Doctor Who writer Steven Moffat has admitted he didn't believe Russell T Davies was really returning as showrunner.
After penning six episodes under Davies's original watch, Moffat took over the Who showrunning reins back in 2008 before being succeeded by Chris Chibnall nine years later.
In a recent Q&A marking his Who return with the season 14 episode 'Boom', he revealed: "The night before Russell announced he was coming back he sent me an email. [It] said 'I am going back to Doctor Who', and I had just been out for a dinner with my wife and wasn't entirely sure the email was real, so I didn't respond until the next day.
Related: Doctor Who boss teases Jinkx Monsoon return as Maestro
"He asked me about a few things in terms of Doctor Who, but also if I had any interest in writing one.
"I was a bit equivocal I think, but I was interested in what the plan was and why he was doing it a second time around – because Russell is not the sort of guy who does anything twice, he's a guy who moves on."
What to Read Next
Moffat, who also co-wrote Claes Bang's Dracula reimagining and Sherlock, went on to further recall: "We were punting ideas to each other, until I had one about 'what if he steps on a landmine and cannot move for the entire episode, and everything he normally does is stripped from him'.
Related: Doctor Who confirms next mysterious Susan Twist role in episode 4
"The moment I sent that one, Russell was incredibly keen, he replied within one minute saying, 'That's it, that's the one, do that!'"
Ahead of the episode's premiere today (May 18), Digital Spy labelled 'Boom' as the finest of Ncuti Gatwa's first series so far.
Doctor Who debuts new episodes at midnight on Saturday, airing on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Dan is a freelance entertainment journalist. Beginning his writing career in 2014, Dan's work first graced the pages of cult publications Starburst magazine and Little White Lies before moving onto Total Film, Digital Spy, NME and Yahoo Entertainment.
In the film and TV universe, he kneels at the altar of Jim Carrey, Daniel Plainview, Mike Ehrmantraut and Paulie Walnuts.
