Russell T Davies says he won't return to Doctor Who as bids are submitted to make the show
Russell T Davies told BBC Radio 2 he will not make Doctor Who a third time while the show is out for competitive tender. Reports name Hat Trick Mercurio, World Productions, STV Studios and BBC Studios labels among the bidders.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Russell T Davies, who rebooted Doctor Who in 2005 and returned for the 60th anniversary specials and the Disney era, has said he will not run the show a third time. Radio TimesN “The writer, who rebooted Doctor Who in 2005 and then returned for the 60th anniversary specials and the Disney era of the show” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Asked by Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2 where he stood with the show, Davies said: "It's out for tender - it's nothing to do with me, I'm not going to do it for a third time!" Radio TimesN “It's out for tender - it's nothing to do with me, I'm not going to do it for a third time!” Read at Radio Times ↗ ColliderN “It's nothing to do with me, I'm not going to do it for a third time!” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1Davies added that the bidders had just been announced, which he called exciting, and said of the show: "Don't we want that show back, Jo? And we'll be there watching." Radio TimesN “Don't we want that show back, Jo? And we'll be there watching.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Davies gave the interview while promoting his memoir, The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television. Radio TimesN “recently published his memoir, The Queerest of Folk” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1The deadline for submissions to the competitive tender has passed. Deadline reported that Hat Trick Mercurio, the company run by Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio and Jimmy Mulville, has bid with Mercurio attached as an executive producer. Radio TimesN “The deadline for submissions to Doctor Who's competitive tender process has now passed”“Jed Mercurio's company, Hat Trick Mercurio, is in the running.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1World Productions, another Line of Duty producer, has reportedly submitted a separate bid, said to be "effectively spearheading ITV Studios' efforts to land the contract". STV Studios, maker of Blue Lights and Criminal Record, has also bid and would move production to Scotland, and two BBC Studios labels are expected to have bid. Radio TimesN “effectively spearheading ITV Studios' efforts to land the contract”“would move the show's production to Scotland”“two different BBC Studios labels have tabled bids” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1World Productions CEO Simon Heath earlier told Radio Times the show "has its challenges" and that anyone taking it on should have a plan. Radio TimesN “It's a show that has its challenges, so you have to think very carefully.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Collider describes Hat Trick Mercurio as the apparent frontrunner, though it notes that no official announcement is near. It says the reported plan is for the series to return in 2028 or 2029. ColliderN “the frontrunner seems to be Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio”“the reported plan to bring the series back in either 2028 or 2029” Read at Collider ↗ Centre · 1Collider places the tender against a run of off-screen drama, declining ratings, a Disney partnership that "never really got going" and Ncuti Gatwa's sudden departure, and says Davies was blamed by some fans for the decline. Radio Times does not cover this background. ColliderN “a mess of off-screen drama, declining ratings, and a new partnership with Disney that never really got going”“showrunner Davies was a name at the top of the list” Read at Collider ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets lead with Davies's statement that he will not return. Radio Times treats it as an industry update, with detail on the bidders. Collider treats it as the end of an era, adds commentary on the show's decline, and includes an unrelated personality-quiz block.
- Emphasis
- Radio Times stresses the list of bids and Davies's good wishes. Collider stresses the show's troubles and Mercurio as frontrunner.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Collider names only Hat Trick Mercurio and leaves out the other bidders. Radio Times leaves out the ratings and Gatwa background and the 2028/2029 return window.
- Charged language
- “Officially Exits 'Doctor Who' Forever”“disastrous finale”“given the ax”
- For example
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“Former Doctor Who showrunner reveals whether he would return third time” — Radio Times
“the show was given the ax by the Beeb” — Collider
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Davies said on BBC Radio 2 that he will not do Doctor Who a third time.
- Doctor Who is out for competitive tender.
- Hat Trick Mercurio, linked to Jed Mercurio, is among the bidders.
Where accounts differ
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State of the show and Davies's role
- Centre
- Radio Times says the show is out for tender and presents Davies's exit neutrally. Collider says the BBC 'given the ax' to the show, calls the Disney era a mess, and says some fans blamed Davies.
Russell T Davies person
Davies says the show is out for tender and nothing to do with him, rules out a third stint, wishes the bidders well and says he wants to watch the show return.
“I do!" Davies responded. "Don't we want that show back, Jo?” — Radio Times
“Davies said categorically” — Collider
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Former Doctor Who showrunner reveals whether he would return third time
Neutral Straight report of Davies's Radio 2 remarks, followed by details of the Deadline-reported bids.
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Russell T. Davies Officially Exits 'Doctor Who' Forever
Mixed Frames Davies's exit as final and the show as troubled, with a joking note on Mercurio and AC-12.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 11 Oct 10:49 First Radio TimesN Former Doctor Who showrunner reveals whether he would return third time
- 14 Oct 00:30 +61h 41m ColliderN Russell T. Davies Officially Exits 'Doctor Who' Forever
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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