Davies Will Step Down from Who

He's been talking about it for a while, but it was hard to believe it would ever actually happen. Russell T. Davies, one of the most hands-on producers in television, is stepping back from his role on Doctor Who.

Steven Moffat is set to take over as lead writer and executive producer for season 5 of the show, which Davies brought back to life with phenomenal success – including two spin-offs – in 2005.

"My entire career has been a secret plan to get this job," Moffat said in a statement posted in the show's official site. "I applied for it once before but got backed because the BBC wanted someone else. Also, I was seven."

"The past four series have been brilliantly helmed by the spectacularly talented Russell T. Davies," said Jane Tranter, Controller BBC Fiction. "As lead writer and executive producer, he has overseen the creative direction and detail of the 21st century relaunch of Doctor Who and we are delighted to have his continued presence on the specials over the next 18 months.

"But the challenge and excitement of the fifth series is now being handed to Steven Moffat. The TARDIS couldn't be in safer hands. Steven's talents on both Doctor Who and beyond are well known. He is a writer of glittering brilliance, comedy and depth, with an extraordinary imagination and a unique voice. Steven has a wonderful mix of being a committed Doctor Who fan and a true artist, and his plans for the next series are totally thrilling."

This is definitely good news. Moffat is one of the few successors to Davies fans can really embrace, having written a string of acclaimed episodes for the new series: "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" (season 1, creating the character of Captain Jack), "The Girl in the Fireplace" (season 2), "Blink" (season 3), and "Silence in the Library"/"Forest of the Dead" (season 4). His work on Who has been consistently sharp, funny, bold, and (the only possible source of trouble, as well as his best recommendation) innovative.

Moffat's two Who-related charity specials, "Curse of the Fatal Death" (1999) and "Time Crash" (2007), fully established his credentials as an out-and-out Doctor Who fan – much like Davies, who was a diehard Who fan (instilling a similar love of the series in Vince, one of the major characters on Davies's earlier Queer as Folk, who was seen watching "Pyramids of Mars" in the very first episode) long before he was in a position to relauch the show.

Moffat also wrote and created Coupling, Joking Aside, and Jekyll. Moffat has already won two Hugo awards for his work on Who, and has won a BAFTA for his work on the children's series Press Gang.

Moffat has been announced as scripting a trilogy of Tintin films for directors Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson starring Thomas Sangster and Andy Serkis. With season 5 not airing until 2010, Moffat will have time to clear his desk before giving his full attention to Doctor Who.