As the next showrunner of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall has the unenviable task of following two legends. What should we realistically expect from his tenure?
There have been two showrunners on Doctor Who since it was brought back to the airwaves in 2005, and both have made an indelible mark upon the series. Russell T Davies not only brought the show back, but also brought in David Tennant, who helped propel the show forward to a more mainstream audience. Steven Moffat has been in charge of the show during its high point, as Doctor Who is more popular now than it had been before.
This is what Chris Chibnall, the successor to Moffat, will have to contend with. Given the popularity of the show currently, and over the past few years, any decline may well be laid at his feet. An increase in ratings may well be considered to be Maffat’s doing, as he will be bringing in a new companion for Series Ten and helping to redefine the show. Chibnall may be in a thankless position, given the state of flux that the show is currently in.
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So, what should both fans of Doctor Who and the BBC reasonably expect from Chibnall when he takes over the role following Series Eleven? This may well depend on what the cast looks like once he has control, given Peter Capaldi’s nebulous future. If he does need to cast a new Doctor, then that choice will set the tone for what the show will be like going forward.
However, if everything remains the same, then perhaps all that should be expected is for Chibnall to continue to find the success from Series Nine and utilize Capaldi properly. After Series Eight felt as though they had written the Doctor for Matt Smith and tried to put Capaldi in that role, Capaldi felt like a better fit in Series Nine. Continuing to have that darker feel to the show would be an excellent step.
All in all, the best thing that Chibnall could do in this role is continue to champion Doctor Who. As Capaldi feels as though the BBC occasionally loses sight of the show, given its success recently, being able to keep the netwrk’s attention on the program and give it the proper support may well be the best thing that Chibnall could do.
Next: A truly impressive Dalek
Chris Chibnall is going to be joining Doctor Who at a time when the show is as popular as ever. Hopefully, he can keep it at that level, and maybe even increase that growth by continuing to champion the program.