Russell T Davies to Return as DOCTOR WHO Showrunner in 2023

 
In the words of the Tenth Doctor...What? What?! WHAT???!!!

The BBC has announced that former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies will be returning as showrunner for the show's 60th anniversary in 2023 and for "series beyond". Davies will follow outgoing showrunner Chris Chibnall, whose final episode for Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor is expected sometime in Autumn 2022. BBC Studios are partnering with Bad Wolf to produce.

Davies, 58, previously served as producer and showrunner from 2005 through 2009, overseeing the relaunch of Doctor Who in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor, through David Tennant's era as the Tenth Doctor. He also created two popular Doctor Who spinoff series, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

As writer on Doctor Who, Davies created scripts for several memorable episodes, including "Rose", "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways", "The Christmas Invasion", "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday", "Smith and Jones", "Utopia/The Sound of Drums/The Last of the Time Lords", "Partners in Crime", "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End", and "The End of Time". For Torchwood, he wrote "Everything Changes", "Children of Earth: Day One, Day Three & Day Five", "The New World", and "The Blood Line". For The Sarah Jane Adventures, he wrote "Invasion of the Bane" and "Death of the Doctor".

Davies remarked, "I’m beyond excited to be back on my favorite show. But we’re time-travelling too fast, there’s a whole series of Jodie Whittaker’s brilliant Doctor for me to enjoy, with my friend and hero Chris Chibnall at the helm – I’m still a viewer for now."

"It’s monumentally exciting and fitting that Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary will see one of Britain’s screenwriting diamonds return home," said Chibnall. "Russell built the baton that is about to be handed back to him -- Doctor Who, the BBC, the screen industry in Wales, and let’s be honest everyone in the whole world, have so many reasons to be Very Excited Indeed about what lies ahead."

Piers Wenger, BBC Director of Drama, stated, "As the Thirteenth Doctor prepares to embark on new and extraordinary adventures, the winds of change are blowing…bringing with them news to delight Doctor Who fans across the globe. We are thrilled that Russell is returning to Doctor Who to build on the huge achievements of Chris and Jodie. Thank you to the two of them and the team in Cardiff for all they continue to do for the show and hello Russell, it’s wonderful to have you back."

Doctor Who Series 13 is expected to air sometime in late 2021.