Steven Moffat. The End. Thank you.

I jest of course. I should probably try a bit harder and expand. Steven Moffat, even at his worst, can still deliver great Doctor Who scripts, but he’s not immortal, and there should be someone else in that vein out there. It’s not a slam dunk, but there are viable candidates.

But first, we can eliminate the two other showrunners of the new and Disney eras, and most of the writers under them. Not all, because some did show promise, even under the thumbs of Chris Chibnall and Russell T Davies. Of course, the following list of candidates, all of this, only happens if Russell T Davies is totally unconnected to anything going on after the Christmas 2026 special. He just can’t help himself anymore. Also, if it needs saying, no Chibnall. Let’s begin.

Yes, Moffat heads the list, but not as a showrunner. No, he himself has said that he enjoys coming in as just a writer, instead of a showrunner. All the fun, without the extra hassles. He has said that he’s about done writing Who, but I’ll believe that when I see it.

So we’ve got Moffat, check. 

Vinay Patel wrote or co-wrote Demons of the Punjab and Fugitive of the Judoon. Him being one of the very few bright spots of the Chibnall era, so I’m willing to give him another shot, since there’d be no Chibnall. 

Patel, check.

Pete McTighe is, I believe, the only writer to survive Chibnall and work under Davies. He wrote Kerblam! and so-write Praxeus with Chibnall (so factor that in). And although it’s sometimes difficult to separate one person’s work from the showrunner’s interference, there are clues as to who did what.

For instance, Russell’s take on UNIT was unique to say the least. Under RTD, Kate Stewart was a pushover, and there was a penchant for hiring children with weaponised scooters. A very Disney-staffed organization. Whereas in Lucky Day, McTighe gives us a no-nonsense Kate, and a formidable military force backing her up. For the first time since the ‘70’s, UNIT was a force to be reckoned with. The upcoming miniseries will give us more from Pete to consider, but as of now… I’m leaning positive. And pickings are slim.

McTighe, check.

Jamie Mathieson, responsible for writing Mummy on the Orient Express, Flatline, and Oxygen, while co-writing The Girl Who Died with Moffat. I really can’t think of anyone on the list that even comes close to this resume, except Moffat himself, who I, at one point, thought was writing under the pen name of Mathieson — that’s how much I enjoyed his stories. Have him write for the show as much as he wants. Please. Have him be the new showrunner! Come on!

Mathieson, check! In fact, the quality, pedigree, and experience are so good there, I’m giving him a Double Check! This is exciting. 

Maxine Alderton wrote The Haunting of Villa Diodati and co-wrote Village of the Angels with Chibnall. The former was received very well. I’m not totally sold, but I’m open to see more from her. 

Alderton, check.

Then you get some bigger names where you might think they’d do a great job on Who simply because they’ve worked on another hit show. But really, just because someone writes another hit show, it doesn’t mean anything one way or another when it comes to them being qualified to write Who. You just never know. For instance: Neil Gaiman… um… pass. 

Mark Gatiss. He’s contributed many scripts to Doctor Who, at least up until and through Series 10, and by and large, has done a decent job. I wouldn’t be against him coming back as a writer. And after losing out on the position of showrunner to RTD back in 2005, he’s since declared the position to be a “poisoned chalice”, so no go there, but I think he’ll come back and write.

Gatiss, check.

Toby Whitehouse has written numerous scripts for Who throughout the new era. Not only would he be welcomed back as a writer, but I’d have to think he’d be a candidate for showrunner — if he wanted it. 

Whitehouse, check. 

Some various and notable past Who writers:

• Tom MacRae, author of The Girl Who Waited. 
• Richard Curtis, Vincent & the Doctor.
• Simon Nye, Amy’s Choice.
• Phil Ford, The Waters of Mars, Into the Dalek, and The Sarah Jane Adventures.
• Robert Shearman, Dalek.
• Paul Cornell, Father’s Day and Human Nature/ The Family of Blood.

I’d welcome back any of these writers. But there must also be new blood in the mix. 

As for American writers, well, tough luck. The Beeb doesn’t like ‘em! So not an option. Same for showrunner. 

But I’m not plugged into the who’s who of current British writers, except maybe Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who I wouldn’t mind seeing as the showrunner, a guest writer, or the Doctor herself, for that matter. 

But hey, I’m certainly open to suggestions, if you build a good case.