Doctor Who Writer’s Message for Fans
As the BBC prepares to open a new tender process for the beloved long-running series Doctor Who, some voices are urging caution. Amid the general optimism surrounding the franchise’s future, writer Mark Gatiss has offered a decidedly more complex, even slightly bleaker, prediction for the show’s next chapter.
Gatiss, who has contributed nine episodes and appeared in five, shared his thoughts while promoting his own detective series, Bookish. Rather than echoing the widespread enthusiasm from other corners of the Doctor Who universe, he pointed toward history as a subtle warning sign regarding the show’s trajectory.
He referenced the initial promise made by the BBC back in 1989, when they asserted a commitment to taking Doctor Who through the 1990s. Gatiss noted the frustrating reality: that promise was put out to tender, yet it quietly never materialized. “They put it out to tender then, and it just quietly didn’t happen, and I have a feeling maybe that’s what’s going to happen,” he suggested.
Despite this historical context, Gatiss acknowledged the series’ remarkable and triumphant comeback in 2005, which ushered in a second act spanning over two decades. He praised the longevity and success of that revival, yet he suggested that the show might benefit from taking a pause.
“I think the fact that Doctor Who had a second act of 21 years is absolutely amazing,” he commented. “And for it to come back possibly even more popular than it was in the first run… but I think maybe it’s just time for a break, because all good things come to an end.”
Drawing on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s observation about second acts in American lives, Gatiss argued that a proper hiatus could be incredibly beneficial for the franchise. He believed a period of silence would allow the public to miss the show and generate renewed demand, creating space for fresh creative leadership.
“You want people to miss it and have fresh ideas,” he explained. “And probably someone to run it who grew up with David Tennant as the Doctor, rather than Tom Baker.”
While his outlook is certainly reflective, Gatiss did not declare the Doctor Who franchise finished. He remains hopeful that the show’s proven ability to regenerate means a future return is likely, even if it won’t be immediate. For now, fans await official movement on the tender, while writers like Gatiss prepare for a much-needed silence before the next adventure begins.
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