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Russell T Davies

Russell T Davies
Born: 1963
Place of Birth: Swansea
School: Olchfa Comprehensive School
 

Famous For: reviving "Doctor Who", making Saturday-night TV compulsive, and the controversial "Queer As Folk".

"I love Doctor Who, and part of me thought 'If you love something maybe you should leave it alone'. But it was three days of nonsense really, and my friends were slapping me round the head and saying 'Don't be stupid, of course you've got to do it!"

Trivia: Dr Who fans refer to him as RTD. He's on the record as saying "Jones" is one of his favourite surnames and loves reality TV.

Biography: Now one of Britain's most acclaimed TV writers - he is the man most often credited with making Doctor Who a commercial and critical success. Born in Sketty, Swansea, he was educated at the city's largest comprehensive.

Watch Video: Russell in the Tardis

More than nine million people tuned in for the finale of the fourth series of Doctor Who (if you missed it, it featured Davros and the possible destruction of reality) while Russell prepared to hand over responsibility for this extraordinary phenomenon to Steven Moffatt for the 2010 series.

He will succeed Russell as the lead writer and executive producer of the fifth series, though Russell has been responsible for overseeing a number of specials due to be screened next year. You can read more about that on the Doctor Who website.

Russell's father Vivian was a classics teacher and former president of Swansea RFC, and his mother Barbara was a French teacher. Russell's two sisters are both teachers - one teaches French and the other RE.

In 2005 he received an honorary fellowship from Swansea Institute alongside one of his sisters who received her MA in Education.

As a youngster, Russell showed an interest in drama, and at one point was a member of the West Glamorgan Youth Theatre.

In 1984 he graduated from Worcester College, Oxford, with a degree in English Literature. He worked in the theatre in his home city, but ultimately opted to try television instead, trying his hand at the Director's course and going on to produce for television. It was during this time that he worked for BBC Wales in Cardiff, as one of the producers for 'Why Don't You', a children's programme produced by the various BBC regions on a rotating basis. On this programme many of the staff would find themselves as a 'Jack of all trades', and Russell would find himself writing more and more of the short drama inserts that could be found in the show. From here he then went on to work for Children's BBC in Manchester, where he wrote a pilot script for what became the 1991 youth science fiction TV series 'Dark Season'. There would be no turning back from there.

In 1996 Russell won a BAFTA for the Best Children's Drama while producing and writing the hospital drama 'Children's Ward', and he also penned his second well-received science fiction production, 'Century Falls'.

From here Russell would go on to work on 'The House of Windsor', 'Springhill', 'The Grand', and a mini-series called 'Touching Evil', before winning recognition and acclaim for his controversial award-winning drama 'Queer as Folk', which charted the lives and loves of gay twenty and thirtysomethings in Manchester.

More mainstream fare followed with the romantic comedy-drama 'Bob & Rose' on ITV, starring Alan Davies and Lesley Sharp, which won further acclaim and numerous awards.

Russell followed this with the controversial, though no less succesful drama 'The Second Coming', starring the man who would be Dr Who - Christopher Eccleston. Of course, not long after Russell wrote also wrote Casanova with that other man who would be Dr Who - David Tennant, and a 5-part series called 'Mine All Mine' set in Swansea and starring Griff Rhys Jones.

In addition to writing a book based on 'Dark Season', Russell wrote the Doctor Who novel 'Damaged Goods'; who would have guessed when this hit the shelves that its writer would go on to mastermind the hugely successful re-launch of the British television icon?

MORE ON BBC.CO.UK:

  • BBC Doctor Who website

  • Making Doctor Who
  • Moment of Glory: Writing a new series of Doctor Who that has been an unqualified critical and commercial hit.

    Off the Record: As a teenager he loved cartoons and of course Dr Who. He wanted to draw for Marvel Comics when he grew up!

    Comment on this story

    lee bissett-bray
    The master can come back... because you at the end of the episode called 'Last of the Timelords' you see someone pick up the ring and that is the person from series four, first episode, and so the master can come back..I wish david tennant {would}stay he is top class.
    Tue Jan 13 17:42:06 2009

    Archie Fisher, London England
    All of Russells episodes and wonderful to watch, but especially Torchwood! I cant wait to start watching again.
    Mon Dec 29 22:52:35 2008

    Chris Miller

    I have been watching the Dr Who series since the early 1960s so I am obviously a fan.

    I often wondered what the relationships were between the relevant species in the Dr Who series. For example, we recently learnt that the Cyborgs were regarded by the Daleks as inferior. Perhaps, it would be an interesting peice of 'anthropology' to learn of the respective attitudes and history between each species; have they ever encountered each other? and so on. Quite thought-provoking, I would say.


    Mon Dec 1 11:25:18 2008

    Alan Jowett Pembrokeshire
    The new Dr Who just HAS to be ALUN ARMSTRONG!!!
    Wed Nov 19 14:51:19 2008

    Juan Valencia, Miami Beach ,FL

    I did not see Doctor Who? as a youngster. I began to see the series on the sci-fi channel. I came upon the show by accident...I fell in love with the show, and I wanted to know more about the show. I learned the show goes back into the sixties, and the show has had ten doctors.

    When the first season started it was only nine, but the ten doctors appeared in the past three seasons. I have ordered all the DVDs from the show, the old ones and new ones....


    Mon Nov 3 16:51:50 2008

    Tanty
    I agree with RTD's comment in his interview with Lawson that series should have a person to overlook any and all spin off's to ensure coherent chronology and story telling. People are born with vision but experience teaches us to realise it and Russell has done this beautifully. Thank you.x
    Tue Mar 25 09:52:17 2008

    Jeff Beynon, Swansea.
    Russell's parents, "Viv" & "Ma Viv", taught Latin at Bishop Gore School, Swansea in the '60s & '70s, I believe. I was one of their pupils. Russell's father was also Careers Master and a real character. My own dad knew him.
    Fri Feb 15 09:50:30 2008

    Mary Annette Hawkins, Momence, IL
    Russell T. Davis is beyond words. I started watching Doctor Who with Tom in the US where I live. He was the first and only doctor that I'd ever known, so when he was taken away I felt betrayed. So In my mind there was no way I going to turn my back on my doctor the way the bad people did to me so I stoped watching. THEN CAME RUSSELL. The very first show of the new series just jumped at me. I loved the show so much I started looking for all the info on it I could get my hands on, and found out the doctor started back in the early 60's. That blew me away and made me feel like I was not cheating on Tom with Chris and still had my doctor. But Russell put me to the test and took my doctor away again and brought me this too skinny, big tooth guy and had the nerve to write the show in such a way that me just fall head over hills in love with this slender built man with the warmest, most inviting smile and the sexiest dimples I've ever seen. THANK YOU RUSSELL. Because of the way Russell has handled doctor who I started to wonder if he's done anything else, and just then he gives me TORCHWOOD. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Then I find Casanova, and The Second Coming. I love watching things that make me think while at the same time opens my mind up to the unknown, unusal, and fantasy and Russell you take me there like no other man has. If your work is a true reflection of you I just love you.
    Thu Oct 4 12:10:47 2007

    anon
    Dr Who and Avril Lavigne - the two things that saved my daughter from the depths of anorexia. We still watch as a family every night. The new Dr Who was just what the doctor ordered! Now for me please take a look at Blakes 7.
    Thu Aug 23 16:17:57 2007

    Laurence Hunt, Woking
    Mr. Davies, has done an excellent job of doctor who. I would love it if Davros could come back as he was a very powerful character what they could do is go back to when Davros was a person before he was put in a case and make him what we know him as today it could be about the doctor trying to stop him before he makes the daleks.
    Wed Jul 25 09:22:11 2007

    N. B. Golash, northern NY state USA
    I first heard of Mr. Davies in relation to Doctor Who, but have since, with the help of some UK fans/friends, been introduced more and more to his work. His writing is rich and full of life, and a joy, I think. I could never write like that, and I envy the gentleman his depth of talent. He has breathed new life into one of the world's most wonderful programmes, and for that I'm eternally grateful to him.
    Mon Jul 16 12:20:53 2007

    Beth of Swansea
    I think Russell Davies is such an amazing writer!...his writing has made me fall in love with Doctor Who! Mr Davies if you do happen to read this or indeed any one who does know him...it is my dream to work with you above anyone else as you are awesome and bring great pride to Swansea!
    Mon Jul 16 11:33:33 2007

    Helen
    Have you considered writing a show about Galafray and the Time Lords when they were at their best? It would be great to know more about the time lords home planet - that is refered to constantly and teasingly! Also we could find out more about the tardis and how the time wars began!
    Wed Jul 11 09:09:06 2007

    gar howell Darzet
    Has Russell written a novel about West wales?
    Fri Jul 6 13:26:44 2007

    Loz
    I luv dr who. I would luv to be an actress when I'm older. I have made a super episode in my head and thought it out and I am always thinking about it and have made a comic about it on the dr who website and if mr davies gets to ever read this - I am dying to meet you and the actors and the rest of the team. Can I ever be on your programme?
    Fri Jul 6 13:06:10 2007

    Terry of Sheffield
    Hi Russell. I would like to thank for the Dr Who. The last series was the best. This is just getting better each time that it is on. I cannot wait until xmas for the next series. You have a lot to live up to now. Don't let the Dr Who fans down.
    Fri Jul 6 12:54:04 2007

    Angelina G Wickman Ottawa, Ontario Canada
    Mr Davis is one of the most brilliant writers...His scripts are amazing, I would love to meet the man just for an hour! He's done such a beautiful job with the doctor and I look foward to watching Casanova....
    Tue Apr 10 10:56:49 2007

    Harrison of England
    I am a big Doctor Who fan. I thought that all your Doctor Who series from 2005-2007 were the best Doctor Who's I have ever seen in my whole entire life. I have got your Doctor Who box set of 2005 and I have always been watching it.Also I have been trying to get 2006 box set of Doctor Who and I have got some of your Doctor Who books and I keep on reading them.
    Mon Apr 2 18:32:23 2007

    Tanusha Kaur Paik, London England
    Mr Russell Davies, Just a note to say the scenes in episode 12 of Torchword , among others, was so beautifully written...so kudos to you and the team. It was great to see a different side to Jack "James" :D and learn more about him...
    Fri Jan 5 08:50:54 2007

    Gene Nichols, Cincinnati, OH
    Mr. Davies, has done an excellent job of bringing back to the screens one of Earth's greatest heros. The Doctor has been a part of my life since I was 10 years old. His return to television in this new up to date style just shows that Mr. Davies and his excellent crew know you can't keep a good idea down. Excellent work people!
    Mon Nov 20 10:28:22 2006



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