Russell T Davies criticises BBC boss's 'clumsy' AI Doctor Who comments

Renowned Doctor Who writer and showrunner Russell T Davies has publicly criticized the BBC's new director general for remarks he made concerning an AI-generated episode of the series.

Matt Brittin, at a Royal Television Society conference in September, stated that he had been presented with a "pretty good" unofficial 50-minute episode of Doctor Who.

Davies responded to these comments on BBC Radio 4's The Media Show, stating, "That's a clumsy thing to say in an industry where he's got writers and artists, and it specifically affects people; they're the first to take the blow."

In response to the pushback he received, Brittin indicated during a recent staff meeting that he was trying to emphasize the "pace of change" in the industry while affirming his belief in "human creativity." The director general acknowledged having "got into trouble" for his comments but maintained, "I was just trying to make the point: Look at the pace of change and what this stuff can do."

He clarified, "I want to be really clear: Humans are leading, and I believe in human creativity, enhanced by whatever tools." He stressed that human-led creativity remains central to the BBC's mission.

Notably, Davies remarked that Brittin, who transitioned to the BBC after a tenure at Google, "hasn't worked in television for that long and might not be so fruity with an opinion in future." He humorously noted, "My inbox went ping ping ping ping ping. So God knows what his was like."

Davies was also queried about AI's broader implications for writers, specifically whether they should incorporate the technology into their work. He expressed astonishment at reports of writers using AI prompts for initial drafts, questioning the value of their roles: "What are you paid for otherwise? What are you there to do?"

While he does not employ AI for scriptwriting, Davies articulated considerable concern that it might begin to supplant writers, acknowledging that this scenario may already be unfolding in certain instances.

As one of the UK's leading television writers, Davies has left an indelible mark on British television, from pioneering series like Queer as Folk to critically acclaimed narratives such as It's a Sin and Years and Years. However, his most notable contribution remains his work on Doctor Who.

In 2005, he successfully revived the Timelord's adventures after a 16-year hiatus by pitching the concept to the BBC's then-head of drama at a Manchester party. He returned to the series in 2023, although he recently announced his decision to step back from the role.

During his discussion on The Media Show, he recounts the challenges faced while working on Doctor Who, mentioning the daunting nature of the set: “There were times I used to dread going on a Doctor Who set because of the expensive special effects and explosions going on, with people pulling themselves into prosthetics. It's more difficult than any other set."

Currently, Doctor Who finds itself at a critical juncture, as the BBC has scrapped the planned Christmas special and Disney+ has ceased its co-financing arrangement for the series.

Despite these challenges, Davies reassured fans of Doctor Who, stating that another series is in the pipeline, although he will not be contributing to it. "You'll start to see production with a brand-new Doctor, a brand-new companion, summer next year," he confirmed.

Davies, who recently published his memoir 'The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television,' attributes his early success to his stint in BBC children's television, where he earned "£50 a day." He described this experience as "the best training you could possibly have."

Later, he refined his craft during the pinnacle of Granada Television, a period when Coronation Street garnered viewership numbers of 18 million to 20 million.

In his interview, Davies emphasized that inspiration can arise from unexpected sources. He shared his practice of recording phone-ins from This Morning and listening to them later, noting, "All human life is there… just a couple of times a year, you'll get an extraordinary human story or something very funny. One of my favourite ones about a year ago was a woman whose mother-in-law was insisting on wearing white to her wedding."

He expressed optimism that he would eventually script a narrative inspired by such anecdotes: "What a great little problem that is - two women just at war."

Russell T Davies' interview will be featured on The Media Show, Wednesday at 4.15pm on BBC Radio 4 & BBC Sounds.