Russell T. Davies made DOCTOR WHO becoming an independent production a condition of his return

In a startling piece published by The Times (paywall), it has been reported that Russell T. Davies made his return to Doctor Who conditional on the show becoming an independent production (via Bad Wolf Productions), allowing him complete creative control with no interference from the BBC.

Russell T. Davies and fellow Doctor Who producer and now-Bad Wolf executive Julie Gardner in 2017.

Since its inception in 1963, Doctor Who has been produced inhouse at the BBC: first at the BBC drama department from 1963 to 1989, then a one-off co-production with Universal Studios in 1996 and most recently (2005-2022) at BBC Wales. This has allowed the BBC close control and oversight over the making of the show. However, this arrangement has had drawbacks, particularly related to how the show is funded and how it is remunerated. As a BBC production, the show cannot benefit from the immense amount of profit it generates from book, media and merchandising sales, with profits from those endeavours instead going back into the general BBC budget. As a result, Doctor Who and other big BBC shows, like Top Gear and various David Attenborough documentaries, are often said to subsidise other, less popular and more niche BBC shows and services as part of the broadcaster's public service remit.

This has become more problematic since 2010, when Doctor Who's budget was effectively frozen in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. In real terms, Doctor Who has seen an inflation-driven budget cut for almost every year since then (with an exception for the 50th anniversary in 2013). To accommodate these cuts, the show has slashed production from 13 episodes (plus a special) to 10 episodes every year, and to six episodes this year (though this was also driven by restrictions and limitations resulting from the COVID pandemic). However, it is clear that the show is no longer able to keep pace with American SFF shows. When the revived Doctor Who started in 2005, it was able to comfortably go toe-to-toe with contemporary American network shows like Star Trek: Enterprise and Stargate Atlantis, but today, when its competitors are the likes of Foundation and The Expanse, it has clearly been left behind.

Outsourcing production to an independent company means a revamping of the way the show is funded, allowing Bad Wolf to bring in more investment, as well as striking a deal to allow the production to benefit more from profits generated from the show. This combination will hopefully allow the show to gain production value and once again look like a modern genre TV series. With The Times reporting that the BBC is giving up some $40 million in profits which could be put back into the show instead as an independent production, the show's budget could perhaps as much as quadruple under the new regime.

A happy by-product of this is that, although the BBC still have some say in the series via their contract (so certainly don't expect graphic violence or sex or anything unsuitable for the show's timeslot), they will not have day-to-day oversight of the series. Davies will have complete creative control and freedom to do what he wants with the series. As related in his book The Writer's Tale, Davies found his work on the series was sometimes compromised by having to adhere to the BBC's vision and guidelines, and as the show became a massive hit more and more people at the BBC wanted to get involved with it, creating a sometimes stressful working environment. It sounds like this new arrangement will mean that will no longer be a concern and he can make the show he wants to without being as beholden to BBC corporate politics. Davies will likely also be relishing the opportunity to work once again with Julie Gardner - his former Doctor Who co-producer - and Jane Tranter, the former head of BBC Drama who greenlit Doctor Who's return in 2003. And of course, the very name "Bad Wolf" came from Doctor Who in the first place.

The current production paradigm will remain in place for this year and next, however, with Chris Chibnall and BBC Wales overseeing both the current 13th series and a series of three specials to air in 2022. Russell T. Davies' second stint on Doctor Who will commence in 2023.