10 Times Doctor Who Appeared In Other TV Shows - Commenter Edition
2. It's A Sin
Just like Steven Moffat sneaking Doctor Who references into Sherlock, former (and future) Who showrunner Russell T Davies has also included nods to the beloved sci-fi property in some of his other works.
In his 2021 drama miniseries It's A Sin, RTD didn't just go with a quick line of dialogue or a background easter egg - oh no. Being the superfan that he is, he decided to create a fictional '80s Doctor Who serial called Regression of the Daleks, film some of it, then incorporate it into It's A Sin's narrative.
This occurs in It's A Sin's fourth episode, with lead character Ritchie Tozer - an aspiring actor - appearing in Regression of the Daleks, fighting off an onslaught by the unstoppable, plunger-wielding foes.
RTD created this scene in honour of the late Dursley McLinden, an actor who appeared in the very real Doctor Who serial Remembrance of the Daleks as Mike Smith (below), and was also an ardent campaigner for various AIDS charities. In a direct tip of the hat to McLinden, Ritchie's character is called Trooper Linden.
It's a touching backstory, but even those who aren't aware of this heartfelt subtext will find Regression of the Daleks to be an entertaining, convincingly-made love letter to Doctor Who's cheesier, more low-budget 1980s days.
RTD has even joked that Regression could be novelised, so Trooper Linden's war against the Daleks might one day be fleshed out further.