Russell T. Davies is stepping down as the lead writer of Doctor Who after four years. Davies who is credited with bringing back the show in 2005 is also credited with creating the Slitheen so my feelings were mixed on this.

Then I actually read the article and I was pleased he was going, because he’s replaced by Stephen Moffat (time for the second coupling reference of the day, in fact ever, that’s spooky huh?). Anyway Stephen Moffat who wrote Coupling, Jekyll and the best episodes of Doctor Who (Girl in the Fireplace, Blink, The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances) is taking over for Series 5.

Here’s some quotes from the man himself

“My entire career has been a Secret Plan to get this job. I applied before but I got knocked back ‘cos the BBC wanted someone else. Also I was seven. Anyway, I’m glad the BBC has finally seen the light, and it’s a huge honour to be following Russell into the best - and the toughest - job in television. I say toughest ‘cos Russell’s at my window right now, pointing and laughing.”

Stephen Moffat’s next episodes air on BBC1, Saturday May 31, 2008, there’s a preview clip after the jump …Click here for the rest!

Doctor Who returned on Saturday with 8.4m viewers, which is much better than I think anyone suspected, especially Russell T Davies who as the showrunner was very outspoken against moving the show to an earlier 6.05pm timeslot, fearing it may cost them viewers.

It was rated the 10th most watched program for the week-ending April 6th 2008, which sounds absolutley appalling but the only shows in front of it were Coronation Street and Eastenders, which by UK law are watched by your Mum, now if you count the amount of Mother’s in the UK then no other show will have a look in.

This rating is pretty insignificant however as the first episode always gets high ratings as it usually features a new Doctor or a new companion, the big test will be how many viewers the show retains and let’s be honest, no-one would have cared if Catherine Tate fell out the tardis at the end of the last episode, while David Tennant is The Doctor, everyone is watching for Rose.