10 Reasons RTD's Doctor Who Return Failed

4. Constant Hyperbole And Lies

While all Doctor Who showrunners lie to some extent, RTD coming out and saying that there “never was” a script for the 2026 Christmas special, and that it was only ever a placeholder, was quite something.

Even if he’s lying about lying (i.e. there was a script and it was originally going to go ahead) he’s still lying. Which, for his final act as showrunner, is kind of insane.

It’s also, sadly, totally on brand. Because throughout RTD’s second era, he constantly baited fans, and made things out to be things they weren’t.

Every episode was hyped to death and branded the best thing since sliced bread. It was fun to begin with – but looking back, there are so many hints and teasers that just didn’t go anywhere.

For instance, what was “the significance of the doors” behind Anita Dobson and Michele Greenidge in their casting announcement photos? Why was Rogue teased with a potato emoji and Wild Blue Yonder with a penguin? And why were we told that not everyone gets out of Empire of Death alive, when everyone does?

It feels like he was just playing games with us (and probably just saying random things, or pressing random emojis) in order to “generate content”. Which is all well and good… but the trouble is, no one believes a word he says anymore!