December Talking Meme: Jackie and Rose Tyler

[selenak]

With Doctor Who everywhere for the anniversary, literally on a global level, it's perhaps easy to lose sight of the fact that in 2005, when the show was relaunched, it was by no means guaranteed it would find a new audience. Especially considering the previous attempt to bring back Doctor Who - the movie of doom - had failed miserably. And the

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[selenak]

There is another great exchange between them in The Writer's Tale, from December 2007 (when Moffat started working on planning s5 and Davies was busy wrapping up s4 and preparing the specials, and they needed to make sure one would flow into the other):

Russell! When you've some time, can we have a chat? I've a few practical points that I'd like to talk over with you. And since I'm starting to think about this for real (blimey!), I'm realising that I probably shouldn't hide myself away from spoilers like the whimpering fanboy that I am. Is it okay if I read your finale scripts when they've done, just in case there are any crossovers with the nonsense currently in my head? (...) One other thing, which I've been meaning to say. You're always so kind and positive, you'd never let it show, but I realise it can't be easy to hand over a show like this one - so please understand, I appreciate that and I'm hugely grateful for the chance that I'm getting. I'll try not to be some irritating Scottish bastard measuring up your house for curtains. And boy do I need some more macho metaphors.

Replies RTD: D'you know what? It is easy to hand over this show, now that I know it's to you. No kidding. No niceties. If it were going to some Holby comittee, or some idiot, or some stranger, I'd be terrified, in a good old-fashioned fanboy way. But it's you. It's simply you. I think that's glorious. And I've genuinely had enough, while still loving it with all my heart. That feels good, getting out while still loving it. (Imagine going off Doctor Who!!!) So I'm really, really happy. You're not just measuring for curtains, you nonce. You're knocking down that wall, building an extension - hell, abandoning the whole thing, declaring it unsafe, and building a brand new house in its place. Like there's any stopping you!

This to me suggests he was not only aware that the Moff might do some radical stuff during his tenure but welcomed the possibility.