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{{pp-pc}}{{short description|English television writer}}{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}

factoids

|birth_place =St Mary's University, Twickenham {{small>(Bachelor of Arts)}}University of Sheffield {{small>(MA)}}|occupation = Writer, producer, executive producer|yearsactive = 1988–present|notable_works = Broadchurch'Torchwood'Doctor WhoMadeline Joinson|2002}}|children = 2}}Christopher Antony Chibnall (born 21 March 1970)WEB,weblink Christopher Antony CHIBNALL, beta.companieshouse.gov.uk, UK Companies House, 5 March 2020, is an English television writer and producer, best known as the creator and writer of the award-winning ITV mystery-crime drama Broadchurch (2013-17) and as the third showrunner of the 2005 revival of the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who (2018–22). Chibnall wrote five episodes of the series under previous showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, and he was also the head writer for the first two series of the spinoff Torchwood (2006-08).

Early life and career

Chibnall was brought up in Formby, Sefton, Merseyside. He studied drama at St Mary's University, Twickenham, subsequently gaining an MA in Theatre and Film from the University of Sheffield.WEB,weblink Chris Chibnall – Before and After Broadchurch, www.marshwoodvale.com, 12 December 2015, en-GB, 2017-09-03, His early career included work as a football archivist and floor manager for Sky Sports,WEB, Southall, J.R., Interview: Chris Chibnall - Part 2 Doctor Who and Beyond,weblink starburstmagazine.com, 17 July 2017, 18 August 2017,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170818062443weblink">weblink dead, before leaving to work as an administrator for various theatre companies.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} From 1996 to 1999 he worked as administrator with the experimental theatre company ComplicitéBruno Schulz {{google books|6yjLAgAAQBAJ|The Street Of Crocodiles|page=14}} (where he met his wife Madeline), before leaving to become a full-time writer.{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}

Career

Theatre writing

Chibnall's first short play was produced as part of Contact Theatre's Young Playwright's Festival in 1988, and was directed by Lawrence Till.WEB,weblink Kiss Me Like You Mean It Written by Chris Chibnall, www.benchtheatre.org.uk, While studying at college, he wrote two plays, Victims and Now We Are Free, which were performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and directed by Edward Lewis. In 1998, he became Writer in Residence with GRiP Theatre Company, writing three full-length plays, including Best Daze and Gaffer! and several short plays. Chibnall's successor as Writer in Residence was Matthew Broughton. Gaffer! was revived at Southwark Playhouse in 2004.WEB,weblink SCRIPT DOCTORS, www.whatnoise.co.uk, Chibnall took part in an attachment at the Royal National Theatre Studio in 1999, followed by a year-long attachment to Soho Theatre in 2000, which resulted in his play Kiss Me Like You Mean It, produced at Soho Theatre and directed by Abigail Morris. Its cast included Catherine McCormack, Jason Hughes, Marlene Sidaway and Harry Towb. The play was shortlisted for the Meyer-Whitworth Award, and has subsequently been produced in various venues around the world, including a successful three-month run in Paris in 2004.In February 2024, Chibnall’s new play, One Last Push, will premiere at Salisbury Playhouse. WEB,weblink One Last Push, www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk, 15 February 2024,

Television writing

Chibnall's first produced script for television was the successful monologue Stormin' Norman, starring James Bolam, made by Carlton Television for ITV.In 2001 he was approached, together with writer Nigel McCrery, to develop the format for a drama seriesBorn and Bred which became Born and Bred. With a cast including Bolam and Michael French, Born and Bred ran on BBC One for four years from 2002 to 2005. Chibnall served as head writerBOOK,weblink British Television Drama: Past, Present and Future, J., Bignell, S., Lacey, 12 May 2014, Springer, 9781137327581, Google Books, and consultant producer (later executive producer), writing seventeen of its thirty-six hour-long episodes.Chibnall was the only writer other than the show's creators to write for both series of the double International Emmy-award-winning BBC One police drama Life on Mars (2006–07). He was part of the production team who accepted the 2007 BAFTA Audience Award onstage at the London Palladium.During 2005, Chibnall was in charge of developing a proposed fantasy series involving the mythical magician Merlin for BBC One's early Saturday evening family drama slot. Despite several scripts being written, BBC Head of Drama Jane Tranter eventually decided not to green-light the project,JOURNAL, Dreamwatch, News, Titan Magazines, 137, January 2006, although it later emerged, without Chibnall's involvement, as Merlin (2008–2012).NEWS, Deans, Jason, 2006-12-07, BBC1 seeks magic touch for Merlin drama, en-GB, The Guardian,weblink 2023-03-24, 0261-3077, WEB, 2016-01-22, Jeffrey, Morgan, Who is Chris Chibnall? 12 fast facts about the man taking over Doctor Who,weblink 2023-03-24, Digital Spy, en-GB, In 2007, Dick Wolf and Kudos Film and Television selected Chibnall to become the show runner on ITV1's (Law & Order: UK), a police procedural/legal drama based on the original US series.NEWS, Greg, Braxton, 'Law and Order' gets an Old Bailey twist,weblink The News Tribune, The McClatchy Company, Tacoma, Washington, USA, 11 March 2009, 12 March 2009, {{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} Chibnall was the lead writer and executive producer, writing six of the first thirteen episodes based on scripts from the US series. ITV commissioned a second run of thirteen episodes,NEWS, James, Welsh, 'Torchwood' writer to lead UK 'Law & Order,weblink Digital Spy, 10 January 2008, 10 January 2008, {{dead link|date=November 2023}}WEB, Chris, Chibnall, No, they did ask...,weblink Chris Chibnall's Twitter page, 8 July 2009, 30 September 2009, but having set up the series Chibnall made the decision to leave the programme, to focus on other writing projects.TWEET, Chris, Chibnall, They're shooting S2 now..., chibnall, 4445921044, October 5, 2013, 30 September 2009, {{dead link|date=January 2024}}Chibnall also show-ran Camelot, an adult retelling of the Arthurian legend for the Starz network. It went to air early in April 2011 and was filmed in Ardmore Studios near Dublin.WEB,weblink Chibnall: 'Sex is part of Camelot', Digital Spy, 10 August 2010, WEB,weblink 'Camelot' starts shooting in Ireland, UPI, The show was cancelled after a single season, though again Chibnall claimed he had chosen not to be involved in the second series in any case, due to other writing priorities.WEB,weblink SFX - GamesRadar+, 2 June 2023, In December 2013, Chibnall wrote a two-part dramatisation The Great Train Robbery, which tells the story of the Great Train Robbery on 8 August 1963. Coincidentally, the first part was shown on the same day that train robber Ronnie Biggs died.NEWS,weblink Ronnie Biggs dead: Great Train Robbery fugitive dies aged 84, The Independent, 18 December 2013, 18 December 2013, Withnall, Adam, NEWS,weblink Ronnie Biggs picks his moment one last time, The Guardian, 18 December 2013, 19 December 2013, Campbell, Duncan, NEWS,weblink Ronnie Biggs, face of Great Train Robbery, slips away with perfect timing, The Guardian, 18 December 2013, 19 December 2013, Campbell, Duncan, In 2013, Chibnall created and wrote a detective series for ITV called Broadchurch, starring David Tennant, Olivia Colman, Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, Arthur Darvill, Pauline Quirke and David Bradley. The series received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and audiences alike.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} It followed the story of the fictional seaside town of Broadchurch, struggling to come to terms with the possible murder of a young boy. Viewing figures peaked at nearly 9 million viewers in the finale.NEWS, Dex, Robert, Broadchurch finale pulls in 8.7 million viewers as ITV mystery drama ends,weblink 17 July 2017, The Standard, After a successful first series, a second was announced at the end of the first series,NEWS,weblink London, The Guardian, John, Plunkett, Broadchurch to return for second series after nearly 9m see killer unveiled, 23 April 2013, with location filming finishing in October 2014.WEB,weblink EXCLUSIVE: Broadchurch 2 producer thanks West Dorset residents for their support during filming, Bournemouth Echo, 16 October 2014, The second series aired in 2015 and a third and final series aired in 2017.WEB,weblink Press Releases, Press Centre,

Doctor Who

Chibnall is a long-time fan of Doctor Who, and appeared on the BBC discussion programme Open Air in 1986 as a member of the Liverpool local group of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, criticising The Trial of a Time Lord (1986), especially the Terror of the Vervoids segment.JOURNAL, DWMail, Doctor Who Magazine, 375, 11, Panini Comics, 8 November 2006, In 2005, Chibnall was appointed head writer and co-producer of science-fiction drama Torchwood. The series, a spin-off from Doctor Who, premiered on BBC Three in October 2006 to a then record-breaking audience for a non-sport programme digital channel broadcast in the UK.NEWS,weblink BBC News, Torchwood scores record audience, 23 October 2006, The programme went on to win "Best New Drama" at the 2007 TV Quick Awards and "Best Drama Series" at the BAFTA Cymru 2007 awards.NEWS,weblink UK | Wales | Dr Who sweeps Bafta Cymru board, BBC News, 28 April 2007, 21 April 2010, The series has also been nominated for both Hugo and Saturn awards.WEB,weblink Torchwood, 22 October 2006, IMDb, In the US, the programme has been broadcast on BBC America and HDNet, to critical acclaim.WEB,weblink Advanced Search at Metacritic - Metacritic, www.metacritic.com, Chibnall wrote eight episodes during the first two series, including both series' finales, and the premiere episode of series two. He worked closely with Russell T Davies across all aspects of the show's production.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}While working on Torchwood, Chibnall also wrote the 2007 episode "42" for the third series of Doctor Who. He returned for the 2010 series, penning the two-part story "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood", which reintroduced the Silurians to the series. Chibnall also wrote the second and fourth episodes for the seventh series in 2012, "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" and "The Power of Three", as well as the online/red button exclusive Pond Life. He also penned another short, P.S., but it was never filmed, and was eventually presented online in storyboard format.In January 2016, the BBC announced that Chibnall would replace Steven Moffat as executive producer of Doctor Who and would be the head writer and executive producer, starting with the eleventh series of the revived era.WEB,weblink Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat quits to be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, 23 January 2016, Matt Strevens joined Chibnall as co-executive producer, after having also been an executive producer on An Adventure in Space and Time.WEB,weblink Everything we know so far about 'Doctor Who' Season 11, 2 August 2016, When discussing whether the next Doctor would be a woman, he stated in February 2017 "Nothing is ruled out but I don't want the casting to be a gimmick and that's all I can say”.NEWS, Clarke, Andrew, Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall creates laughs at the New Wolsey,weblink 18 July 2017, eadt.co.uk, East Anglian Times, 27 February 2017, 24 July 2018,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20180724032131weblink">weblink dead, After Jodie Whittaker was announced as the Thirteenth Doctor in July 2017, Chibnall said, "I always knew I wanted the Thirteenth Doctor to be a woman and we’re thrilled to have secured our number one choice."NEWS,weblink Introducing Jodie Whittaker - The Thirteenth Doctor, BBC Media Centre, BBC, 16 July 2017, 21 July 2017, WEB,weblink 'Doctor Who': Jodie Whittaker Revealed As 13th Time Lord, First Female In Role, Tartaglione, Nancy, Deadline Hollywood, 16 July 2017, As with the last change of showrunners, Chibnall wrote the final moments of Moffat's last episode "Twice Upon a Time", so as to allow him to write Whittaker's first lines on the show. This previously happened in the 2010 special "The End of Time", when Moffat took over for Russell T. Davies in the final moments of the episode, writing Matt Smith's first words as the Eleventh Doctor.WEB,weblink Doctor Who: Steven Moffat confirms that Chris Chibnall will write the new Doctor's first words, 23 March 2017, Jeffery, Morgan, Digital Spy, On 29 July 2021, the BBC announced that Chibnall would be stepping down from his role as the showrunner of Doctor Who, and Whittaker will be leaving her role as the Thirteenth Doctor.NEWS,weblink Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall to leave in 2022, BBC News, 29 July 2021, On 24 September 2021, the BBC announced that Chibnall would be succeeded by Davies, who would be returning as the showrunner of Doctor Who.NEWS, Doctor Who: Russell T Davies returns as programme showrunner, BBC News, 24 September 2021,weblink 24 September 2021, Chibnall's run as showrunner has been divisive among fans of Doctor Who, receiving criticism for the scripts, characterization, and the perceived retcon of the Doctor's origins in the episode "The Timeless Children".WEB, Bacon, Thomas, 2021-07-29, What Went Wrong With Chris Chibnall's Doctor Who,weblink 2022-05-22, ScreenRant, en-US, WEB, Andrew, Jamie, 2021-06-25, Doctor Who Series 13: Jodie Whittaker Leaving Rumours, the Next Doctor, and the Future,weblink 2022-11-29, Den of Geek, en-US, Some have further accused Chibnall's run of being too politically correct or "woke"; conversely, others have argued it promotes conservatism through its perceived messaging and portrayal of minorities.WEB, Mooney, Darren, 2021-01-11, Despite the Outrage, Doctor Who Is Less 'Woke' Than It's Been in Decades,weblink 2022-07-02, The Escapist (magazine), The Escapist, en-US, WEB, Hudson, Jack, 2020-01-08, Too woke? Nope – Doctor Who is more offensive than ever,weblink 2022-07-02, The Guardian, en-UK, WEB, 2022-11-15, Tokenism, Racism, and Unfunny Jokes: How 'Doctor Who' Failed Its First Female Doctor,weblink 2023-12-06, Junkee, en-US,

Personal life

In the 1990s, Chibnall met Madeline Joinson, a producer for the company Out of Joint.WEB,weblink Chris Chibnall, They were married in 2002. They have two sons: Cal (born 2003) and Aidan (born 2006).

Selected credits{| class"wikitable"

style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"! Production! Notes! BroadcasterLife on Mars (British TV series)>Life on Mars|

• (Series 1: Episode 7 (Life on Mars)|Series 1, Episode 7) (2006)
• (Series 2: Episode 2 (Life on Mars)|Series 2, Episode 2) (2007)|BBC One

|Torchwood|

• "Day One" (2006)
• "Cyberwoman" (2006)
• "Countrycide" (2006)
• "End of Days" (2007)
• "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" (2008)
• "Adrift" (2008)
• "Fragments" (2008)
• "Exit Wounds" (2008)|BBC Two/BBC ThreeDoctor Who|
• "42" (2007)
• "The Hungry Earth" / "Cold Blood" (2010)
• Pond Life (2012 series of mini-episodes)
• "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" (2012)
• "The Power of Three" (2012)
• "P.S." (2012 mini-episode)| BBC One/BBC Red Button, as writer

|

• "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" (2018)
• "The Ghost Monument" (2018)
• "Rosa" (co-written with Malorie Blackman, 2018)
• "Arachnids in the UK" (2018)
• "The Tsuranga Conundrum" (2018)
• "The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos" (2018)
• "Resolution" (2019)
• "Spyfall" (2020)
• "Fugitive of the Judoon" (co-written with Vinay Patel, 2020)
• "Praxeus" (co-written with Pete McTighe, 2020)
• "Can You Hear Me?" (co-written with Charlene James, 2020)
• "Ascension of the Cybermen" / "The Timeless Children" (2020)
• "Revolution of the Daleks" (2021)
• Flux (2021)
  • ("The Halloween Apocalypse" / "War of the Sontarans" / "Once, Upon Time" / "Village of the Angels" (co-written with Maxine Alderton) / "Survivors of the Flux" / "The Vanquishers")
• "Eve of the Daleks" (2022)
• "Legend of the Sea Devils" (co-written with Ella Road, 2022)
• "The Power of the Doctor" (2022)|BBC One/BBC Red Button, as showrunner|(Law & Order: UK)|
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 1)|Care)" (2009)
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 1)|Vice)" (2009)
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 1)|Unsafe)" (2009)
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 1)|Paradise)" (2009)
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 2)|Samaritan)" (2010)
• "(Law & Order: UK (series 2)|Honour Bond)" (2010)ITV (TV Network)>ITV

United (2011 film)>United|

• TV Film (2011)|BBC Two

|Broadchurch| Creator, 24 episodes:

• Series 1 (2013)
• Series 2 (2015)
• Series 3 (2017)ITV (TV Network)>ITV

The Great Train Robbery (2013 TV series)>The Great Train Robbery|

• TV Film (2013)|BBC One

|Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway|

• "Who Shot Simon Cowell?" (2016)ITV (TV Network)>ITV

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

• Interview with Chibnall {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108185140weblink |date=8 January 2015 }} at bbc.co.uk
• {{IMDb name|1163823}}
• Interview about his play Gaffer, from September 2004
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20070927230039weblink">Biography at Complicite.org
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20050211084644weblink">Theatrical plays information at Doolee.com

{{Chris Chibnall|key=*}}{{Doctor Who episodes by Chris Chibnall}}{{Authority control}}