Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - celebs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Russell T Davies, screen-writer extraordinaire and father of modern Doctor Who, is 50 today – the same age as the Doctor himself!

In 2005 he may have brought Doctor Who back to a wave of unprecedented international popularity , but really, what has the former Stephen Russell Davies ever done for Doctor Who?

Here’s a far from exhaustive list of 50 reasons for Whovians to love him to bits.

50. He’s a national treasure

Life-loving and full of beans - and the same age as the Doctor! Davies was a natural fit with the greatest television show ever made. With an astonishing television track record, he is without doubt one of Britain’s greatest screen writers. When writer Frank Cottrell Boyce was asked his opinion on Davies' greatest contribution to British television drama he simply replied "saving it from extinction". We and the Doctor were lucky that he was a life-long fan. Hopefully his OBE will be upgraded sooner rather than later.

49. He created the brave new Whoniverse

Prior to the comeback Doctor Who’s TV spin-offs were limited to 1981’s derided pilot, K9 & Company. It was under Davies watch that the huge potential of the series actually worked as he spun-off the hugely successful Sarah Jane Adventures and the record breaking Torchwood. Davies continued to weave the shows’ characters together until he left the main show, but always allowed them to breathe on their own.

48. UNIT

UNIT are a crucial part of Doctor Who history, the Third Doctor having acting as their scientific advisor during the early 1970s. While Russell T’s Doctors were more closely associated with the families of their companions, UNIT continued to pop up. Sure, their name was changed to the far more appropriate Unified Intelligence Taskforce (heresy!), but the Doctor’s dealings with them were kept exactly as they should be: ”Yeah, I don't do orders...”

47. He knows how to scare kids

Scares are a crucial part of Doctor Who, right up there with time travel, the odd history lesson and long scarves – and kids love it just a little bit more than adults love to debate it. Davies made sure that the new Doctor Who would keep the fear factor intact. No doubt informed by his love of the show as a child, he had good experience as well. His 1990s children series ‘Dark Season’ – with Kate Winslet's first major role – and Century Falls were classics of children tea time chills.

46. He brought Daleks back to the front-line!

Would Doctor Who be as big as it is without the Time Lord’s most famous foes? It certainly wouldn’t be the same without them, but that was a very real possibility when the show came back in 2005. Negotiations on the usage rights of the tin can despots delayed their involvement for some time, but.... when they were finally appeared they did so in style and have played a key part in the series ever since.

45. He broke records

Doctor Who’s number one on iPlayer! We’ve got used to it now, but it wasn’t a given. Ratings of Doctor Who have remained strong ever since it rematerialised as an instant fixture of Saturday nights and Christmas Day. The Davies penned episodes Voyage of the Damned and The Stolen Earth broke audience records in 2007 and 2008 while Season four’s Journey's End was most viewed broadcast on British television that week. There aren’t many shows that can take on the Doctor.

44. Christopher Eccleston!

Who’s going to be the new Doctor? It’s a question constantly associated with the show – it’s being discussed right now! It’s also one of the Who producers’ main responsibilities, despite being one of the most sought-after roles on British TV. Having previously worked with Russell T Davies on The Second Coming, Eccleston was inspired casting as the Ninth Doctor and must take a lot of responsibility for the show’s massive success. Here’s hoping that one day he’ll make a proper comeback to the show he’s contributed so much to.

(Image: Getty)

43. David Tennant!

Funny to remember it, but David Tennant wasn’t so well known once... While he gave stunning turns in Blackpool and Davies’ own Casanova, it was when he appeared aboard the TARDIS in 2005 that he really hit it big. The most successful Doctor to date.

42. Variety

Russell T got so many things right with Doctor Who, but perhaps the most important thing was the variety he brought to it. For years, he produced storylines and dialogue for tragedy, comedy and massive space adventure. After all, this is the show where you can go anywhere in time and space from one week to the next with different lead characters... Variety is essential. From full on Dalek/Cyberman battles to the quiet terror of Season Four’s Midnight, Davies provided it in time-scoops.

41. He’s a fan!

When asked in 2004 why people loved Doctor Who so much, Davies responded: “Because it's the best idea ever invented in the history of the world!“. He’s more than a fan (his first Doctor was the First Doctor!) and his enthusiasm shone through in every episode.

40. He broke America!

Doctor Who’s been around three years longer than Star Trek, but was always somehow lacking in mass appeal across the Atlantic. With the relaunch that all changed. Right now, Doctor Who’s going great guns on BBC America and cast and crew are frequently appearing at the gigantic San Diego comic-con. With more and more American Twitterati discussing the Doctor’s adventures, don’t expect the American-filmed episodes of Seasons Six and Seven to be the last...

39. He changed children’s television

The Sarah Jane Adventures wasn’t just a successful spin-off, it’s thought of as one the greatest children’s television show for years. That reflects very well on its parent. In fact, SJA might even have been the most consistent of all the Dr Who shows over its all too short life. At least its pseudo-sequel, the Davies created Wizards vs Aliens ensures that this intent lives on.

38. He let sleeping monsters lie

Davies managed to bring back a key enemy of the Doctor every season, but he never over did it. By the time he left, we had seen the return of the Master, Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, and even the crab-like Macra... But there were still plenty of classic alien foes left to be reintroduced by his successors.

37. He’s not afraid to confront issues

Davies had been winning script awards for tackling social issues before he came to Doctor Who – not least during his time on ITV children’s series Children’s Ward. So, when it came to this Saturday night institution, it’s not surprising that things didn’t change. Religion, sexuality and politics remained a key part of the Doctor’s adventures as well it should. Davies has never been one to dodge the issues, but judging by his emotive comments on the Coalition government, perhaps best to stand back if he gets on to politics.

36. He loves Big Brother

Not to everyone’s taste, but Doctor Who has never been afraid to reference popular culture – it exists in it while reflecting it. The Ninth Doctor witting in the Diary Room chair in front of the Davinadroid (it was 2005!) was a classic moment in Series One. Just like the Doctor, Davies is fascinated by human nature.

35. Bernard Cribbins!

One point that has to be on this list is the return of another national treasure to primetime TV: Wilf. Newspaper seller, star-gazer, Donna granddad and one-time companion. Cribbin’s character added an emotional backbone to the Tenth Doctor’s final days and who could have played him better than the veteran character actor. Even better, Cribbins had previously played reluctant companion to Peter Cushing’s Doctor in the 1966 film Daleks - Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D. The mission to keep him on our screens hasn’t finished yet: he’ll be appearing in Davies’ new children’s show Old Jack’s Boat. More Cribbins! More!

34. Kylie!

Russell T cast Kylie as an assistant in 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned. We were lucky!

(Image: Rex)

33. He learned from past Who mistakes

A fan he maybe, but Russell T was able to learn from the show’s mistakes. He roundly seized on what may have been called ‘stunt casting’ in 1980s Who and turned it into an asset. He also avoided pitfalls laid bare by the failed 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie - leaping straight into a mysterious Doctor and a well-rounded companion without being dogged down with regenerations and Whoniverse altering plot points.

32. Time War!

A great plot device that gave us three things. Instant dramatic motivation, a massive link back in to classic Who, the Time Lord’s and the Daleks and also a neat way to recapture the mystery of the Doctor. It was a masterstroke that will serve the show for years. Just keep an eye out during tonight’s Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS...

31. He’s great with the press

Things don’t seem to run as smoothly with publicity these days, perhaps it’s just nostalgia... But Davies’ massive enthusiasm was infectious and he always seemed to have a brilliant sound bite on standby. Just the right mix of exaggeration, teasing, secrets and mind-blowing hints.

30. He procrastinates!

Perhaps a sign of the times, but Russell T Davies let us into the Doctor Who writing process like no one before, not least in The Writer’s Tale book he produced during the scripting of Series Four. It’s an incredible record of the writing process in general as well as a definitive document on new Who and an invaluable insight into Russell T’s own methods.

29. He wasn’t slavish to the past

When a show is not only steeped in history, but dependent on it, you can’t just ignore it – but Davies knew that he would always upset some fans. Doctor Who already had a back story that was contradictory in some areas, and its success depended on a sure touch that knew what to include and what to leave in the fan’s capable hands. As Russell T said, he’s “just the writer...I've got no more authority over the text than you.”

28. Torchwood: Children of Earth

Torchwood proved to be a mixed bag during its four series, but its main problem was that it could never have the longevity of its parent show. It just wasn’t Doctor Who, and forced adult themes played against it at first. But once the original team was whittled down and their base of operations was destroyed, the show was set free. Its third series, Children of Earth, co-written by Davies, brought great action, acting, plot and ethical dilemmas to BBC1 and fulfilled the show’s enormous potential. Five hours of astonishing drama that must be seen!

27. He contributed to the little stuff!

Russell T Davies’ legacy wasn’t all about the main show or spin-offs. Having already contributed to the Doctor Who book range during the show’s lengthy hiatus, Davies knew the importance of the ‘other side’ of Who. Doctor Who annuals will always hold a special place in older fans’ hearts and he made sure that the 2006 edition had some extra-special snippets on the series...

26. He’s a quick writer!

Introduced to the editor of Virgin books by Who writer Paul Cornell, Davies contributed Damaged Goods to their Doctor Who New Adventures range in 1996. But his first foray into writing for the Doctor wasn’t plain sailing... Receiving two major TV commissions at the same time, Davies legendarily completed the manuscript in just five weeks.

25. He created the best sci-fi names!

“The Nightmare Child, the Skaro Degradations, the Horde of Travesties and the Army of Meanwhiles and Neverweres led by the Could've Been King...” Having seen mere glimpses of the Time War, it sounds terrifying. Fantastic!

24. He reclaimed Billie!

Billie Piper’s casting raised a few eyebrows at the time, but then she didn’t have much acting to fall back on. In fact, Piper turned out to be a brilliant and Rose remains one of the Doctor’s most popular companions to this day – next to be seen this November in the 50th anniversary special.

23. He drew in the best talent!

And not just onscreen, with almost every episode packed with first rate acting talent. Davies also made sure talent was behind the camera. His Who saw fantastic directors join the show including the return of classic series helmer Graham Harper. He also brought in a host of unbeatable writers including Being Human’s Toby Whithouse and current show-runner Steven Moffat.

22. Wales!

An accusation long levied against Doctor Who was that it’s home counties-centric. Super-fans David Tennant, Steven Moffat and Davies himself might counter that, but now it’s officially not true. Housed safely in the capital since its return, the landscape of Wales has contributed much to the show’s look. With the Doctor Who Experience permanently installed near the programme’s studios, Cardiff is now the home of Doctor Who.

21. He knows when stunt-casting works!

It didn’t always in the old days, with the likes of Bonnie Langford and Ken Dodd drawing their fair share of criticism. But Davies wasn’t afraid to cast who was right. And from Peter Kay to Kylie – not to mention guest appearances from Derek Acorah – it generally paid off. Catherine Tate’s casting certainly ruffled a few feathers, but Davies’ scripts were key. The journey that her character Donna took through Series Four was one of the most emotional stories ever seen on the show.

20. “Fantastic!”

It may be the catchphrase of the Ninth Doctor, but he surely picked it up from his vivacious creator... As Christopher Eccleston said, it was “one of Russell's favourite words”. Simple, effective and now a definitive part of the Doctor.

(Image: Rex)

19. He stopped the locking up and unconsciousness

Classic Doctor Who was formed of multi-part stories which more than once required a certain amount of padding. The amount of times the Doctor or one of his companions were knocked unconscious or imprisoned became a running joke (and devilish drinking game). But with a new century and a new run time of just 45 minutes, that padding was gone. If you think that the Sonic Screwdriver is too ubiquitous, just imagine the Doctor locked up for 45 minutes.

18. The Sonic Screwdriver

It may drive many fans up the wall with its near endless array of uses, but it’s now part of Doctor Who like never before.

17. New monsters

With a host of old foes for the Doctor to vanquish. The Slitheen and the Adipose may not be to everybody’s taste, but there were also the Racnoss, Sycorax, Toclafane and the Ood among others – all of which could do with a comeback.

16. Christmas Day

Doctor Who a fixture of the Christmas Day schedule? Merry Christmas!

15. German Daleks

“Exterminieren! Exterminieren!” the tin-pots screeched while flying over the German countryside in 2008’s Journey’s End. Perhaps the translation’s perfect... But it wasn’t just ‘Can Daleks really fly?’ that Davies emphatically answered. They also have German phrase books.

14. Doctor-less episodes!

Yes, timing and budget constraints made them necessary, but what a way to do them. The love it or loathe it Love and Monsters, the sublime Blink, the format-breaking Turn Left’ – it was a decision that gave us some of the best shows.

13. He dodged a regeneration

If there was one thing that the 1996 TV movie got wrong, it was insisting on showing the handover from the Seventh to the Eighth Doctor. A nice nod to the show’s past perhaps, but not one that would attract new fans. By avoiding the Ninth Doctor’s regeneration Davies let us discover the Doctor just as viewers did in 1963 and leaving all manner of mysteries to this day (as well as a whole host of terrible YouTube fan regenerations...)

12. The Electric Light Orchestra

2006’s Love and Monsters is hardly an indisputable fan favourite, whether that be due to Peter Kay, the lack of Doctor or the poor old Blue Peter competition winner who designed the Abzorbaloff! But it did feature a few Electric Light Orchestra songs, not least Mr Blue Sky – which it helped nudge a few places up the chart.

11. Character

Davies’ Doctor Who was always going to be about the characters. He built a family for the Doctor, in fact he built several families. It was the emotional journey these characters undertook and the consequences of knowing the Doctor that has provided some of the show’s most memorable moments.

10. Consistent quality

Perhaps it’s obvious, but one of Russell T’s main contributions was consistent quality. Families could tune in each week and know that they would see something good, whether scary or funny. Their dedication to the show was constantly rewarded, helping to ensure the great viewer ratings that it gets today.

9. Time Lord Victorious!

Having established a consistent format, Davies gave himself space to play with the character of the Doctor himself. By the time David Tenant’s Doctor lost his way in 2009’s Waters of Mars’ we really thought we knew who the character was – not that we ever thought we knew everything.

8. Emotion

Dr Who is many things to many people, but most of all it’s a family drama with thrills and spills. Davies background and natural gift for television gave the show an emotional core that enhanced the show’s concepts beyond all hopes.

7. The Saturday evening timeslot

Doctor Who had long since wandered from its natural Saturday tea-time time slot. But when it rematerialised in 2005 it was back where it belonged. Its start time may sometimes vary in the time vortex, but it’s a fixture.

6. Murray Gold

Everybody knows the stunningly distinctive theme, but Doctor Who’s incidental music has on occasion been as infamous as it’s wobbling sets. Fortunately, Russell T has some talented friends. Having already worked with the writer on Queer as Folk, Casanova and the Second Coming, Murray Gold may have been a natural choice – but what an inspired one. Still with the show, he has produced a varied array of music for each episode perfectly matching Davies and other writers’ diverse stories.

5. Sarah Jane Smith!

Can we call her the Doctor’s best ever companion? Yes, I think we can. Meeting seven Doctors through her travels she really was the archetypal companion. So, it’s no surprise that she appeared again in Series two’s School Reunion’ with her trusty robot dog. Not only did Sarah Jane provide a perfect balance to the Tenth Doctor and Rose, she really came into her own in her well deserved spin-off show The Sarah Jane Adventures. When those Adventures reached a premature end in 2011 it was the first time a Who show had finished since 1989. A sad moment, but we should all be pleased that it existed at all. Doctor Who will always miss Sarah Jane and the brilliant Elizabeth Sladen who played her.

4. Past Doctors

Re-launching a show with such an incredible back story is a daunting concept, but Davies played it well. Flashes of past Doctor costumes here and then a few portraits of his past selves in Human Nature hinted at the Doctor’s classic past... It was creeping, but it was there!

3. Story arcs

Just as he pilfered the idea of a 45 minute show and ‘sweeps’ episodes from American television, so Davies took note of US TV’s story arcs. While not as complicated as the 11th Doctor’s timey-wimey adventures, hints and references throughout series became far larger than the sum of their parts. Bad Wolf, the Torchwood Institute, Saxon and the missing bees... They kept the playgrounds buzzing just as much as the old people homes for aged Whovians.

2. Rose Tyler

Rose Tyler remains popular to this day. She’s the new series companion all others are marked against. But why was she so successful? Billie Piper played a big part for sure, but it was mainly Davies’ masterstroke of using her as a route to the Doctor. A whole new generation of fans discovered the mysterious Time Lord through her eyes.

1. He knew when to leave

All good things must come to an end. Doctor Who has had many different production and script teams each of whom have added their own mark to the show’s illustrious history. Hopefully that will continue for more than another five decades. But, after five highly successful years and two (and a bit) Doctors, Davies bowed out at his peak, knowing that he left the show at the top of its game and in capable hands.