Screenwriter Russell T. Davies is speaking out about his return to Doctor Who ahead of the long-running series’ 60th anniversary.

Davies headed the classic BBC show as its executive producer from 2005 to 2010, bringing the 1963 sci-fi series back to the broadcaster after a 16-year hiatus. His run on Doctor Who saw Christopher Eccleston—and later, David Tennant—as the titular time-traveling extraterrestrial known simply as “the Doctor,” who travels throughout time and space in a ship disguised as a blue police box.

Eventually, Davies passed the torch to writer Steven Moffat in order to focus on other projects; Moffat stepped down from Doctor Who in 2017 and was replaced by Chris Chibnall.

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Though Davies is a self-proclaimed lifelong fan and constantly thinking about the series, he admitted to GQ that it wasn’t always in his plans to return.

“Well honestly, it wasn’t a plan of mine, although I have to issue a massive caveat there and say as a massive Doctor Who fan since the age of three, I think about it all the time,” the showrunner shared in a new interview, adding that considering a comeback felt disrespectful when Moffat and Chibnall were producing.

“When I wasn’t producing it, people would always say, ‘Oh, you know are you going to write Doctor Who again?’ It was a bit rude while there were other people in the job, to say ‘Oh yes, I’ll think about it now.’ It’s like, there were other people running the show!”

But with Chibnall stepping down and the BBC looking to bring Doctor Who to a worldwide audience through streaming—an initiative Davies always believed in—it felt like a perfect opportunity to return.

“So I thought—with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC’s measures—it was time for the next stage of Doctor Who. I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in the spin-offs when I was there.”

“But now, it wasn’t my idea, it was the BBC’s notion to go for a streamer [Disney+] to invest in the show worldwide, which I completely agree with,” he added.

Davies on Old Faces, the New Doctor, and Who He Hopes Will Direct an Episode

     BBC

Davies’ return to Doctor Who will see some more familiar faces returning as well—Tennant (who plays the 10th and 14th regenerations of the Doctor) and Catherine Tate (the actress behind beloved companion Donna Noble) will both be back for the show’s 60th-anniversary specials.

But the showrunner is adamant that Tennant and Tate’s return was just an “added delight,” and his interest wasn’t contingent on their involvement. Quite the contrary, in fact—Davies has been quick to praise new star Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education), who will take on the title of the 15th Doctor after Tennant regenerates once again.

“Last night we had Ncuti’s first read-through. He’s so unbelievably stunning. I can’t wait for you to see him. He just lifts your hair off your head. He’s beautiful. Absolutely beautiful, in every sense. So, very excited. But, to have David and Catherine doing three hours as well is extra joy,” he gushed.

As for the rumor that Edgar Wright (Baby Driver, Last Night in Soho) would be directing Gatwa’s Doctor in an episode, Davies says it’s just that—a rumor.

At least for now, that is.

“Yes please! No, we wouldn’t have kept that secret, would we? If he’s reading GQ, please get him to do it. I love him,” Davies added.

Three hour-long specials will air in November to commemorate the show’s 60th anniversary, and while the specials are spoken for, perhaps we’ll see Wright behind an episode of the upcoming Series 14.