Mark Gatiss has written nine episodes of Doctor Who and has acted in three credited episodes. Interviewer James Hibbs of The Radio Times Writers’ Room asked him about his approach to writing for the programme.

“The actual process of trying to make it a modern show for a new audience is not about nostalgia and I think that’s the great difference you have to get right,” Gatiss explained. “Why is this going to work now? It doesn’t really matter what worked for Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker. It’s about now, so if we try to get an audience now, the show is the same but different. So, for me, the show was always a combination of those things.”

“It’s a strange thing because I’ve revived so many things but I think nostalgia is a great enemy and we have to all be careful of it. It’s part of the reason we’re in the mess we are, I think. Weaponised nostalgia; ‘nothing’s as good as it used to be’. And yet, people can’t see that people have always thought that — even when it used to be better,” he added wryly. “It’s a dangerous thing.”

“I think what the job of the show, constantly, is to regenerate itself, you know,” Gatiss continued. “And sometimes when I meet, you know, grumpy old Doctor Who fans — and there you’ve just fallen into the same space-time trap; that it’s not as good as it used to be — because it’s not for you any more. If you still like it, that’s great. It’s great, but it’s not for you.”

While Mark Gatiss acknowledges the seductive pull of nostalgia — evident in his own reintroduction of classic Doctor Who monsters — he feels that fans who cling to the past pose a danger to the show’s vitality. The series must evolve, embracing fresh ideas to captivate new generations. The enduring magic of Doctor Who lies in its ability to balance reverence for its rich history with a bold commitment to reinvention, ensuring it remains a timeless adventure for all.