BBC Confirms Doctor Who Will Return to TV in 2026 but Disney+ Deal Ends; Is It Goodbye to Russell T Davies?
The BBC has announced that Doctor Who will return to our screens next Christmas with a special episode and a new series, marking its renewal after a tumultuous period on the show. However, fans are buzzing about the departure of Disney+ from the international streaming deal for the long-running sci-fi drama.
In the wake of Disney's exit, Lindsay Salt, director of drama at the BBC, expressed her gratitude to their global partners and collaborators, acknowledging that they were an excellent partnership over the past two seasons. The press release did not confirm whether showrunner Russell T Davies will return, a move he made two years ago after helming the 60th anniversary specials in 2023.
The news comes as Doctor Who continues to face production challenges, including reported difficulties behind the scenes and controversies surrounding Ncuti Gatwa's departure from the lead role after just 18 episodes. His decision necessitated reshoots of the season finale, with some crew members expressing frustration over the changes made without consulting them.
Disney+ ending its association with Doctor Who undoubtedly has an impact on the BBC's budget for the program, which had previously struggled to compete in terms of viewership and ratings. The recent series episodes drew fewer than 2 million viewers live on BBC One, a historic low for the show, and even iPlayer views after seven days failed to reach 4 million.
The question remains as to whether Russell T Davies will continue at the helm of the show or if he'll be replaced by someone else. The uncertainty surrounding his future role in Doctor Who has sparked debate among fans and raised concerns about the show's long-term prospects.
The BBC is expected to announce plans for the next series soon, ensuring that the iconic Time Lord remains at the heart of the network.
The BBC has announced that Doctor Who will return to our screens next Christmas with a special episode and a new series, marking its renewal after a tumultuous period on the show. However, fans are buzzing about the departure of Disney+ from the international streaming deal for the long-running sci-fi drama.
In the wake of Disney's exit, Lindsay Salt, director of drama at the BBC, expressed her gratitude to their global partners and collaborators, acknowledging that they were an excellent partnership over the past two seasons. The press release did not confirm whether showrunner Russell T Davies will return, a move he made two years ago after helming the 60th anniversary specials in 2023.
The news comes as Doctor Who continues to face production challenges, including reported difficulties behind the scenes and controversies surrounding Ncuti Gatwa's departure from the lead role after just 18 episodes. His decision necessitated reshoots of the season finale, with some crew members expressing frustration over the changes made without consulting them.
Disney+ ending its association with Doctor Who undoubtedly has an impact on the BBC's budget for the program, which had previously struggled to compete in terms of viewership and ratings. The recent series episodes drew fewer than 2 million viewers live on BBC One, a historic low for the show, and even iPlayer views after seven days failed to reach 4 million.
The question remains as to whether Russell T Davies will continue at the helm of the show or if he'll be replaced by someone else. The uncertainty surrounding his future role in Doctor Who has sparked debate among fans and raised concerns about the show's long-term prospects.
The BBC is expected to announce plans for the next series soon, ensuring that the iconic Time Lord remains at the heart of the network.
...I mean, come on, 18 episodes and already Ncuti Gatwa had to leave? That's some major reshooting drama 
. And now with Disney+ out of the picture, I hope the BBC can get a better handle on their budget and production issues...it's been pretty rocky lately 
. Can't wait for that next series though - fingers crossed they iron out all the kinks!
. I know the budget's gonna change now, but I'm curious if it'll affect the quality of the show too 
. What's gonna happen to Russell T Davies? Is he outta there for good? 
I'm all about getting more Whovian content on our screens 
... hope they can pull off a great series after this change-up! 
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. If they do decide to replace him, who knows if the show will be the same? But fingers crossed they can get some new blood in and keep the magic going 
. And let's be real, 2026 is gonna be a big year for Doctor Who - I'm kinda hyped about it 
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. Now we're back to not knowing if Russell T Davies is coming back or what. It's like, can't the BBC just give us some stability on this show? 
Plus, Ncuti Gatwa's departure was a bit of a weird move... reshooting whole scenes without crew input? That sounds super frustrating 
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. Doctor Who is such an iconic show, I don't want anyone to ruin it for me 
. Fingers crossed they'll make some smart decisions and keep it going strong 
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. And let's be real, Russell T Davies has got some 'splainin' to do if he thinks he can just waltz back in and expect everyone to welcome him with open arms 
. The BBC needs to think long-term here, not just short-sighted 
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. Maybe they'll get someone new who can shake things up a bit? 
. Fingers crossed the BBC can make some magic happen and keep Doctor Who going strong 
. And, yeah, Disney+ departure will definitely impact the budget - can't help but wonder how they'll make it work with fewer resources 
The BBC needs to get its budget back on track and focus on making a top-notch show, not stressing about streaming it on some other platform. I mean, Doctor Who's all about the TV experience, you know? The special episode next Christmas sounds promising, but what happens after that is anyone's guess. Will RTD come back or leave again? 
. The uncertainty around Russell T Davies' future is a bit worrisome tho 
. Fingers crossed that he'll stay on board, but if not, I'm sure whoever takes over will do an amazing job 
anyway hopefully russell t davies will come back, he's like the face of doctor who and it would be a major letdown if he didn't return. also, what happened to ncuti gatwa btw? i know things didn't work out but u never know what could've been 
lets just hope the next series gets it together and is back to its former glory 
. I'm hoping the BBC will use this opportunity to re-evaluate their strategy and make some changes that will help bring back the show's former glory 
As for Russell T Davies' fate, I think it's too early to speculate on whether he'll return or not. The show needs someone who can revive its former glory and attract new viewers. 
After all, the show has been on the air for over 50 years, and it's time for a fresh perspective.