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Doctor Who Writer Reveals Rejected Scary Dalek Scene That Nearly Canceled the Show

BBG News

Robert Shearman played a key role in modernizing the Daleks for the revamped series. His writing contribution, notably the Season 1 episode “Dalek,” was both emotionally charged and highly praised by critics.

Initially, showrunner Russell T Davies found it challenging to determine just how ominous Doctor Who could be, given its family-oriented broadcast. Interestingly, it appeared that the Daleks, renowned for their chilling “Exterminate!” battle cry, might have been stripped of this signature action. This fascinating revelation was shared during Shearman’s discussion at the BFI Southbank for the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.

Initially, in our early gatherings, Russell would propose that we delve into various emotional tones. However, there was some uncertainty during the initial drafts about whether we could still depict violence on-screen, given the nature of our show aimed at a family audience, which hadn’t been seen on TV for approximately 15 years. It seemed peculiar to me; I even contemplated if we might need to use a stun effect instead of actual violence.

In simpler terms, it can be inferred that the character “Dalek” would lose a significant amount of its impact if not for the intense fear it instills in viewers, particularly during the episode where we worry for Rose Tyler, portrayed by Billie Piper. Remarkably, some characters guarding her do fall victim to the Dalek’s gunfire and perish.

Later, we received approval, and Russell emailed me, “‘No problem, we can indulge our desires to kill as much as our hearts desire!'” Shearman recalled. However, even then, there were risks in pushing things too far. One of the most chilling moments from “Dalek” involves Simmons (played by Nigel Whitmey), whose face is essentially sucked off by the Dalek’s plunger – a scene that was significantly toned down.

In response to going away, she penned the scene where Simmons is deceived, but it was significantly more intense. Shearman explained that the deception exceeded his expectations, leaving him burned out – figuratively speaking. Interestingly, Russell responded to her work with a request, “Kindly avoid attempting to terminate the entire series before we even begin.

Doctor Who’s Future is Up in the Air

Regarding cancellations: The British series, Doctor Who, finds itself at a peculiar juncture. Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure was intended to serve as a mini-reboot, but some viewers believe things took a turn for the worse from the start. Instead of classic enemies being integrated seamlessly, like in “Dalek,” they appeared to be hastily inserted without sufficient context regarding their relevance to the broader Doctor Who mythology.

The situation became increasingly perplexing for many spectators when it was unclear whether she was actually embodying the Sixteenth Doctor or merely a misleading hint. It remains uncertain if she will engage in battles with the Daleks, a mystery to be resolved at a later time.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and Disney+.

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2025-06-05 18:15

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