Exclusive: Neil Gaiman Breaks Silence on Writing Future Episodes of Doctor Who

Neil Gaiman, who wrote episodes for Doctor Who during Matt Smith's time as The Doctor, including "The Doctor's Wife" and "Nightmare in Silver," as well as a DVD-exclusive mini episode, has responded to whether he will write more episodes in the future. The upcoming Ncuti Gatwa era of Doctor Who will see Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner and writer after previously serving in the role from 2005 to 2009. With Davies' return, fans are wondering if Gaiman will also make a guest return behind the scenes. Gaiman recently addressed this question on Tumblr, expressing uncertainty about penning another Doctor Who episode but stating that he has a valid reason for being content with not being invited back.

And on Doctor Who, I don't know. I love being in the Doctor Who audience, and being really excited to not know what's coming.

Neil Gaiman's Doctor Who History

In addition to his work on Doctor Who in the early 2010s, Gaiman's connection to the sci-fi series dates back even further. Prior to joining the show as a writer, Gaiman was a devoted fan. He fondly remembers the defining moment of his fandom, which occurred when he was eight years old and watched Patrick Troughton's final episode as the Second Doctor in The War Games.

Having become a renowned writer in his adulthood, Gaiman seized the opportunity to meet Steven Moffat, the former showrunner of Doctor Who, and requested to write an episode. He successfully crafted "The Doctor's Wife," a captivating installment centered around the TARDIS, which received widespread acclaim. The following year, Gaiman returned with "Nightmare in Silver," transforming Smith's Eleventh Doctor into a "Cyber-Planner" amidst the resurgence of the Cybermen.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gaiman wrote a brief story to accompany a group rewatch of "The Doctor's Wife," which saw the reunion of former Doctor Who companions, Amy and Rory. Additionally, he expressed his interest in writing for Doctor Who during Jodie Whittaker's tenure as the Doctor. Understandably occupied with other projects such as The Sandman and Good Omens, Gaiman was unable to make a comeback to Doctor Who. Nevertheless, his unwavering devotion to the show is sure to delight Whovians.

Source: @neil-gaiman/Tumblr