8. Paul Cornell
Notable Work: 'Father's Day', 'Human Nature/ The Family of Blood' This might seem like cheating, as Cornell has already written for the show. But it's been so long that he might as well be considered a new writer if offered the chance again. The scripts Cornell has written have been two of the best stories in the show's 50-year history, so bringing him back on board for another go seems like a no-brainer. Like Russell T Davies, Moffat, Mark Gatiss and other Doctor Who fans now working on the show he helped to keep it alive during the wilderness years of the 1990's with novels, comics and audio plays. He is as integral to its survival and resurrection as any of the other writers who have been writing scripts since 2005. By the time Series 8 hits our screens, it will have been 7 years since we've had a Paul Cornell script, and that's far too long. Now, Cornell is busier than ever. As well as writing his own drama pilot Pulse for BBC Three, he has been working on the new Wolverine comic series and wrote the hit novel London Falling, so it might be hard to fit into an episode into his schedule. Then again, Neil Gaiman's managed to knock out a script for the last two series, so it's not impossible...