I've talked about this in meetings. For all the 70s cop of show of it, Life on Mars WAS a sci-fi show. And one of the best and most effective moments was when they turned off the lights in a creepy way. I get British budgets are tighter but there's a way to do big ideas in small ways.
I hate that Who is seen as the only viable British terrestrial TV vehicle that can carry science fiction. They should use this lull to develop something new that doesn't come with the dead weight of historical baggage and toxic fandom.