Dr Who - Ultimate Showrunner

Everything being subjective, you might think that Moffat was and is the bestest showrunner of the Dr Who serials that could ever be. Others may think that everything’s gone to heck and that it’s really X who would be so much better.

Who would you like to see running Dr Who? It must be someone alive (and who will probably continue to live for a reasonable space of time) and with experience writing and managing a released TV show or movie.

I’m going to suggest:

Dean DeBlois - Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon
Pros: He certainly has the requisite sensibilities and ability to come up with fully plotted stories. We could expect a lot of personal bonds - not just the Doctor and the companion exchanging googly eyes, real friendship and companionship - the willingness to toss in some real life issues, and the sensibilities to deal with them respectfully.
Cons: No obvious interest in sci-fi nor history. It would possibly be a step down to headline Dr Who, rather than working in Hollywood.

The Green Brothers - The Fault in Our Stars, CrashCourse, SciShow
Pros: Yes. Their YouTube stuff is funny and educational. We can presume that they’re interested in sci-fi; we know they’re interested in history; we know that John can write a solid story; and we know that they can be funny. It would probably be a step up to be given Dr Who.
Cons: I got nuttin.

Jane Espenson - Buffy, Caprica, Firefly, Warehouse 13, Torchwood
Pros: Nerd cred. Seems to be a solid worker. That she created Warehouse 13 would seem to be a good indication of her sensibilities, which would be rather Who-esque. That Caprica really wasn’t all that bad would seem to be an indication that she can write reasonable sci-fi (not her fault that the concept was ho-hum). I haven’t seen Torchwood, but her episodes seem to be positively reviewed.
Cons: No clear evidence of greatness.

Terrence Dicks – He’s only 80!

Ultimately it would have to be Douglas Adams, but since you show a prejudice of wanting someone alive…

Dirk Maggs Known for radio work and his adaptions of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

There was an excellent adaption of Dirk Gently too so maybe Howard Overman. He has done more television work which I think is highly regarded. I haven’t seen most of it but would very much like to.

Overman would be a brilliant choice – just look at Misfits

JJ Abrams, they give him every other big sci fi franchise to run so why not

I’d take him, if it meant he casts John Noble as the Doctor.

Funny, I first read that as “ruin”. Oh well, it works either way.