Russell T Davies Criticises BBC Director General Matt Brittin Over 'Clumsy' AI Doctor Who Comments
Russell T Davies has taken issue with comments made by BBC director general Matt Brittin regarding an AI-created Doctor Who episode. During a Royal Television Society conference in September, Brittin referred to a 50-minute unofficial episode as 'pretty good.' In response, Davies labeled Brittin's statements as 'clumsy' on BBC Radio 4's The Media Show, highlighting the negative implications for writers. Brittin, who assumed the director general role in May 2026, later clarified that he intended to stress 'human creativity.' Davies voiced his worries about AI potentially supplanting writers, asserting that he does not utilize AI for scriptwriting. He also confirmed that a new Doctor Who series is set for summer 2024, despite the cancellation of the Christmas special. Additionally, Davies has released his memoir, 'The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television.'
Key facts
- Russell T Davies criticised BBC director general Matt Brittin over comments about an AI-generated Doctor Who episode.
- Brittin told a Royal Television Society conference in September that he had been sent a 'pretty good' 50-minute unofficial Doctor Who episode.
- Davies called the comment 'a clumsy thing to say' in an industry where writers and artists are the first to take the blow.
- Brittin became BBC director general in May 2026 after a career at Google.
- Brittin said he was trying to make a point about the 'pace of change' and stressed his belief in 'human creativity.'
- Davies revived Doctor Who in 2005 after a 16-year absence and again in 2023, but confirmed earlier this year he would be stepping away.
- The BBC cancelled the planned Christmas special and Disney+ no longer co-finances the series.
- Davies promised another series is on the cards with a brand-new Doctor and companion, with production starting summer next year.
Entities
Artists
- Russell T Davies
- Matt Brittin
Institutions
- BBC
- BBC Radio 4
- The Media Show
- Royal Television Society
- Disney+
- Granada Television
- This Morning
- BBC Sounds
Locations
- Swansea
- United Kingdom
- Manchester