I think of all the recent news and announcements about Doctor Who this article about Chibnall exploring new ways to write the show has me most intrigued/excited/hopeful:

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-...ng-the-series/

For me it's become very noticeable that a number of high profile writers have struggled or at best produced uneven results when writing for Doctor Who so hopefully something like this would help and also ease the pressure on the show runner somewhat as well.

I think its a great idea in many respects.

Having an avenue to explore ideas with other writers can help to make the writing to be more consistent, working towards a common theme or central in the scripts. I'm just remembering how consistently good Buffy was so quality could be maintained

A writers room could allow for experimentation, so lots of new idea exciting ideas for the show with the right mix. Established and new writers together. A talent pool not just for Doctor Who but other shows in the future.

Allowing more than one writer on a script spreads the workload out as well. RTD was exhausted by the end and Steven Moffat was ready to go probably two years ago. Show-runners risk burnout despite their best efforts due to the workload .

I hope Chris is allowed to give it a try

I LOVE THIS IDEA many of my favourite TV Shows now use this and I think it will be easier to discuss ideas and write scripts. I'm liking Chris Chibnall already but I'm scared if I say that it might come back to bite me in the butt in 2018

It seems like a good idea. I always thought RTD and Moffat's scripts as showrunners were way below the standard of their writing for other producers. The term that always springs to my mind for most of RTD's Who episodes and Moffat's post-2010 Who episodes is rush job.

This definitely seems like a positive to me.

The way that the series is traditionally written is both a blessing and a curse. It means that episodes can be hugely different in tone and plot. This reads to a love/hate relationship from the audience though, as big differences polarise both hardcore fans and casual viewers.

A writing team could make the series much more consistent. I get surveys from the BBC every week when the series is showing; they are obviously very interested in viewers reactions. I'm sure that the Doctor's personality was tweaked in the last series due to negative feedback from viewers.

How is it you are able to get surveys every week? Just curious. I would like to do that sort of thing,

I'll add my voice to the chorus. A writers' room would be a very good move.

The only issue would be the struggle to find more writers who truly "get" Doctor Who and who will commit to being on staff for it. A team will generate a bunch of fresh ideas and that's where the showrunner would need to exert his (or her) influence - to reign in the ideas that aren't Doctor Who-ish enough without stifling the creativity and imagination of the team.

Seems like a way to help avoid situations where the lead writer is too busy/stressed to deliver what he needs to do. Possibly the BBC trying to make the show a little more stable in its production?

They should get some U.S. writers in as well, preferably the ones from Battlestar Galactica who actually know how to successfully update a Sci-fi show for the 21st Century.

Well, they updated it to become a serious, adult sci-fi show. That would not work in this instance.

And that is only if one would personally feel the show needs updating (many, it seems, don't agree).

I think this would work well for Doctor Who. As others have said, it often works well for other (mostly US) dramas.

It's also a key reason why US sitcoms have been so much more successful than British comedy shows over the past 15-20 years.

I seriously doubt whether any of the writers who worked on the revamped Battlestar Galactica would consider working in the UK on salaries the BBC would be able to afford. Not only that, while I like both Doctor Who and the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, the writing style for each are very different. Doing Doctor Who in the style of Battlestar Galactica (or almost any US show) would not work.

In any case, as you say, Doctor Who isn't in need of a wholesale reboot.

The team would probably need to be young writers who haven't established a name for themselves yet (and so would be willing to accept a BBC salary).

And they would definitely need to understand/feel the unique appeal of Doctor Who.

Absolutely spot on. The Reboot of Battlestar Galactica worked somewhat due to it not having a really unique voice in the first place. By doing the same kind of reboot to Doctor Who would, in essence, be doing the exact opposite - taking away the unique voice and generalising it. I doubt very much that it would work.

Nor do I understand why a fan (I'm assuming - otherwise why else would they be here...) would suggest removing the very essence of Doctor Who from Doctor Who!

I think it sounds like a great idea and hope it pans out. It takes the burden of responsibility off one person (yes, I know they are still overall in charge) and hopefully means that one person cannot run away with themselves and their off the wall ideas as has happened before.

It makes sense to have an overall view of where the series is going to help the individual writers with their own parts of the story.

Am excited about this!

Doctor Who thrives on change, it's at the heart of the show. I think this could be a very good move for the show.

A US-style writers room combined with a UK-style format and structure could be extremely good (and about the first thing that inspires a glimmer of hope in a Chibnall-run era). It works tremendously for a lot of other top American shows right now. And it goes without saying that it'd be good to relieve the showrunner of some of the stress of the role... both RTD and Moffat, like them or hate them, have a role that is extremely difficult and as thankless as it is rewarding.

I'm sure much of that change would have happened anyway, towards the end of S8 in episodes like Flatline and ITFOTN you can see a more mellow Doctor

My worry about consistency, is that the show thrives on variety. If you pick your favourite New Who series, you will have runs of episode which are massively different, in tone and setting, but nearly all really good. You'd need a writers room who are able to come up with the really original ideas, rather than just producing a well honed and written, safe monsters story every week.

That's not a good recommendation.