Grant Morrison is signaling interest in taking over Doctor Who at a time when the long running BBC series is facing real trouble. In a recent Substack post, the veteran comic writer said they have considered approaching the BBC about the showrunner role, even while admitting the network has not taken them seriously in the past.
Morrison wrote, “I’ve thought about approaching the BBC again about Doctor Who but they’ve never taken me seriously before, so I’m not convinced they’ll start. It’s probably worth a try.” The comment comes as the franchise deals with falling viewership, the loss of its Disney+ distribution deal, and growing fan frustration after several uneven seasons.
The writer did not offer a formal pitch, but outlined a possible path forward that attempts to clean up the current storyline. Morrison suggested explaining Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor as an unstable bi regeneration, a concept that could account for the character’s inconsistent tone and short lived arc. The idea includes bringing back Billie Piper and David Tennant to tie off lingering threads from the Russell T Davies era, then resetting the show with a fresh direction.
Ncuti and Russell T in happier times“You don’t even need to show any of that,” Morrison wrote, adding that the material could be handled in expanded media like audio dramas. The larger point is clear. Use the existing lore to stabilize the franchise, then move forward without getting trapped in it.
Morrison also pushed back on the idea of a full reboot built around a younger version of the Doctor. “You have a universe. You have lore in the bank,” they wrote, warning that ignoring that foundation would be a mistake. Instead, Morrison described a stripped down reintroduction of the character as an amnesiac inventor with a mysterious TARDIS, a concept aimed at new viewers without discarding decades of history.
The timing of these comments matters. The BBC has not confirmed a long term plan for Doctor Who after its recent run struggled to hold audience interest. Ratings during Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure dropped sharply compared to earlier revivals, and online engagement has followed the same trend. The show also canceled its planned Christmas special, a move that signals uncertainty around production and scheduling.
Critics have pointed to heavy handed social messaging under current leadership as a factor in audience decline. Showrunner Russell T Davies has defended the creative direction, but the results have not reversed the slide. The series now faces a familiar problem in modern entertainment. A legacy brand with global recognition is losing its core audience while failing to build a new one.
Morrison acknowledged that past eras may be viewed more kindly over time, including Gatwa’s run. “I believe nostalgia will be kind,” they wrote, suggesting that even divisive creative choices can find new appreciation later. Still, that does little to address the present reality facing the BBC.
The network has not responded publicly to Morrison’s comments. Whether or not the pitch gains traction, the fact that an outside voice is stepping forward highlights the growing sense that Doctor Who needs a course correction. Without one, the series risks fading further from its once dominant place in global pop culture.
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