Doctor Who showrunners discuss the evolution of the Daleks

Over the decades of Doctor Who, iconic villains the Daleks have evolved into many different forms, and will be sporting yet another look in 2021.

Doctor Who has a myriad of lot of iconic villains, but there’s nothing like the Daleks. They’re essentially the face of the franchise when it comes to the bad guys, and whenever they make an appearance, Whovians know things are about to get out of control.

There’s been a lot of excitement about their return in the upcoming Doctor Who holiday special, “Revolution of the Daleks.” Airing on New Years Day, the episode will give the baddies a new, sleek look, but they’re still as intimidating as ever.

Speaking with Radio Times, showrunner Chris Chibnall and executive producer Matt Strevens talked about the evolution the Daleks have undergone for decades. “No question, they’re a part of British culture – they’re like the Mini of Doctor Who,” Chibnall said. “You can keep updating them but the brilliant design endures.”

I think they go beyond just British culture. As Strevens points out, you don’t even have to be a Whovian to recognize a Dalek. “Even if you don’t know much about Doctor Who, everyone knows the Daleks. It’s a kind of communal sense memory that has cemented their importance, and it goes right back to their first appearance [in 1963].”

"A lot of people would say that the Daleks saved Doctor Who, that it was only with their introduction that people sat up and noticed. They immediately became something children could play in the playground. I think it starts there, and it was just hard-wired into the show and the nation’s consciousness. To use a Dalek expression, they became supreme!"

There’s nothing that screams Doctor Who more than the electronic, raspy sound of a Dalek screaming “EXTERMINATE, EXTERMINATE!” It’s music to any Whovian’s ears.

“There’s an incredible dissonance between what’s on the outside and what’s on the inside with the Daleks – they’re obviously faceless, but they’ve got huge personalities,” said Chibnall. “They’re also merciless killers, which is very helpful, in a villain and an antagonist. And they have great voices and a great thing that they say when they kill people – ‘Exterminate!’ They got it right from the start.”

As for the Daleks’ design, it’s mostly stayed the same over the years, with little updates here and there. In “Revolution of the Daleks,” they’re have a new, chillier hue to them:

“We wanted something sleek, shiny, and powerful, and slightly different from any Dalek you’ve seen before,” Chibnall said. “There’s always a pressure when you refresh any Doctor Who monster. But equally, that’s part of the job and that’s part of what keeps it new and interesting….You’re never replacing what’s gone before, you’re just adding a new variant. It’s just this story is about these black and red Daleks, which light up at night and do all sorts of things.”

Based on leaked photos and promos from the holiday special, there’s a chance there could be a face-off between old and new Daleks, but we’ll have to wait to be sure!

Is it New Year’s Day yet?

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