Druin Burch

Doctor Who fans – and its writers – need to grow up

'Getting to write for the show felt like touching God,' according to a Doctor Who writer (Credit: Alamy/ BBC)

Doctor Who, which started back in 1963, is often spoken about with a curious reverence as though it were something other than trash TV of varying quality. Unhealthy infatuation is not confined to the show’s viewers, as is obvious from the BBC’s recent announcement about the show’s new writers.

Pulp television can be joyful, unless it starts believing it’s art

“Scripting the best TV show of all time is truly a dream come true,” says Juno Dawson, who has just been announced as one of them. “I started watching when I was ten in Nigeria,” explains Inua Ellams, another new recruit; “The show invited me to dream, to live beyond my reality. Getting to write for the show felt like touching God,” he adds. It’s safe to say the writers and corporation alike are impressed with the show’s importance. It’s harder to say why.

There has been a flurry of interest in this announcement, as there always seems to be when it comes to news about Doctor Who.

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