Is this the end of Doctor Who? Almost certainly. For a few years, at least.
Production has come to an end on Doctor Who with no new episodes planned
Just over a year ago the BBC aired the finale of series 15 of the current run of Doctor Who titles. Produced in partnership with Disney, the episode aired at the end of what had been a rocky few years for the franchise.
The episode ended on a cliffhanger with the titular doctor regenerating as former assistant Rose Tyler (Billie Piper). Kids across the fandom were left with mouth agape.
But it turns out that there was no real plan for what that casting would mean for the show. 2025 would not see the annual Doctor Who Christmas special. Even in years where there was no new season of the show, the BBC released a Christmas special. There has been one almost every year since the 2005 reboot. It appears that all the talk of one planned for this year was just that.
The BBC has confirmed that the current run of the show is done and that the show is being put out to “competitive tender.”
Disney had previously announced it was exiting the partnership, but with today’s news, it means showrunner Russell T Davies and producer Bad Wolf are both gone.
Davies released a statement by way of Instagram:
“And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender. As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it.
You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it! For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.”
The official Doctor Who website, operated by BBC Studios, published its statement confirming the current situation:
As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.
After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode. This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.
The previously announced new Doctor Who animation series for CBeebies is currently in production.
Details of the tender will be announced in due course.
The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC.
So, what now? Nobody really knows. The BBC will shop around for a partner. The best case scenario would be for a highly monied partner like Netflix getting involved, somewhat mirroring its recent deal to bring Sesame Street to the streaming service.
The likely scenario, if it is to come back, will involve a much smaller production and distribution partner that isn’t attached to a global streaming service with TV sales handled the old-fashioned way.
It feels like too big an IP to just leave sitting on the shelf for too long. But it seems almost certain that it’ll be quite a few years before the Doctor Who machine ramps up again.
News Desk
Jennifer Lawrence has been revealed as the Bravo “super fan” that helped find the Summer House Reunion audio leaker. So, not only is Lawrence anti dogs, but she’s also a bit of a cop. Read: Deadline
Joining the cast of animated series Get Jiro!, based on the Anthony Bordain graphic novels, is Titus Welliver, Alison Pill, and Justin Kirk. Read: Deadline
The ACCC in Australia has given the greenlight to the Paramount Skydance acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery. Read: THR
Ahead of The Hollywood Reporter’s launch in Australia (local publishers are licensing the brand from PMC), it broke a big scoop announcing Patrick Brammall as the host of The Logie Awards. THR AU then pulled the scoop off its Instagram channel when the news broke that the host will actually be Crocodile Hunter scion Robert Irwin. Off to a cracking start. Read: Mumbrella
When Dr Javadi returns to The Pitt in season three she will be on a psychiatry rotation and not in the ER. Read: EW
The Adam Friedland Podcast is making the move to Spotify. Read: Variety
Among those joining the cast of the live-action Scooby-Doo: Origins series for Netflix are Sara Gilbert, Rusty Schwimmer, and Sherilyn Fenn. No word yet on who will be playing the amusement park owner with a secret. Read: thefutoncritic
Jennifer Saunders and Sharon Horgan are among those joining the cast of Only Murders in The Building for season 6, which is set in London. Read: thefutoncritic
Edgar Ramírez is joining the cast of HBO series Task for season 2. Read: Deadline
The Disney+ release date for Avatar: Fire and Ash has been brought forward three days to June 24. A reminder that the film made a mere $1.485 billion at the box office. Read: Polygon
Season 2 of Diarra From Detroit, a show I have keenly been waiting to see launch in Australia, will debut globally on Paramount+ July 29. Which, presumably means the first season will also be available globally…? Read: thefutoncritic
Michele Hennessy has departed Apple TV to take on a new role at Mattel as senior director of kids and preschool animation for TV and digital. Read: C21
Trailer Park
The Walking Dead: Dead City returns to AMC for season 3 July 26.
Salcedo, Leather, and Boogaloo debuts on Netflix July 8.
Martín Salcedo is rarely swept off his feet - until Verónica Pinilla and Quiebra Canto turn up the party, booze and danger.
Lock Upp debuts on Netflix 27 June.
14 celebrity inmates face judgement day in a new-age prison, where a game of power and redemption determines who stays or goes.
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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