Russell T Davies criticises BBC boss for ‘clumsy’ AI Doctor Who comments

Allow Exco Player contentThis content is provided by Exco Player and may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to load the content.

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for exclusive competitions, offers and theatre ticket deals

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Russell T Davies has criticised BBC director-general Matt Brittin’s over recent comments he made about an AI-generated episode of Doctor Who.

During an interview on BBC Radio 4’s The Media Show, the outgoing showrunner was asked about Brittin’s claim last month that someone had sent him an episode of Doctor Who that was entirely generated by AI.

He said that the 50-minute episode was “pretty good”.

Russell T Davies served as showrunner and head writer for the BBC sci-fi show from 2005 to 2010 Getty“I mean, it’s not going to replace humans,” he went on to clarify. “So, everyone’s a creator.”

Davies , who served as showrunner and head writer for the BBC sci-fi show from 2005 to 2010 and again from 2023 to 2025, blasted Britten’s remarks.

“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.

Matt Brittin said that the 50-minute episode was ‘pretty good’“I want to be really clear: Humans are leading, and I believe in human creativity, enhanced by whatever tools.”

Brittin, who was appointed as director-general in March 2026, was previously an executive at Google.

Davies said Brittin “hasn’t worked in television for that long and might not be so fruity with an opinion in future”.

He added: “My inbox went ping ping ping ping ping, so God knows what his was like.”

Along with his work on Doctor Who, Davies is also known for creating the shows Queer As Folk, It’s A Sin, Years And Years and Doctor Who spin-offs Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Russell T Davies also confirmed the show’s futureWhen he was asked if writers should use AI when developing their scripts, Davies said: “I have heard stories of some writers using AI prompts to do a first draft which I find shocking because I think… What are you paid for otherwise? What are you there to do?”

He added that does not use AI when writing his scripts but “very much” worried it might start to replace writers in the future.

Davies also explained said he “used to dread going on a Doctor Who set” because of the special effects and “explosions going on, people pulling themselves in to prosthetics”.

I did not succumb to violence over Drumcree ban – Sir Chris Bryant

Man who died after being attacked by tiger was child actor who appeared on BBC

Nick Knowles breaks down in tears during ’emotionally draining’ DIY SOS episode

He added: “It’s more difficult than any other set.”

Speaking about the future of the series, which has been up in the air after it was announced that the planned Christmas 2026 special would not be made, he said: “You’ll start to see production with a brand-new doctor, a brand-new companion, summer next year.”