- Often referred to as one of the best, if not the best, writers on Doctor Who (1963), his period as script editor on the series, with Philip Hinchcliffe as producer, is also considered by many to be the high point of the entire series. In a poll for Doctor Who (1963) Magazine in 1998, three of the stories voted into the top five were written by Holmes, with the other two being from his period as script editor. In fan site Outpost Gallifrey's 40th Anniversary Poll, five of the serials from his time as script editor were voted by fans into the top ten. Four of the stories voted into the top ten were written by Holmes, including one he wrote under the pseudonym of Stephen Harris. The top three were all written by Holmes.
- His work on Doctor Who (1963) was the subject of the documentary Behind the Sofa: Robert Holmes and Doctor Who (2003).
- Both Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat cited Holmes' writing as an influence on their work on Doctor Who (2005). They both cited Holmes' story "The Ark in Space" as a favourite. Moffat even called him "the man who showed us how to write Doctor Who".
- He was the youngest ever commissioned officer in the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, serving in Burma.
- Russell T. Davies has compared his dialogue in The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Part One (1977) with the work of the esteemed screenwriter Dennis Potter.
- He was the final editor of 'John Bull Magazine'.
- He smoked a pipe.
- He was offered the script editor's position on Blake's 7 (1978). He declined, but he did recommend Chris Boucher for the job. Holmes would write four episodes of the series.
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