Russell T Davies Reveals Toothbrushing as Source of TV Ideas

While some writers find inspiration through collaboration or observation, such as discussing concepts with friends or gazing out a bus window, Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has disclosed that his creative breakthroughs often stem from a fundamental aspect of his daily morning ritual. The 61-year-old stated, “Honestly I swear to you, brushing your teeth.” He elaborated, “I think everything is kind of worked into my mind overnight.” Davies added, “And you wake up, and you brush your teeth and things click into place.” Davies likened this method of generating ideas to the game Wordle. He explained to Radio Wales’ Behnaz Akhgar, “You know, leave it for an hour, and suddenly the word is there.” He continued, “I think a lot if life is [like] that. Your subconscious goes ‘click, click, click’ and ticks through all the algorithms and ideas. “So brushing your teeth, honestly, sometimes things go ‘boom, boom, boom’. “I’ve thought of entire shows brushing my teeth.” Regarding the writing process itself, Davies prefers solitude. He remarked, “I’m very suspicious of those people who sit in cafes.” Despite nearly two decades passing since Doctor Who’s return to television in 2005, Davies continues to experience nervousness prior to broadcasts. The most recent Christmas episode of the series is scheduled for broadcast on BBC One on Christmas Day. This episode, titled Joy to the World, centers on a hotel where each room contains a distinct world. He commented, “You do feel the pressure and you should, that’s part of the job.” Davies added, “You get the fear, you don’t want to disappoint.” He concluded, “You’ve got to say something new, you’ve got to have impact, so that is a great fuel to the engine all that stuff.” Nicola Coughlan, known for her roles in Derry Girls and Bridgerton, will serve as the Doctor’s companion in the Christmas special. Davies stated, “She knows Ncuti Gatwa, the Doctor, and they were both in the Barbie film.” He continued, “On social media, they kind of like chat, and they know each other in that mad social world that actors live in.” Davies concluded, “So it was an offer she very quickly accepted. We’re delighted.” Additionally, Davies is developing a Doctor Who spin-off titled The War Between The Land And The Sea. He commented, “It is a different show, it does not have The Doctor in it. We have done that over the years. There was Torchwood, which was set in Cardiff and the Sarah Jane Adventures.” The upcoming series features Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. Its plot involves an ancient species surfacing from the ocean, which precipitates an international crisis. Davies posed the question, “When you look and see what we have done to our seas, if you lived in the ocean, if there was such a thing as an ocean creature, wouldn’t you be furious?” He added, “Haven’t we ruined them?” The Doctor Who Christmas special will be available on iPlayer and BBC One starting at 17:10 GMT on Christmas Day.