minisodes! Children in Need! Tie-in audio dramas! Keep the show alive all year, rather than big gaps.
• I think instead of a single show runner who writes most of the stories, have a writer’s room. Much more diversity in the writers. Brand new ideas.
• A season-long arc, but most stories are “monster of the week”. Honestly I’d use Moffat’s series as a guide, having an evolving arc that gets people talking from week to week, and culminating in the finale.
• No universe-ending stakes for the finale. It should be rooted in character drama.
• Returning monsters yes, but only as the stories require it. I don’t think there should be nostalgia for the sake of it, and certainly don’t want something like Omega coming back where the character was lost in the spectacle of it all.
• As much as possible it should be a jumping on point - any time past adventures are referenced it should be just as an extra little Easter egg for viewers, like in Series 1 (2005). No flashbacks to explain things!
• I probably have a lot more ideas but that’s it for now.

[DoctorDisco]

I’ll have to take some time to put together my full thoughts, but to start with I would just ignore the cliffhanger entirely and pick up with a 2005-style clean slate some point after the Doctor last regenerated. I love the TV movie’s focus on regeneration but I do think that it’s probably not the right approach to introduce a new audience to the show.

[Speechless]

Ok, step one, ignore Billie Piper. Yeah I know, whatever, leave that to Big Finish.

Step two: canonise the VNAs.

In all seriousness, my era of the show at this point would look like a soft reboot. Not a hard one, we’re not going to have the Doctor meet the Daleks for the first time again. The original canon would still exist it would just be vaguer and the incarnation wouldn’t necessarily be the next number in the chain.

It would be a lot less Earth-based, a lot less contemporary. I’d want a healthy mix of new writers and returning writers, I as showrunner would keep to the season opener and finale.

It would also be a lot smaller scale, I want a character-focused, concept-heavy sci-fi adventure series, not a circle of jerk of old monsters and a race for spectacle.

And for a more mature audience. I understand what that sounds like and I’d still want it to be accessible for kids, I just don’t want any episodes like Space Babies.

In other words, I would want it to look a lot like the VNAs, am I sensing a pattern here?

[Mercury]

I’m ignoring Billie Piper like everyone else

My first season be like season 9 a bunch of two parters that are classic style stories. No big arc based finale just some big fun story like Seeds of Doom maybe make it 3 part to give it more importance.

My Doctor would be an old lady in the vein of Ms. Marple. Unobtrusive and seemingly senile hiding a sharp mind and curiosity. Her dynamic with the companion would be that of a kindly grandmother in emotional moments and that of a fun aunt in lighter ones.

My second season would be in the style of Flux and a spiritual successor to The Chase. Either Daleks or perhaps Cybermen would be more exciting and fresher chasing The Doctor and her companion through time and space.

It will have a human companion, but K9 will also be there. Human companion is the audience surrogate and there to facilitate any action since The Doctor can’t run like she used to. Think a blend between Steven and Ace.

[logan]

This is an era I’d probably be the only person to like but Doctor Who fans hate everything anyway so I doubt it matters /j

• Make it edgy/spooky! This is the most important one for me but my fondest memories of Who come from how scary it was to me as a kid and I don’t just mean monsters (although of course they play a part) but for example take the atmosphere of Series 1; The Doctor felt like someone dangerous and alien in a way that frightened and intrigued little me because he was such a different protagonist compared to his contemporaries and the universe felt very grungy with an edge to it without going overboard, looking outside the show X-Files & Alan Wake/Control are the best examples of what I’m looking for as they breathe mystery & spookiness and that’s what I’d like to see Who try with it’s atmosphere, like I said monsters are a big part of that and while I don’t want to go hardcore gory or anything I think focusing on the horror aspects or social aspects of a particular monster/villain could be interesting.
• Electronic soundtrack! I like Murray Gold, I like Seguin Akinola, I’m so bloody tired of orchestral music now granted they both used their fair share of electronic sounds but idk a a part of the spirit of Doctor Who to me is weird alien sounding music which maybe isn’t NuWho’s thing but I couldn’t care less.
• Make The Doctor washed up! Now this maybe sound opposed to my first point but here me out, The Doctor has reached a point where the badass speeches that can turn an army away are a bit overdone now and frankly I’m tired of the post time-war interpretation where they’re supposed to be this amazing warrior but Thirteen already made a step away from that so I’d take it further and make it explicit that The Doctor isn’t revered by the universe anymore and they’re basically like a washed up old war hero or actor you get the gist; it puts The Doctor down a leg while still acknowledging the reputation they’ve built.
• Different companions! A lot of these points are just going to be reasons why I don’t like the NuWho formula and I apologise for that but I think most people agree they’ve done the same young witty girl from London template too many times so I’d like to see just any difference at ALL maybe if we had a female Doctor we could have a male surrogate grandson companion? A reformed Sontaran? An FBI agent? Who knows but I’m down for anything else.
• Bring back The Meddling Monk!!! Sod everything I’ve said up to this point this is the most important thing here I love that silly chap and if I had even the slightest chance to bring them back I’d do it; I know Matt Berry is a popular cast but I don’t think he’s the best choice out there and I can’t really see him doing anything other than playing himself but some other choices I’d pick would be: Mark Heap (Friday Night Dinner, Spaced), Steve Pemberton (Inside No. 9, Psychoville), Tamsin Greg (Riot Women, Black Books), Paterson Joseph (Peep Show, Wonka) although I suck at casting so take with salt I just think these would be fun picks.

[Blossom]

@shauny

Nice idea for a topic, a bit similar to Pitch Your Doctor Who Era but specifically for carrying on after RTD2 I guess.

I knew something like that existed I did try to find it, promise! The difference is as you say though, more intended for what follows RTD2 and the pickle we’re left in.

[JwG3]

Like most, here are some ideas rather than a well-thought out plan:

• Soft reboot. Sorry Billie Piper, but episode 1 is a big deal for new audiences. A lore-heavy first episode is a momentum killer. So we’d start with the simple arrival of the newly cast Doctor.
• Episodes would have much lower budgets. The best NuWho villain is literally a statue. We can do this show cheaper, if we try, without looking cheap.
• 13 episodes per season with a special somewhere in the holiday area. I will compromise on episode length before I compromise on quantity or frequency of release. Regularity matters.
• I’d want to be script editor and season planner, but not write 70% of it myself. As someone else said above, bring in a good writing team to keep ideas fresher and broader and simply have the producer edit for a consistent tone. The first person I would ask would be Nev Fountain by the way, if that tells you anything about my approach.
• I’d definitely want to adapt a couple of Big Finish stories or novels during my run. It worked with “Dalek” and “Human Nature,” and there’s a world of amazing material out there that will never get a wider audience without such a move.
• I’d aim for a Tom Baker or Matt Smith type (even though I’m a Davison fan myself) - young, and with a mix of humor and thoughtfulness. I admit I would probably cast a male Doctor, as I do think the world needs non-violent male heroes and the Doctor is one of the few options in established franchises, though I’d be open to anyone.
• That said, casting of the Doctor is, at this point, an unwinnable scenario. If at all possible, I’d prefer to market the show in such a way that the actor wasn’t even revealed until they walked onscreen during the first episode. Let them actually perform before the online opinions start. That would be very difficult to achieve, but I think it would be worth the effort to try.

Not sure what else I’d consider crucial at this point. I’m open to a mix of tones in the stories and the reuse of villains as long as the scripting doesn’t create an entry barrier.

[SweetAIBelle]

Well, I tend to have a billion ideas for this, but let’s play with one of them. We may as well start with a Christmas special, though I’m not sure how Christmassy it’d be. Bear in mind I’m playing with this one as I’m typing, and I’m trying to actually deal with some of the previous stuff. :P

I’ll go with the 13v2 era. We start out with the scene from Reality War with 13 and 15, but we’re following 13. Reality distorts, and she expects to find herself back in her own timeline on the TARDIS. But everything’s dark.

After thinking for a minute that she might be in a lightless void or some such, she finds a light switch, and it’s just a dark building in Sheffield, no TARDIS in sight.

Logical thing to do is try to connect with someone, so we head over to Yaz’s. As it turns out, it’s Christmas, but this is a rather lonely Christmas at Yaz’s, as this is Yaz on 15’s timeline, after 13’s regeneration.

Yaz has joined the companion group, though, and has contacts with them and UNIT. As she’s calling contacts, they end up getting invited to spend Christmas over at the Nobles, with Donna, Mel, 14, etc.

We also establish that UNIT has no idea what happened to the Doctor after 15.

As a bit of a Christmas present, 14 nips off in his TARDIS, and returns with a second TARDIS, namely the spare one from Timeless Children. (Not the destroyed one.). for now, the TARDIS crew is 13v2 and Yaz in the spare TARDIS.

Long range plots would be that 15 broke reality, and we have the question of what happened to 16. Not to mention we have a 13 splintered off from her original timeline (which we probably resolve whenever we’re ready for a regeneration?). And getting the original TARDIS back at some point would be good.

Also, we could say that Susan is calling out for help from her TARDIS, Doctor rescues her, and she regenerates? Maybe tie that into reality being fractured. Her calling the Doctor was because of the fracture stranding her, but she got the Doctor too early in his timeline.

Definitely would like to bring Maxine Alderton in to write a few episodes. I’d kinda like to bring in Paul Cornell, maybe Andy Lane? Some new writers, too.

Would be nice to have a multi-Doctor episode or two (And obviously starting out with one.). It’d be nice to do one with 13v2, 7, Yaz, Ace, Benny, and Wolsey, canonizing the latter two on tv. I’d also love to have a 9/13v2 episode.

I would like the seasons to be at least 13 episodes, and I’d kind of like to make the standard 2-3 parters, with the occasional single episode.

Finales are not world/universe shattering, for the most part. Minimize old monsters unless we have a really good idea for one, and try to be faithful to the original. Though, okay, it’d be tempting to bring back the Master, the Rani, maybe the Toymaker. Main thing is trying to spread things out between seasons a bit.

This might be rather scattered, and I might be trying to do too much. Would be fun, though.

[FumblingFoamasi]

Oh, what fun! While I’ve certainly no shortage of (implausible and wholly unrealistic) ideas for stories great and small, and though my rational mind wins out more often than not to remind me that the position of showrunner is nigh unattainable – and almost certainly torturous were I to ever occupy it – I’ll play ball!

Will you keep the Christmas special, or introduce a new one, or bring back the NYD special?

Keep the Christmas special. I think more can be done with that slot than some believe; I personally don’t care much for the saccharine jollity we got in Davies’ first era and am more partial to stories that can balance that sweetness with something quite impactful like ‘A Christmas Carol’ or ‘The Husbands of River Song’, for example. Give me some – not a lot and not all the time, but some – misery on a Christmas, and I’ll be very happy indeed!

What unique angle will you take on the Whoniverse, and what would your grand plan be?

Spoilers.

But, in a word? A word that isn’t too vain or highfalutin? ‘Invitation.’

Which writers would you hire/bring back if any at all?

New talent, no doubt. For every returning writer, at least two new names should be added to the mix. Of the options I’d like to return, however, Sarah Dollard, Maxine Alderton, and Inua Ellams are at the top of that list!

What actors would you cast, and in which roles?

Ever since I saw him in a stage production of Much Ado About Nothing, I’ve been rather partial to David Tennant— Oops, sorry; typo! I meant Ekow Quartey. I’d love to see his take on the Doctor…

Would you bring back any returning monsters?

Again, I’d typically rule against this, but, if I had to, I’m choosing the Vashta Nerada. In a close second, though he’s not exactly a monster, I’ll do the basic thing and complete the renegade set—give me the Monk!

Would you make the show serialised?

I don’t feel too strongly about it either way. Setting fantasy aside for the moment, it would really depend on what circumstances I’d inherit in this hypothetical.

Would you increase or reduce the episode count?

Is there an option to keep it as it is? Eight episodes of forty-five minutes each can certainly work for a series if handled right! But, if we were to reduce episodes, I’d want an increase to the runtime. Episodes at ninety minutes each could be fun, provided there’s enough story to fill that time…

What would the episode runtime be?

See above. Or, failing that, modular; have the episode be as long or as short as it needs to be, anywhere between half an hour and ninety minutes.

How often would the show air under your tenure?

Ideally, annually. But, again, it all depends on those pesky circumstances…

[SweetAIBelle]

Oh, you know, somewhere down the line, how about an episode where the Doctor’s taking a trip with Belinda Chandra for old times sake, winds up on Bannerman Road, runs into Rani Chandra, and they help her out with a problem going on there, which turns out to be caused by the Rani?

[Mercury]

Do you guys reckon if we spread out the budget a bit we could reasonably bring back the classic format?

[tardis2snej]

What a great timing, I was literally thinking about it a few days ago!

I see lots of people are trying to forget Billie Piper, and I totally understand that . However, I’d try to deal with it, plus put more effort into good and logical storytelling overall.

Here are my key focus points:

• GOOD STORY
  • Get back to the initial timeless vibe of the show: mysterious traveller, curious sci-fi ideas that no one thought of before, moral conflicts
  • Keep the integrity of the show - stop breaking things and give proper explanations. Over the last few years, most of the plot twists (timeless child, bi-regeneration, Billie Piper) were poorly explained, and I think that ruined them
    • I’d keep Billie for an episode or two, since I don’t like simply discarding what already happened. Not sure how I would explain it, though:
      • One option would be to bring back the Bad Wolf, as it has already used Rose’s face before, and we don’t know much about this entity (so it can be anything). But I don’t like that idea, because 1) that’s too easy (almost deus ex machina) 2) we saw Billie Piper → we thought “Rose” → if we don’t have Rose in some way, we’ll feel like our expectations were betrayed → that’s exactly what happened in The Day of the Doctor!
      • That’s Rose’s face, and we know the Doctor can regenerate into any face he’s seen - ask Romana (and the 12th Doctor), so physically, it’s not a problem. The problem is: why would he do it? Coming back to the 12th Doctor case, maybe there could be some sort of inner conflict that needs to be resolved. Rose’s story was very emotional, and the 15th Doctor is also very - sometimes overly - emotional too. Could that be that he needs to find balance in his feelings, and the memory of Rose is meant to help him with it? But I wouldn’t make the story just about it. The story should be good on its own, but have parallels with this inner conflict and allow the Doctor to learn from it. The ending would be bittersweet, where the Doctor says thank you to Rose (I mean, the memory of her), and regenerates into someone new.
        • Lol I actually started to like that idea, and now I want to write fanfiction on it haha
      • I would also consider starting with the new Doctor straight away, but then blending bits of the explanation somewhere into the story / doing flashbacks + gently explaining to the new viewer. But idk. Maybe explaining Billie Piper is good if we’re doing it now, and moving on is better if we’re filming it in a few years.
  • Ahh I actually might go back to a “typical white British male” as a Doctor, plainly for a reason that we had a few non-typical choices in the row and we need something calmer now (think dopamine detox). 15th was very eccentric, so we can have someone old-fashioned and classical but with a spark. Somewhere between the 3rd and 9th. 9th is very neutral, and 3rd is rather classical but with a hint. I’d have that for a season (maybe two), and after that, fine to go wild again. I saw the idea of having a non-binary Doctor, and I thought that it would be perfect for the character.
  • More focus on the good sci-fi story and less on the visuals. I love visuals, but I feel like all the news “we’ve got budget!!” made the writers relax and throw in epic moves instead of mastering storytelling. So, I don’t know, maybe give writers more time? More editing? Invite new talents? Even set more limitations - I think they’re good for the creative process, and also if you have fewer VFX-heavy episodes, they will stand out more. Some of the best Doctor Who was made with very little money. If I have spare money, I’d rather gather a team that would track down plot holes and logical inconsistencies.
  • No returns of the old monsters, at least for a season or two. No toying and foreshadowing it! No remakes! Sorry, I’m really angry that nearly all new movies right now are remakes or sequels or something like that. I desperately want something new and good.
  • Story arc in the style of 2005, where we have a few subtle, easy-to-miss-but-it’s-there hints during the series, and then one finale where it all comes together.
  • Since I’m the showrunner and can do whatever I want… I really want a proper story set in Wales (since they’re filming here all the time anyway!!!). I loved 73 Yards, but ermm they spent 10 minutes in Wales, went back to London, and the only Welsh character was the villain. I don’t feel like they did Wales justice. On the other hand, there could be so much potential, either a modern-day story which highlights the vibe of people around here, or a historical one heavily packed with Celtic myths (somewhat like the Eaters of Light, which I love as well, but that was Scottish!)
• COMMUNITY
  • Work with the fan community. It would be so cool to have more events, activities, competitions, etc, to allow the fandom to live in between seasons.
  • How about reasonable transmission times?.. as we had it?.. Like, Saturday evening. Don’t fix what isn’t broken. So that people could actually have a tradition of watching the show instead of trying to squeeze it in somewhere.
  • Christmas is essential not as part of the story, but as part of a lifestyle!! Some low-stakes pleasant story which will appeal to a broad audience and will be entertaining for the whole family as a part of the Christmas Day tradition!
  • I’d probably keep an eye on the fan communities to monitor what people think. Not to say that I’d do everything people ask for, but just to keep in touch with reality beyond my own fantasies.

[tardis2snej]

Did anyone else suddenly think of a million cool ideas right after (but not before!) finishing the original answer (plus thinking about it and deciding that that’s all) and hitting “send”?

[tardis2snej]

@Mercury

My Doctor would be an old lady in the vein of Ms. Marple. Unobtrusive and seemingly senile hiding a sharp mind and curiosity. Her dynamic with the companion would be that of a kindly grandmother in emotional moments and that of a fun aunt in lighter ones.

I love that idea! I’ve been reading Agatha Christie just recently, and Ms Marple is amazing. She’s great at understanding subtle nuances of human behaviour, which is something the Doctor doesn’t do when they try to portray him as an alien, but I think that can be played out as that he (well, she) knows humans on an intellectual level (because he’s observed them for so long) but doesn’t necessarily connect with them on an emotional level. E.g. predicts human behaviour, can play along with it, but doesn’t feel the same way internally. To be honest, I find that very much like Ms Marple because she’s good at psychology but can be emotionally detached when she needs to analyse the situation.

[Mercury]

My thoughts exactly. The Doctor shouldn’t be too human but they should understand them

[NullScenario]

@Blossom

Will you keep the Christmas special, or introduce a new one, or bring back the NYD special?

What unique angle will you take on the Whoniverse, and what would your grand plan be?

Which writers would you hire/bring back if any at all?

What actors would you cast, and in which roles?

Would you bring back any returning monsters?

Would you make the show serialised?

Would you increase or reduce the episode count?

What would the episode runtime be?

How often would the show air under your tenure?

I do whatever the BBC and the production company strong-arm me into.

Scream endlessly with only occasional delivery of outlines resembling Douglas Adams humour mixed with kitchen-sink drama.

Literally anyone available that could help me remain sane.

Ask me that after I’ve checked how well all my acting picks get on with crew and that none of them will show up to set hungover.

Daleks. And Margaret Thatcher. Possibly both in the same episode.

No. Genuinely the show’s appeal usually is in the variety.

Whatever the money allows.

Whatever the money allows again.

Ask me that after I’ve asked how long they expect the VFX pipeline to be.

[teslapunk3327]

Definitely 100% have mentioned this elsewhere, but in my head, Anthony Howell and David Jonsson would be the guys I imagine as the Doctor. I think they’d both be amazing in the role, and rather fresh. Jonsson is too famous now though lol.

[clueingforbeggs]

Will you keep the Christmas special, or introduce a new one, or bring back the NYD special?

Keep the Christmas special or do no special. Depends how far I can stretch the budget. 14 episodes? Special. Not 14 episodes? No special.

What unique angle will you take on the Whoniverse, and what would your grand plan be?

I’m not entering with a grand plan. My unique angle is that I’ve wanted a disabled Doctor since Capaldi (not the blindness storyarc, when he says to Davros that giving up some regeneration energy ‘might cost me an arm or a leg somewhere down the line’.), but I wouldn’t consider that some grand plan. It’s more of an ‘I would ask the BBC if we could get an amputee this time for my second Doctor, if I get that far. Third if I do, for some reason, decide to stick around that long’.

The last two grand plans have not been great. RTD’s got cut off early and has left everything a mess of open ends. Chibnalls… Was Chibnalls. I am purposefully going to not map anything out beyond the current series, each year.

Which writers would you hire/bring back if any at all?

I mean, if I get the Doctor actor I want, I’d like Paul Cornell for an episode. Regardless of if that works out, I might adapt some audios or books.

What actors would you cast, and in which roles?

Richard E. Grant as the Doctor. Jaada Lawrence-Green as his companion, Alison. We’re going Shalka. Explain one minor thing from RTD2, Grant’s face showing up.

Would you bring back any returning monsters?

Series 1: I would like one episode to be a remake of Scream of the Shalka. Just as a nod to the past for anyone who knows. For those who don’t, it would be like any other story. Aside from that, either a Dalek or Cyberman story.

Series 2: Whichever (Dalek or Cyberman) didn’t show up in series 1. Potentially some other recurring villains, but in a way where you do not need to recognise them. They might as well be new.

Would you make the show serialised?

Hell no. Not beyond something like the Key To Time where each story is contributing to a greater thing, but is also nearly self-contained. I do not think that Flux worked, I think Trial of a Time Lord is barely passable due to the flashbacks, and I am seemingly one of the only people who think The Dalek’s Master Plan is not a missing epic, but a boring, over-run slog to get through. Even if you space out each episode.

Would you increase or reduce the episode count?

Increase. Aim for 14 episodes, 13 main and 1 special. If I can’t do that, knock off the special first.

What would the episode runtime be?

45 minutes, roughly.

How often would the show air under your tenure?

Yearly, around summer/autumn

And you didn’t ask, but how would I wrap up the other stuff left by RTD2/Chibnall?

The Boss: The Master, when reintroduced, will be going by ‘The Boss’, and wear red nail polish. No explicit reference to the past, just let those who know put it together

The Master in the Tooth: Ignore it. Would need too direct a reference. Potentially someone else could make a fan theory out of the above.

The hand that took the Master Tooth: See The Boss.

Susan: Unfortunately, ignore her. There is no way to bring in Susan without directly referencing the past.

Gallifrey: Ignore it. No ‘last of the Time Lords’ but also no visiting it. Occasional mention only.

Tone/genre: Aimed for 8-14 year olds. Kinda scary, only sometimes leans into fantasy but gives it a sci-fi explanation. Episodes will be written in a way to make you think, not tell you what you should be thinking. The beauty of stories is that you can write the meaning you want, and different people will have different interpretations.

How much will I write? Hopefully not much. I’d rather be showrunner in a script editor/producer way, than a producer/head writer way.

Other Doctor ideas: Proportionally, I feel like we’ve got the right amount of Scottish Doctors, are overrun with English Doctors (and yes, I know I’d make it worse with Richard E. Grant, but I feel like the first new doctor needs to not try something new), and don’t have enough Welsh or Northern Irish Doctors (at a big fat zero). If I could get a Welsh or Northern Irish actor who also fits the aforementioned disabled Doctor, that would be great. Picture the Doctor just balancing there post-regeneration like ‘Hmm, something’s different. Oh, I know, I’ve gone Welsh/Northern Irish’ and the companion’s just like ‘Doctor, you have one leg.’ ‘… Ah. That too. Don’t worry, the TARDIS can make me one.’

Transmission time: Saturday, starting around 6:45-7:15? No shoving it between big sporting events and major international broadcasts.

I would also completely back out of fan communities. No watching WhoTubers, no following what fans are or aren’t saying online. I’d ask the BBC if they’ve received any complaints about episodes. That’s it. I feel like following fan communities is partially to blame for the mishandling of Thasmin as Chibnall pivoted to something that people had seen in the show, and to the fan-service comebacks of the RTD2 era, which were also mishandled.

EDIT: And when/if the 70th anniversary happens, then I might explain some more stuff, after setting it up with a ‘previously on’ like Twice Upon a Time.