DOCTOR WHO - OBE FOR DOCTOR WHO HEAD HONCHO RUSSELL T DAVIES

OBE FOR DOCTOR WHO HEAD HONCHO RUSSELL T DAVIES

Russell T Davies, the man behind the primetime resurrection of Doctor Who, has received an OBE from the Prince of Wales today.

The Welsh writer accepted the honour at Buckingham Palace in recognition of his services to drama.

In May this year, the 45-year-old announced he was stepping down as the executive producer of Doctor Who after four years in the post.

After years away from British screens, the Time Lord made a triumphant return in 2005, with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his assistant Rose Tyler.

Though Eccleston stepped away from the role after only one series, David Tennant's popularity in the part saw the show's fortunes soar, with the 2007 Christmas special a huge ratings success and a flourishing spin-off series, Torchwood, performing well on BBC3.

Davies - a lifelong Doctor Who fan who made his name in television with the likes of Queer As Folk - said the show could stay on the air for another two decades if it is carefully handled.

"Doctor Who is now one of the BBC's biggest flagship shows and this sort of pattern will guarantee it being on air for 20 years," he told SFX magazine in March.

"It's no good looking at that American pattern of making seven years if you're lucky - that's just not going to work. Who wants it to die after seven years? It's much bigger than that."

Tennant announced last month that he is to step down as Doctor Who, after the filming of four special episodes next year.