Russell T Davies has publicly criticised the new BBC director general over remarks that suggested artificial intelligence could be used to create episodes of Doctor Who. The longtime showrunner described the comments as clumsy and damaging to the creative workforce.
Davies spoke to BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show after Matt Brittin told a Royal Television Society conference in September that he had reviewed a 50-minute unofficial Doctor Who episode generated by AI. Brittin had described the result as a “pretty good” piece of work, a statement that drew immediate backlash from industry professionals.
Clumsy remarks on human creativity
Davies told the media programme that Brittin’s comments ignored the reality of a sector built on human talent. “That is a clumsy thing to say in an industry where he has got writers and artists and it specifically affects people, they are the first to take the blow,” Davies said.
The director general, who joined the BBC following a career at Google, faced significant criticism for the statement. He addressed the controversy in a staff meeting last week, explaining that his intention was to highlight the rapid pace of technological change rather than to replace human workers.
Brittin joked that he had “got into trouble” for his words but insisted he remained a firm believer in human creativity. He stated that he wanted to be clear that humans would always lead the creative process, with technology serving only as an enhancement tool. He emphasised that human-led creativity would remain at the heart of the BBC’s mission.
Davies, however, remained unconvinced by the reassurances. He noted that Brittin had not worked in television for very long and suggested the new boss might be less opinionated in the future. “My inbox went ping ping ping ping ping, so God knows what his was like,” Davies added, referencing the volume of negative feedback he received.
Concerns over writer replacement
The interview also touched on broader questions regarding the use of AI in television writing. Davies revealed that he had heard reports of some writers using AI prompts to generate first drafts, a practice he found shocking. He questioned the value of employing human writers if their primary task could be automated.
“What are you paid for otherwise? What are you there to do?” Davies asked. He confirmed that he does not use AI to write his scripts but expressed deep concern that the technology could eventually replace writers entirely. He noted that in some circumstances, this replacement may already be happening.
Davies is one of the most influential figures in British television. His career began at age 22 in BBC children’s television, where he earned £50 a day. He later honed his craft during the peak years of Granada Television, when shows like Coronation Street attracted audiences of up to 20 million viewers.
His most significant achievement remains his work on Doctor Who. He revived the series in 2005 after a 16-year hiatus, pitching the concept to the then-head of drama at a party in Manchester. He returned to the role in 2023 but confirmed earlier this year that he would be stepping away from the show.
Despite his departure, Davies offered positive news for fans. He confirmed that production on a new series featuring a brand-new Doctor and companion is scheduled to begin next summer. The BBC has cancelled the planned Christmas special, and Disney+ no longer co-finances the series, but the show will continue under new leadership.
Davies also shared insights into his creative process in his recent memoir, The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television. He revealed that he finds inspiration in unlikely places, such as listening to phone-ins on the This Morning programme. He recalled a recent call from a woman whose mother-in-law insisted on wearing white to her own wedding, describing it as a great little problem that could form the basis of a script.
The full interview with Russell T Davies will air on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds on Wednesday at 4.15pm.
Source: BBC
