Doctor Who: The Executive Producers

By now you should know that I am quite the Whovian. I, like so many millions around the world love watching and reveling in the weekly adventures of our favourite Time Lord, and long may his reign on our Saturday night screens continue! But I got to thinking...what about taking a look at the minds leading this modern day Who? Since it's revival nine years ago, there have been two Executive Producers/Head Writers to take the helm, and the results in style, overall outcome and feel of the show have been markedly different. So here's a few words from me on what I think of each...

RUSSELL T DAVIES

2005-2010

Often referred to as "the godfather" of Doctor Who, Russell T Davies is the man who brought the Doctor back. Initially he and his production team worried and struggled in those early days, but very quickly his reign on Doctor Who seemed destined for the stars.

From a fan's perspective, it just seemed that Davies was utterly and completely devoted to Who from the outset, along with what he knew it could do for the nation, and the world over. His writing was almost perfectly crafted and timed, his imagination utterly limitless and always on song. Doctor Who has gone from an "old fashioned" TV show not that many had heard of to a global iconic phenomenon in less that a decade, and I truly believe a hefty chunk of that is down to Russell T Davies.

His envisioning of his Doctors, his companions, and every other character besides was pretty perfect, and you could just tell all the actors involved wanted to do his scripts and him proud. As the years of his emerging Who went on, the zest and lust for life only grew, being a supreme blend of the most intricate of subtleties and the most epic powerhouse mega moments.

Yes occasionally the stories would teeter into the overly saturated Whovian cliché, but very rarely. 99% of the time Whovians were treated week-on-week to consistent Doctor Who magic.

My only other resounding complaint about Russell T Davies' time on Who was that it did not last longer (though it was such that through great shows like Torchwood his legacy was allowed to stretch and blossom even further). For me, as I am sure for legions of others, the Godfather of Doctor Who is well deserving of his title.

STEVEN MOFFAT

2010-Present

In early 2010, we said a heart-breaking farewell to David Tennant's 10th Doctor, and to Russell T Davies and his production team. A new dawn to Doctor Who came in the form of Matt Smith, being led by new Executive Producer, and Davies' successor Steven Moffat.

Straight away, though we were still all aware of what had gone before, a new feel to the show was instantly noticeable. To me there was a lot more flare, a lot more swagger and a lot more in-your-face madness. A lot of the time this was great to watch and enjoy, but on a few occasions it rapidly got out of hand.

I wish to make it plain that as a writer, I feel Steven Moffat to be capable of genius; on a par with any Who writer before him or since. When writing under Russell T Davies, he fashioned and delivered some absolute classic episodes, characters  and moments. 

I just feel that something overshadowed that when he stepped up to the plate to lead Doctor Who. He's confident, powerful, talented, and tenacious; all excellent qualities. But in trying to deliver the same levels of consistent greatness Whovian fans have come to know and expect in the past, I feel Moffat has fallen short several times.

Confidence has descended into over-confidence, and dare I say arrogance. Whether it is the stress of the job or the power, I feel having control of the overriding direction of the show has gone to Moffat's head, resulting in him being a bit too wrapped up in his own mark on the show, and not the show itself. Happily, this is often masked or glided over by his bombardment of good Doctor Who moments (though not always fantastic ones). Yet look closely and you will see various gaping plot holes, very loosely tied up ends, and that unnerving, often infuriating swagger and nonchalance that leaves some fans (myself included at times) tearing their hair out.

Doctor Who under Moffat is radically different to anything gone before, which is positive, but I also think that the quality has gone a bit wayward. At times it is rescued and resurrected in wonderful style, but being able to deliver perfect material a handful of times a series isn't I think quite enough.

I'm not sure yet what Moffat's lasting Doctor Who legacy will be. Though I hope it will be broadly positive, I still believe he needs to focus on the fans, and more importantly Doctor Who itself, above himself and his own way.