Radio Times

Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat tells Radio Times he's thought about changing the Daleks and even the Tardis, but the fans - and he is one - are safe.

"The Daleks weren't ever intended to be universe-conquering monsters," he says in the new issue of Radio Times. "They were little mutants in support carriages, like iron lungs. They didn't make sense then, they don't make sense now, they're a bit of ridiculous 60s pop art - but they're beautiful.

"We've occasionally thought, 'can we redesign them?' Can we heck! They've got to have a dome, and they've got to have an eye-stalk, and a sucker. I mean, a sucker?! What in the name of God is that sucker?"

The new Doctor Who series will feature a brand-new Tardis interior - the famous console room has been redesigned - but read the new RT to find out what Moffat thinks of that police box exterior.

Are you relieved the Daleks are safe? Do they look beautiful or silly? Have your say right here.

I personally think there was no real point to change the Daleks like that....they're pretty awful, they look like large plastic toys. The fact that Doctor Who fans (the series Writers/Producers)decided to do so deliberately is also awful. Just as awful as the new "Silurian" designs. Couldn't they have been faithful to the original design concept, we saw concept art on Doctor Who Confidential and what did we end up with? Shame on you guys...really.

My little cousins LOVE the new daleks! I like how now it's more obvious which dalek is which (scientist, etc.) And in Doctor Who, everything changes slightly each series, so I think it was about time for a change with the daleks too! I mean, the cybermen have flair trousers now, anythings possible!

Is it just possible that people are so bloody old and jaded new ideas/designs (such as the new Daleks) are losing their impact on them.

Or is it just more than their cold, dead, imaginations can handle....

I have seen EVERY episode of Dr.Who, and I have never laughed so much as to when I saw the 'new' Daleks. Only the spoilers and 'go faster' stripes were missing. Boo hiss boo!

Another grudge I have in the New series Daleks is there ability to fly and dissolve bullets (although I supose Dr Who is more fantasy than science based now days which is ashame after all the hard work done for 27 years from 1963). Firstly where the heck do they get there energy from anyway, I mean surley getting there energy from there solar slats isn't too bad for them if they were just there usual ground based selves but to fly whilst using there energy weapons would surely cause them to drop out of the sky like a bat shot with a water pistol.

This ability to dissolve bullets is a complete disaster as it completley takes away the excitement! as a Dr Who fan I personaly love to see a great Dalek explosion or sparks flying off a Dalek e.g. 'Remembrance of the Daleks', not just some CGI explosion which looks exactly the same each time a Dalek explodes. People claim "well you can tell it's a model effect and looks poor quality", whel I say "whel it's just a poor looking CGI effect which you can tell is CGI!". (I HATE CGI! It's cheap to do and is done by some fool at a computer desk with no imagination, where as a model maker is always filled with inspiration and ideas (with, let's not forget, extremely good talent!).

This view is from a 16 year old who hadn't even been born before any of the classic series but I love every second of the classic series and hate every second of the new and ashamed to even call the new series Dr Who! What's happened to our, what once was a, British classic?

For years the Daleks have never physicaly changed appart from revelation and remenberance-which-even then weren't too bad. Then they had to introduce those bronze pathetic looking things (I wouldn't have minded if it was some sort of special weapons Dalek but not an every day Dalek) in and now this, THE TELE-TUBBIES! JUST LEAVE THE ORIGINAL DESIGN ALONE WILL YOU THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH IT!(p.s. the most Daleky looking Dalek you will find, RTD, is a Genesis Dalek. But my personal favourite and the most spookey is the scientific core of the Daleks from 'The Chase')

I've struggled to wait a few months to try to get used to the Dalek re-design, before making my mind up about the look of them. And ... they still look terrible. Too fat in the middle, too narrow at the base, too wide at the rear (an opinion shared, it seems, by the director of the series finale, who clearly went out of his way never to let you see the My-Little-Pony-Daleks sideways-on). OK, after 50 years it must be extra-ordinarily hard to think of anything fresh to do with these beasts, but re-designing them to make them fat and camp isn't the answer. Not even close. The BBC should accept this, just as Coca Cola had to in the eighties when they re-launched with a 'better' taste, that EVERYONE hated. If you have a product that everyone loves, don't mess with it. The first Dalek story of 'New-Who' made a great stab at giving the Daleks back their menace, but since then, they've just been wasted on terrible stories. Daleks in New York? Give me strength.

My 5 and 7 year old sons think the new daleks are utter disco pants.

ive just looked through the comments and noted that there are 8 out of 98 that like the new daleks ;- thats a hit rate of 8.1% or a 91.9% dissaproval rating.

get rid of them pleeeese. they are simply embarassing.

The new daleks are fantastic

I have already made a complaint to the BBC website about this. And as to what has already been said these Daleks are no longer a beautiful design but some child paying around in a modified cardboard box. Altering a 47 year old icon to the shows continual success was going to be risky and unfortunately it is a fail. Maybe even some fans could have submitted some deigns or a few deigns could have been put up on the BBC website for you to receive feedback. The Daleks are owned by the fans just like Dr Who, changing them should have run past them first. Learn from it put them back the way they were before fans lose faith in the show.

Wow - I love Dr Who & I think Matt Smith is doing a really good job, but that Dalek story...it was a shame to waste the delicious irony of Winston Churchill enlisting the Daleks to fight the Nazis, and the new Dalek designs are just terrible - there must be some way they can be written out of the series, some beautiful time paradox that can undo that wholly unnecessary makeover...?

Ther was no need for this redesign. It is another example of self indulgent change. The proportions make an ionic menace look stupid. They are no longer the 'superiour beings' they should be, much more just multi coloured than fairground rides. GET RID OF THEN IMMEDIETLY. The 2005 upgrade was spot on - this rubbish is one redesign too far. Mr Moffat, you have a duty to future DW fans, as well as those who have been faithful followers since the first doctor. Get this mistake rectified and have the Daleks looking as they should (Size isn't everything !!!!) Next thing you'll want to do is change the colour of the Tardis to shocking pink or give it orange spots!

The new Dalek design is ridiculous. They look chunky, cheap,and like they had a few too many cakes! Imagine what Davros will look like....

How is it that the current generation of Dr Who producers have such skill in destroying everything good about the show. First the juvenile banter we get every episode, then the frenzied pace of each story to fit the silly 50 min format, the dogs dinner Tardis interior, appalling casting of the Master, and now to cap it all off, re-design of the Daleks which would have Nation rolling in his grave. The 2005 update was skillfully done. The 2010 re-design is the worst mess I have seen for a long time. Get rid of them - fast!!

I am a big Dr Who fan, and I am extremely surprised and disappointed about the appearance of the new 2010 My Little Pony daleks. It is unbelievable that the producers/directors of the show could allow this 'new' dalek to appear on the tv screen. According to me, the new dalek is not even fit to be presented to anybody. It is completely unsatisfactory in terms of styling and finishing. It is also unbelievable that the person that headed this project could even allow this so-called design to become an official Dr Who item. Very unprofessional indeed. Very poor effort. Definitely a bad failure. Must get rid of it - seriously.

Oh dear, oh dear! Matt Smith was always going to have a hard time replacing the tour de force that was David Tennant. Why else would an audience pulling Dalek episode be so early in the series instead of being an end of series climax as in the past. Well, I'm sorry BBC your cunning plan has totally failed as surely as the Doctor himself had thwarted it. The new Daleks are just appalling! What next? Psychedelic Cybermen?

Terry Nation must be rolling in his grave.. Mr Moffatt, you have destroyed an icon and will see the end of Doctor who, just as George Clooney killed the original Batman franchise, you will do the same to Doctor Who, for starters poor Matt Smith hasnt the presence of David Tennant and the new interior of the TARDIS looks like a play gym for kids and the Daleks, well, its all been said, dreadful and simply the worst design move ever.. goodbye Doctor Who, i wont be watching again.. :(

sorry Mr Moffat what am I watching on a saturday night? Vile theme tune silly boring stories which seem to be made on a budget......and coloured daleks!!! Bring back Russell davies I'm begining to switch over to ITV....come on what's happened to Doctor Who in 2010????

Stephen Moffat, what have you done.

The original series Daleks always looked a bit cheap, and you could never really take them seriously (apart from in Genesis of the Daleks), they always had a cheap and tacky feel to the construction, but they had screen presence and menace if you looked past the "build quality". RTD fixed that during his period, they had awesome presence on screen, menacing, evil, cruel and calculating and Davros was as close to perfect as possible. I can keep watching those episodes over and over again.

An excellent example of minor changes having a massive impact, sort of like what Aston Martin do with cars.The new ones just don't do the job on screen, they look cheap and bloated, car analogy again, its like looking at the new Mini vs the old one, the new VW Beetle vs the original. They just can't be taken seriously.

Change to improve things is good, change for changes sake is not. For some reason "Revenge of the Cybermen" springs to mind in this argument too!

Please take away the Fisher Price Daleks, and give us back the real daleks

"…your design is inelegant."

"Daleks have no concept of elegance!"

"This is obvious." …even more so now.

The new Dalek design is just appalling.

It didnt need doing so its ben done for the sake of it , but cheaply and badly . they resemble kids toys. and i assume thats what the BBC are hoping they will sell more of. certainly no real Dalek fan will watch these things again.

and in that case the series should be pulled.

The daleks were fantastic, menacing and alwasy absurd,, never laughable ..,.until now.

The new Daleks are just appalling. I am so disappointed.

The Dalek design is Iconic, recognisable and essential to the program It has been updated sensibly through the years, the latest 2005 redesign was a masterpiece ;- illusion of function, scary and believable and everyone loved it.

But, If you will excuse the pun ;- who likes these new ones ?

Ok there have always been a bit absurd with their rubber suckers and we forgive them for that, but they have never, never been laughable - until now.

These large multi coloured traffic bollards proporting to be Daleks are so badly designed and cheap I find it hard to believe that the BBC allowed them to be screened.

Clearly Moffat hasnt learned anything about the programme despite all the time he has been involved.

Ie;-

There are some things the public love you dont mess with, the Daleks are one of these.

I wont watch Dr who again if these things are on, they irritate me too much.

I just have to be 100% honest and say that the new design for the DALEKS is just truely, truely AWFUL !!!

The Daleks are by the very nature of their characters and story lines, intended to be cruel, evil, insidious, cruel and violent! ...and now here they are turning-up in lurid shades of bright orange, yellow, blue etc. The colour scheme is totally inconsitant with the Dalek's nature! The mid-shoulder section now looks like a left-over car's bumper that has been bolted around the dalek giving it a middle-heavy 'overweight' appearance! Sorry chaps, but a very HUGE thumbs down from me! ...i am truely saddened by the colourful 'Fisher-Price' look of these iconic screen metal-monsters. ...Please re-think this one!?

I have been a fan of Dr Who since it started and have seen every just about episode...OK,...I am 53 years old! Sorry if that seems a bit sad, but I just love the concept of the programme and thought the Daleks were fantastic!

I was overwhelmed when the series returned with such splendid production values and designs in 2005. But what on earth has happened now?...A new producer intent on "making his mark",... and as a result, has wrecked the most iconic design of monster (no, they are more than that) ever to grace the TV (and movie) screens.

OK,they have taken the basic "design requirements" of a dalek (dome, eye-stalk, etc) but its all wrong,...terrible!

In my opinion, the Daleks are the main reason why the show has ran so long and despite my feelings on the various incarnations of the Doctor and his assistances, (the new Doctor shows some promise, but I really do not like his asistant)the Daleks were always a constant and ever menacing presence. No longer. Why change the design?....I am sure that my opinions mean very little and the fact that, for the first time ever, I did not bother to watch last weeks episode (in fact, the way I feel now, I have no intention of watching other episodes), but feel I had to say something.

i Love the new Daleks i think there AWESOME

Surely it is undeniable that the overwealming message here is that the new Dalek design is awful.

Cheap, Plastic and 'Looks-Like-It-Was-Designed-by-Fisher-Price' clearly sums up the majority oppinion.

Learn by the mistakes of the past, go back to the 2005/09 model, or watc viewing figures fall-off and cancellation follow.

They look horrible, the previous ones were perfect, they actually looked like war machines and not plastic toys, so why change them ?

It doesn't matter what colour(s) they are, but the distorted proportions and cuddly shapes are ridiculous. They look like cheap, injection-moulded bubblebath bottles.

My husbad talks like a Dalek!!!

The Daleks looked the most menacing in Genesis and Destiny, but the 2005 design was excellent and subtle. As a child I liked the coloured Daleks of the 60's movies, and their shininess, but I do think the new design has been altered too far beyond the core design. I don't mind as long as these are regarded as a new breed in the show and that they eventually go head to head (dome to dome) with the classic Daleks (and get exterminated, he he). Basically we all love the Daleks and know the original design has survived the test of time (with a few tweaks)and don't want it spoiling with unnessecary alterations.

I love they big plungers!!!!!

My wife Elaine thinks the new Daleks are quite silly…

The trailers showing the WWII colour schemed dalek with the union flag badge made me really look forward to seeing the episode. Of course, I felt a lot different after the awful new design was wheeled out.

You want new colours, fine, but these new daleks look rubbish.

Quote, K F Cross: "The dome sits atop a concertina neck that looks like it might squeak when the head is pressed down."

Sshhh! I think you just gave the Beeb and idea for a 'cute' Dalek toy for babies in their prams!

I can't remember if it was mentioned on these comments or not, but what has happened to the novel revolving midsection from the 2005 design? That was one upgrade which was a pleasant and surprising addition.

There was also one point where we could actually see quite a gap between the bottom of the skirt and the spaceship*'s floor.

*aka some metal-ceiling-ed factory building, it seems.

What an awful upgrade! "Daleks meets Power Rangers Jungle fury" came to my mind (for all the coloured plastic). And as for the Supreme Dalek, did I see it wobble as it spun around at one point? Please, let's have the bronze masterpieces back!

I'm sorry Mr Moffat, you have got this one so wrong.

Your new Daleks are a far cry from the War Machines, that the previous production team brought back.

I like the idea of Dalek rank by colour, but they look like every out of proportion Dalek toy from the 60's & 70's, only full size.

No more elevating or flying then, unless of course their car boot rears contain fold away wings.and jet engines.

I'm also sorry to say that the high hopes, I had for the future of Doctor Who, under your production have taken a serious knock, and I now fear a return to low ratings and cancellation.

It seems unbelievable that someone could have sat down and designed an abomination like these Daleks - they look terrible, like a joke. I wonder what the original designer thought. The only people I personally know who like them are aged 5 and 7 - and that is because of their colours. Aren't kids supposed to be scared of them, not seeing them as toys. A real shock. Doctor Who has been generally brilliant, but I am just not sure what age these are aimed at. The previous ones were great.

From the front, the new Daleks look a bit like a Ron Turner drawing from TV Century 21 - from the neck down at least. From the side, they look hunchbacked and the head is too far forward. Now they look stooped and deflated, instead of erect (in a non-sexual way) and ready to take on the universe. As for the area between the dome and the midriff - just what were they thinking? Steven Moffat was responsible for some of the better episodes in previous series, but there just seems to be something missing in the first three episodes so far.

These designs for the new Daleks are simply appalling - I still can't over just how plastic, cheap, disproportionate and gaudy they are. It's like they have been designed by a comittee of 7 years olds focussing on primary colours and what would look good floating in a bath. Terrible, absolutely terrible.

I think the majority vote in this debate is that the new dalek design has fallen short of the dark and menacing expectations we perceive daleks to convey in our minds eye. I for one am disappointed at the plasic feel exuded by the new shell; there is so much talent in the production crew and for some bizarre reason they appear to have completely missed the mark on this 'upgrade'

I have a bit of "form" when it comes to Daleks - I've been collecting them since around 1973 (satrting with 60's toys from jumbles sales) and now have around a couple of hundred - which is a bit sad for a 45 year old I admit. However I will not be buying any models based on this new (per)version - they're horrible. The proportions are all wrong, the side elevation is terrible...the back...the shoulders and those colours...Mr White, Mr Pink etc or Dipsy La-la an Po Dalek?

I think the new Daleks look great. And they're TECHNICOLOUR!!!

The new "merchandise" Daleks are absolutely shocking........get rid and get rid quick. Possibly the worst ever reinvention of an iconic design in the history of television. Totally pointless and a crass merchandising ploy. Why? please BBC tell me it wasnt just for the filthy lucre?

The new Dalek's look cheap and nasty - like they've been vac-formed or massed produced in the cheapest way possible. They have all the threat of a bubblebath bottle or a Fisher Price toy - truly awful!

The Daleks are meant to be tanks - Engines Of War not bl**dy iPods, the olive drab paint-work of the previous Daleks in the episode worked really well, these ones just look like Mother Care 'My First Dalek's'.

I'm sure the new toy range will make a ton of money for BBC World Wide but they've trashed the most iconic foe of the Doctor and made it into a kitchen gadget, now they truly ARE pepperpots - as designed by IKEA.

I've been a Dalek fan for 35 years, for me Doctor Who is simply a vehicle for these fabulous creations to get screen time. They represent an example of iconographical perfection; an unlikely conglomeration of verticals, horizontals and circles which come together to create a harmonic beauty that has transcended the decades since their conception. This much anticipated "Victory Of The Daleks" episode seemed to be shaping up quite well. Then the big reveal came and out of the dry ice came five cartoon abominations.

In 2005 the Daleks were given a sturdy makeover that remained faithful to the established aesthetic: The flimsy aspect of the old series props was replaced by a robust, riveted, classically beautiful up-date in brushed bronze and gold that gave every impression it could survive a building falling on it. As many have said, these new Daleks look like cheap toys in comparison, lacking nuance, grace and with none of the fine detailing present in their 'inferior' predecessors. The dome sits atop a concertina neck that looks like it might squeak when the head is pressed down. Ridiculous! That bulky side silhouette is simply dreadful. They look like parodies of Daleks in a nursery colour scheme.

Change obviously happens whether you want it to or not, and although I'm sure the younger fans of the show won't mind these new Daleks so much, it is clear from the majority of on-line comments that this design decision has been the biggest error since the show returned five years ago. It HAS to be rectified, no matter how much of the shows budget has been sunk into these substandard props.

I dread to think what they'll do to the Cybermen...

Really, really disappointed by the "Victory" Daleks. Shoddy design work there. I've been a fan of the pepperpots for years, but if this is the way they're going to be from now on, I'll pass. The original design was lightning in a bottle, this new version is like yesterdays cola - flat, tacky and tasteless.

I've been completely enthralled by Dr Who since it's return with Christopher Ecclestone, David Tennant and initially Mat Smith. But for the first time since it's return I found myself utterly disappointed by the show and by the dreadful, just dreadful new Dalek design. I thought that the Tardis re-design was inspired, particularly the return to the original exterior - but the new Daleks are the pits. About as much menace as Postman Pat. Please let's have them return to the previous brilliant design. If it ain't broke......It was, let's face it a dreadful episode - so much promise and then....Spitfires in space after a, what?, half hour refit? Bring Back Russell, PLEASE!

There are those among the ranks of the internet who sit at home and blubber at every opportunity. There are fans of popular culture who will cringe at every new bold decision or any sign of something different or new. I want to make this as clear as I can: I am not one of these people.

I'm a Doctor Who fan and I've been excited about the new series from day one. Change is a wonderful thing. It can re-energize a tired old idea and give it a new and interesting perspective. But only if there are good reasons for these changes.

I'm not going to complain about the size or the shape of these new Daleks. I can get on board with a new design. But these new Daleks look ridiculous. The 2005 re-design looked fantastic. Let's face it- The Daleks are already absurd looking creatures. The challenge in realizing a creature such as this on modern television lies in how to portray them convincingly. The biggest problem with these Daleks isn't even the colours as such, which seems to be what everybody is focused on. The problem is that they don't look metallic any more. They look like plastic.

So my question is this: Why did the production team actively make the decision to abandon a design which looked convincing- for a design which looks plastic. Not only that, but in many shots during the episode, on close ups of the Top half of the White Dalek- you could see the inside of the "neck" section lighting up from behind (or possibly within from the lighting mechanism.) So now they look hollow, as well. Plastic, hollow, cheap and unconvincing. So why did they do it?

I'm serious in my question. Does the production team seriously believe that these Daleks look better? Is it this a marketing issue, so they can sell more toys to children? Are they trying to make the show more appealing to younger viewers? Honestly, I'd just like to hear the reasoning behind these choices.

I'm aware that these Daleks look similar to those in the 1960s films, but is that really a good thing? That a television show in 2010 has props which look like, not in terms of design or colour- but realism- a B grade movie from the 60s?

Listen. I believe that if you make really good television for children then the rest of the family will follow. It seems to me, that The Daleks are not being taken seriously by this production team. And if the producers of Doctor Who won't treat them seriously- then how are we, the audience, supposed to?

The new daleks? All the eerie hi-tech-sci-fi-robot-tank menace the daleks have given us for decades has been destroyed at a single stroke. They now look comic. Clearly, the toy has been designed before the actual thing, as a obvious aid to merchandising. Just awful, and not in the slightest scary. Who on earth thought these were a good idea? You're fired!

new dalek design is crap, black plastic everywhere less intricate beauty dont meddle with classic designs.

...and it's on earlier too.Oh well, KBO as Winston said in the Dalek episode. I won't repeat what the B stood for, but it shouldn't be allowed! :-)

The Daleks are just appalling and now im getting afraid the BBC is repositioning the show for CBBC. Young Dr, even younger looking assistant and now Daleks that look like friendly little eco cars. Much less dark and threatening. I notice Stephen isnt redisigning his daft weeping angels though…arent they a bit too scary for the 5 year olds?

I like the new Daleks, and I like the fact that the bods in charge had to gumption to change the design more radically then with just a new paint job. All hail the new Daleks!

I've just had a email, from Marjorie Dawes (Fat fighters, Little Britain) She thinks the new Daleks may need some help!!!

I'm pretty conservative w.r.t. Dr Who but welcomed the Ecclestone Daleks and even the WWII style daleks too, but these new ones are about as scary as a collection of snooker balls.

Can we have a great big Dalek civil war and kill off these imposter 'Giant Toy' daleks?

Let's face it, you'll never top the Ecclestone Dalek design for a few years yet - it's a knockout design and you know it - so keep it!

If you want to change the Dalek, come up with a Spider Dalek and rip off the animation from the movie 'Starship Troopers' when you show 'em.

Scary Dalek Spiders much better at terrifying us than an evening with Steve Davis.

The 2005 updating (refining) of the Dalek design was spot on. These new things arean bomination. Sadly, I can't see the Beeb scrapping them considering the cost of designing and building them. Unless there are enough complaints of course ;-)

The thought of the Doctor fighting space-borne Renault Meganes doesn't appeal. It was bad enough the whole design and backstory of the Cybermen was "re-booted" (and what has happened to the real Cybermen anyway - I thought these new ones were just an alternative universe creation?)

Steven Moffat, you write well but you mess up history (though at least you weren't responsible for the Cybermen!).

Sorry Dave H mate, but our "Stevie wonder boy" must be punished, for his crimes!!!

Come on give Steven a break he has brought the Dalek's back and they actually got away to establish them selves again as credible characters. Russell was obsessed with bring them back in really implausible ways and them finding ridiculous way to kill them all off at the last minute.

I'll admit the new Dalek's lack the classic qualities but take a closer look at the eye stalk and the organic component, I think Steven Moffat is no to a interesting concept.

These Dalek's may well be the new Dalek Council, and the Dalek's are going to create or restore, will look more like the iconic ones we all love so much.

Keep up the good work Steven my children and I think your doing a great job

Steven Moffat, you have been found guilty of crimes against the "Whoniverse" and "Dalekkind."

Tomorrow at dawn, you will been taken to a to the Dalek parade ground, tied to post and "EXTERMANATED"!!!!!

May god have mercy, on your miserable soul!!!!

The Daleks are the new Teletubbies!

Except not quite as frightening. Terry Nation must be turning in his grave...

"Victory of the Daleks" ? Embarrassment of the Daleks, more like. Gimme strength...

Trite, shallow, unimaginative writing. Shame on you, Mark Gatiss.

Entirely CGI-driven "action" sequences that were completely uninvolving.

Cheap, cartoonish characterizations (including one of the worst attempts at a Churchill I've ever seen - he was more like Margaret Rutherford!).

Bizarre, silly design decisions - e.g. why did the "Ironside" Daleks have webbing equipment pouches that they couldn't possibly make use of?

A story set in an era that still lies within the living memory of many, but that treated said history as a toy to be kicked around for cheap laughs - positively insulting!

But worse by far than all of the above.... The NEW DALEKS.

When I first caught sight of them on the cover of this week's Radio Times, I hoped that these pot-ugly excrescences might turn out to be just a temporary one-episode aberration, but no. If what I've just watched is anything to go by, from now on this is what we are supposed to accept as a Dalek: a bloated, candy-coloured PLASTIC TOY.

I suspect that the re-design is driven by a desire to make them less cramped and uncomfortable for the operators, and to enable the tech/FX department to stuff them with batteries, computer/radio control circuitry and hydraulics. Whatever the reasoning, though, they have finished up completely ruining a classic, iconic design. WHY?

Come back, Russell T Davies - save us!

Stephen. you have gone to far with the redsign of the daleks. they are supposed to be the most feared creatures in the universe. not Showwaddywaddy in time and space. i have watched the series since the early sixties and trust me these are not Daleks. you have ruined a cult icon, a design classic. enough is enough. its a shame really as you started out so well. but i think it is time to give the show a miss from now on.

I detest the new dalek design and hope there is a strong petition to Stephen Moffet to bring back the original iconic design. The new daleks look obese!

The new Daleks are rubbish. The 2005 Daleks had new bells and whistles but retained the basic and esssential winning formula of the Dalek shape. But these new ones are just awful, and I will probably be giving the Dalek episodes a miss now, after some 43 years of watching them. Well done Mr Moffat!

I have always been more of a "Dalek" fan than a "Dr Who" fan (I appreciate that seems odd,..as you can't really have one without the other!),...and agree that the basic design had to be up-dated when the series came back to TV with Ecclestone at the helm,....and what a FABULOUS Dalek came from the design team.....perfect in every way!

I cannot say how dissapointed I am with these latest creations,....like over-grown plastic baby toys,...with a design that is trying so hard to look contemporary and slick...dreadfull! As someone else mentioned, they look like a joke!

The new look of the Daleks seems to have nothing to do with any previous Dalek shape. Yes they are larger - like the movie Daleks, but the movie Daleks weren't hunch backed and the colours used for the Daleks were quite metallic - not plasticy. If they'd taken the RTD daleks colured them appropriately and mounted them on a much thicker bumper they would have had something that was a real homage to the early Daleks and really impressive.

Doctor who has made a lot of bad decisions we all tend to ignore. But after what i saw emerge from the smoke on that Dalek ship, I felt something die.....I think i even heard the gunshot Moffat had self inflicted to his head..

Sorry, they look like they've had all the sharp edges removed so they'll be safe for little hands. Or possibly for more adult past times. Please change the Daleks back.

I have a 4yo and a 7yo, both think they are great. Why wouldn't Daleks from original DNA look simplistic. Wait and see there is more to come

In 2005 the Dalek was redesigned to look heavier, more angular, more threataning. Now, five years later they've been made plastic, colourful and cuddly. I do hope these new ones aren't used again. Or better yet, burned and all knowledge of them denied.

The new Daleks, Red and Yellow, and Pink and Green. Orange, and Purple, and Blue. I can sing a Dalek, sing a Dalek, sing a Dalek too!!! LOL

Just a thought, about "the plot", the Doctor is the Daleks oldest enemy.

So why don't they just EXTERMANATE him, instead of having a debate with him, every time they meet.?????

I thought the new Daleks was a late April Fool, yes I did honest !!!!

EXTERMINATE Steve Moffat, EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE EXTERMINATE!!!!!!!

I Hate the new Dalek design, they look like cheap toys, and keep on wobbling LOL. They most have cost at least a tenner to build LOL.

The best Dalek design was from the Chase, thought, to Evil of Daleks, now that was the best!!

"I bet they call it retro" - well, maybe we are lucky and they will find their own way to evolve a proper design

Love the new interior of the TARDIS & love the old Exterior of the TARDIS now being used but what the hell have they done to the Daleks ? I have no problem with the colour's or the size, however what is going on with the mid section which does not seem to be able to turn anymore boo hoo due to the ugly black rubber bumper car after thought.They also have very little surface detail making them look very toy like. I Loved the British army Daleks they looked so cool with the webbing and union flag.

I hope that by the time the Daleks make another appearance that the design team has had a re-think.

Were the new Daleks designed by Fisher Price?

The new Daleks are a big mistake. They look cheap and nasty and basically seem to be a marketing ploy to churn out a new range of Dalek merchandise. Russell T Davies please come back....What next...a new design of Cyberman.

In loved, the "Chase" designed daleks best!!!

Dear Oh Dear? The new Dalek Design is like turning a classic MG into a Mini Metro and whats with all the different colours? Are they Power Ranger Daleks? This episode seemed to be rushed with no real in depth story just like the design of the new Dalek. Like the old saying goes.....If it aint broke don't try to fix it!

Dear Oh Dear? The new Dalek Design is like turning a classic MG into a Mini Metro and whats with all the different colours? Are they Power Ranger Daleks? This episode seemed to be rushed with no real in depth story just like the design of the new Dalek. Like the old saying goes.....If it aint broke don't try to fix it!

I think the design of the Daleks follows the whole retro trend of this new series. They are rebooted, pure Daleks going back to the Mk1 models without all the modifications that have been thrown in since Mk3 onwards. I do suspect though that further into the series there could well be a return of the Daleks from the void and an old vs new Dalek battle on the cards…

So they have redesigned the Daleks, big deal. Like everything else about the series they have been redesigned several times since their first days when William Hartnell was the doctor. It makes more sense they would evolve over time. I agree with Dave though, it would be nice to see the old designes ocassionally, give some sense of time travel. I quite like the colours, reminds me of the Daleks from the classic era with their coloure schemes.

The new design is just terrible. It's clearly driven by the idea of selling new toys, which is a disgrace. They also look just like cheap clunky plastic toys from the 60's, full of bent clumsy angles, no surface features. They've ruined a design classic. utterly dreadful.

theyre traditional to the classic design plus theyre freaking huge and they got that new eye stalk, i love em. i really do wish the cybermen get rebooted too though

Having watched the new episode tonight and really looking forward to a new Dalek adventure, I found the new designs to be awful. The previous design was a very clean up-to-date look based on all earlier series versions. It had a 'how it should be' look about it. These are overly large, bulky, obese and simplistic looking. No finesse. They really look like big early learning toys (or Teletubbies!) I agree completely with John Marshall's post - these are just wrong! Please please ditch them and go back to the others!

the new design for the Dalek shown tonight is absolutely awful - it has lost everything that defines a dalek. Who signed off this new rubbish designed dalek as a good idea - find them and have them sacked. If the new design is not removed and the original iconic design (with pretty good / fair reincarn when Eccleston took over) brought back, I for one will never watch the prgramme again.

New Daleks - rubbish. Looks like the mini after BMW got hold of it. Plastic and utter rubbish

Incredible! You must be myopic they are dreadful like plastic toys its like having a Aston Martin redesigned with the shape all wrong you lose the beauty. I do agree the series so far looks promising but make a mess of the daleks and all that work will be wasted. Redesigns work best if they are changed slowly keeping the best bits and tweaking the weak, i'm afraid they have tweaked the whole thing in the wrong direction and ended up with a badly shaped mess.

Please for heaven's sake, get over it!! These Daleks look incredible, yes it's a shame they have revealed them already, however all Dalek stories have the word Dalek in the title somewhere, hence they have never been that much of a suprise. All the best stories from RTD's Who, were written by Moffat and i think he has done an incredible job of revamping the series. Any mention of Nathan Turner is a joke....so the Daleks have had a revamp...at least the Doctor isnt being grilled by Lynda Bellingham and hanging out with Ken Dodd!!

The new design daleks are terrible. The dalek design is iconic ~ and you don't mess with an icon! I can't believe it. RTD got it right when he brought them back with very little changes, but now...they just look stupid. Love the new Doctor but the daleks, the tardis, and the new music....dear oh dear! At this rate we'll soon be wanting John Nathan Turner back....

The new dalek design is terrible all the proportions are wrong, what made the original work (and the last revamp work) was the shape was right from the start, all the angles worked this is awful. Can't they see it looks wrong, the last revamp worked because it was based on the original design.

Being born in 1960. I used to hide behide the sofa when the Daleks came on TV. To me now they look surprisingly old school engineering. But can you imagine being a child of 6-7 seeing them for the 1st time as Mat Smith's Doctor confronts them? The stuff that nightmares are made of...?

Well, the Radio Times have gone and spoiled the new Dalek design by publishing it on the front cover before the 'reveal' episode has aired. Well done, idiots!

They've made them chunkier and bigger.... New cover of the Radio Times wil reveal all

I love the normal Dalek design, it would be great if there was a different design as well.They could fight each other, like in the 1988 Doctor Who episode:Remembrance of the Daleks...

I like the union jack

Nice to hear, there is only one Dalek that doesnt look like a Dalek that should be redesigned, the Special Weapons Dalek from "Rememberance", that thing was awesome

Change the Daleks enough; they will fight each other for not being genetically Dalek/Kelad's.

Debating the dilemma of Dalek design, of whether to diverge from the distressing dimensions of their dark, dangerous and deliciously devilish demenour? Only a degree of daftness would dictate digression from the original design. Don't dabble with the Daleks, or the Doctor will have to duel with Davros to defend us from destruction.

Instead of redoing the Daleks, why not have new variants of them, say one with jet packs or extra weapons. Or perhaps even a Dalek exo-suit that a dalek could "plug into". Or they could merge ala Transformers style. ^_^

What has common sense got to do with their design? They're daft but we love them.Even though they'll never take over the world. Give them a set of stairs....and tey'd be stuffed!

Re design of the Tardis or Daleks dosent make sense, they are suppoosed to be able to skip through time and space, so how would that paradox work? Otherwise it would be old style in some episodes and new in others. No, dont re design, keep the scripts and look true to the originals

if they do revamp the Dalek look, they should only make ne new dalek and put it in a episode with no original dalek's, and if the audiance like it change it, and if not, just go back to the original.

I love how modern technology has obliterated the premise of so many films and programmes.. could Leonardo di Caprio have hidden away on The Beach with Google peering in?

Likewise in the case of the Daleks. In the days of ubiquitous wireless communications where does their need to communicate with one another by spoken english, come from? Luckily they haven't cottoned on to this major security issue but perhaps this comment should be deleted before they find out.

go to you tube an watch the cut seen's of mock the week worth a watch