First of all, good-bye (very very soon) to Russell T. Davies.
If you have been following these ranty, geeky pages of mine (or have a toe dipped into the pool of geek world), then you know Mr. Davies is the head writer and executive producer of Doctor Who.
But he’s much much more than the show runner.
He’s the man who single-handedly resurrected the greatest television program in history…and made it better — beyond every fanboy’s wildest dreams…he returned the program to its position as a British institution…he brought it back to world-wide success…he made Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper house-hold names…and he turned David Tennant into a bona fide superstar!
In short, aside from his writing prowess, his show-running skills, and his honest-to-goodness fanboy enthusiasm…he is simply a god in the television industry…
…and he is stepping down as our lord and master at the end of 2009. Pause for sound of thousands (if not millions) of children’s hearts breaking.
But…all is not lost…because our NEW television god…our NEW head writer and executive producer…is none other than Steven Moffatt!
Don’t know him? Well then, go to the Doctor Who page and look up The Empty Child, The Doctor Dances, The Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, Time Crash, and the upcoming Silence in the Library.
Then look up Press Gang, Coupling, Jekyll, and Joking Apart. I rest my case. He’s a BAFTA & Hugo-award wimming master-writer, and he’s the other great fanboy of British television…
…and he’s ours! Here’s a snippet from the BBC press release:
The fifth series, with Moffat at the helm, is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC One in Spring 2010.
Moffat has already written some of the most memorable Doctor Who episodes of recent times, including The Girl in the Fireplace and The Empty Child.
Earlier this month, he picked up the best writer Bafta for the Blink episode of series three which featured terrifying weeping angels.
Moffat said: “I applied before but I got knocked back ‘cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven.”
“Anyway, I’m glad the BBC has finally seen the light and it’s a huge honour to be following Russell into the best - and the toughest - job in television.”
There’s not much left to say…except stay tuned…for both his upcoming two-parter and his first full season in command. The announcement is almost an anti-climax, as it was a long held Doctor Who wet-dream to have Moffat succeed Davies at the helm…but it’s also a dream come true. Roll on 2010…and role on the next successful era of Doctor Who.
But, lest we forget…THANK YOU SO BLOODY MUCH, RUSSELL DAVIES! There isn’t a heaven big enough to be a suitable reward for the wonder and delight you have brought to millions of children…and children-at-heart. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :D
