Two time lords a-leaping - Price Prediction

As someone who has been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the most brilliant minds in television, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia when reading this conversation between Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat. Their wit, their passion for storytelling, and their shared love for Doctor Who are palpable even through these written words.

Doctor Who will air Joy to the World as its Christmas special this year. Add it to your watchlist

Christmas is a time for storytellers. Once, that might have meant sharing festive tales by a roaring fire – but as time went on, the flickering flames have been replaced by the light of the television, illuminating our living rooms as the nights grow dark and cold outside.

Two gentlemen well-versed in portraying Christmas tales through the screen are Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, writers for “Doctor Who.” Together, they’ve led their time-traveling protagonist on 15 yuletide journeys. These escapades have transported him from contemporary housing estates to Victorian London, stopping at the Singing Towers of Darillium and a soaring Titanic along the way.

PRESENT COMPANY

When I learned about the 2005 Christmas special, my initial thought was, “What a fantastic concept! The Doctor Who series belongs on Christmas Day; it simply does.

Russell T Davies confirmed that the idea felt right from the start, but they had figured it out quite early – their first attempt was in 1965 with the episode “The Feast of Steven” starring William Hartnell. Writing Christmas specials adds a touch of excitement to the process. It’s enjoyable knowing that many more viewers will be tuning in. There’s an added sparkle in your creativity.

SM It’s an odd one, the Christmas special. Either you take the attitude that it has to be an episode that reminds you of what Doctor Who is for the general audience; or sometimes the Doctor happens to be regenerating. And then you kill a children’s favourite on Christmas Day – which I’ve done twice. So it’s either a totally mainstream one, or one that re-engineers the entire continuity of the show to account for a recast!

I believe my top pick was your initial one, titled “The Christmas Invasion” from 2005. It was that point where you could sense, “Ah, it’s here to stay now.” The regeneration had been successful, and at the time, it wasn’t a certainty at all.

RTD Remember when David Tennant was unknown? What a world.

Writing Christmas specials has a zest to it – you know millions more will be watching

WE WISH WHO A MERRY CHRISTMAS

SM: This year, I’ve not taken part in anything similar to what you mentioned – renouncing the traditional Christmas episode. Frankly, I might have relinquished other installments, but I firmly stated, “No, that’s my leisure activity!

SM I was delighted to have it back again. In time, I came up with an idea for a future hotel chain that uncovers the secret to time-travel and exclaims, “We have countless empty rooms spanning history. We need to sell them off.

For quite some time, your movie’s original title was “Christmas Everywhere All at Once.” Ever since we began collaborating, I’ve been wondering aloud, “Why hasn’t a time-travel comedy been on the agenda?

SM And I still haven’t.

David Tennant turned up at our Christmas party dressed as an elf

TALKING TURKEY

I had almost finished composing a piece when you mentioned that Ruby wasn’t included, and I exclaimed, “Is that really the case?

It seems I made it clear from the beginning, didn’t I? Goodness gracious! Amazing! I distinctly recall having extensive discussions with you regarding this point: “Why can’t he seek assistance from the Unified Intelligence Taskforce instead?

SM “Why doesn’t he phone up David Tennant?”

“Ah, that’s the usual query. Since 1964, scriptwriter Terry Nation designed obstacles like falling girders to prevent access to the Tardis.”

Hey there! Just wanted to remind you about my lengthy email regarding the Doctor’s absence from using the Tardis in this episode. The gist is, if the Doctor returns to the Tardis, he can only travel to a world that results from his departure. It’s like in the [1975 story] Pyramids of Mars, where he said, “If we leave now, that’s the future.” Hope this helps!

RTD And he kind of refers to that in dialogue this time, doesn’t he?

Sure thing!

RTD Over your turkey. Digest that.

Remember when David Tennant was unknown?

HAVE A HOLLY JULY CHRISTMAS

SM I hate Christmas specials where they go to Ibiza. It has to be Christmassy. I always like to include a Christmas tree, and you should always have snow. But you’re usually writing it in the summer. The very first one I wrote, I was trapped in a hotel with Karen Gillan [Doctor Who’s Amy Pond], thanks to a volcanic eruption grounding planes. I turned the air conditioning up, closed all the curtains, and put on Christmas carols.

I recall visiting the HMV store in Cardiff back in July to purchase Ronnie Spector’s Christmas album. They retrieved it from storage for me. It certainly brings on a festive feeling. It’s as if it snows in your mind. With so many I’ve accumulated, I now have several Christmas playlists saved on my computer – carols and pop songs. They’re all set for when I write another holiday-themed piece.

SM How do you start writing?

In simpler terms, sometimes when writing an episode, you spend a lot of time brainstorming and thinking about it, but when you actually sit down to write, you may feel anxious or stuck. You might initially think the first page is excellent, but by page 35, you might feel like giving up because it doesn’t seem to be working out as well as you had imagined. Writing often involves a lot of effort to make it flow smoothly and meet your expectations.

SM You’re absolutely right. I think, up until the opening titles, I can fly like the wind.

Let’s pen down the opening sequences if someone else takes over “Doctor Who”. We’ll form a group and name it the Cold Openers.

In simpler terms, I’ve noticed that as I grow older, whatever I introduce seems to serve a purpose. By the end of a story or situation, it becomes clear why a certain event or person was introduced earlier on.

SM Stephen King says something: you don’t make up a plot, you unearth it a layer at a time.

It’s intriguing to see people analyze episode critiques, and sometimes I find myself thinking, “It’s charming to know you’ve pondered over that for a couple of minutes. In contrast, I’ve been contemplating it for three years consistently. Trust me, none of your suggestions seem practical in the grand scheme of things.

“Why can’t he touch down on a planet where there are no problems or conflicts?” Using the analogy of James Bond, it could be rephrased as: “Why doesn’t he occasionally visit M’s office and find M saying, ‘No, we have nothing going on right now. Take the rest of the day off!’

RTD Because we’re faultless, of course.

THE GIFT OF AI

RTD Or are we being daft? If AI is at this stage now, in ten years, maybe we will be replaced?

My child clarified it for me. He stated, “Indeed, it can perform numerous tasks efficiently. It may even excel at them, but operating AI requires an enormous amount of energy.” Conversely, a human being can be sustained by sunlight and a garden. Humans are remarkably economical; we’re constantly producing humans. Unlike anything else in history, the more it’s utilized, the less effective it becomes. This is because the more content generated by AI, the more it assimilates its own content, leading to a self-perpetuating cycle.”

For quite some time, RTD Television has operated based on those fundamental principles. In many ways, that’s characteristic of numerous broadcast networks.

I’m not writing for the series next year. I was sacked

I WISH IT COULD BE CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY

I’m really excited for Christmas, and I can hardly wait for it to arrive sooner. On the day before Christmas Eve, we usually throw a grand party where all our friends join us. One year, surprisingly, David Tennant showed up at our Christmas bash dressed as an elf. Nobody else was in costume that night; he just strolled around like Santa’s little helper.

I’m curious if he does that regardless! Our families alternately celebrate Christmas with my sisters. I never prepare meals. Instead, we always have a large, formal family Christmas dinner. Typically, we miss the Doctor Who special, truth be told. I’ll catch it at midnight instead.

Every year without fail, I can’t help but cherish Christmas specials. You know, there’s nothing more amusing than Eric and Ernie, not to mention André Previn. However, the one we always make sure to watch is “It’s a Wonderful Life.

RTD And what a dark film.

The movie is quite grim. Despite the uplifting finale, it seems to imply that you’ll continue living in poverty and never leave this place. Yet, your life isn’t all that terrible. It’s a challenging watch, but it’s an outstanding film.

RTD I can’t resist it. And every version of A Christmas Carol. The Patrick Stewart one, Scrooged with Bill Murray. It just works.

In terms of structuring a narrative, it’s flawless. I’ve employed it on multiple occasions – referring to the past, present, and what lies ahead: the Past, the Now, and the Future.

In a nutshell: Dickens was writing about time travel, parallel realities, and spirits – concepts we consider groundbreaking today – centuries ago, which is simply amazing.

AND A HAPPY WHO YEAR?

SM I’m not writing for the series next year. I was sacked.

RTD Inappropriate behaviour.

SM It was humiliating.

RTD And public. Epaulettes were ripped off.

SM I was marched outside of Bad Wolf Studios. My sword snapped over the knee. I was sent penniless and naked into the world.

2024-12-04 00:43

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