The BBC has moved to quash speculation over the future of Doctor Who, insisting the long-running sci-fi series is not going anywhere despite the end of its co-production deal with Disney. Kate Phillips, the BBC’s new chief content officer, confirmed at the Edinburgh TV Festival that the corporation remains fully committed to the show, with or without the streaming giant.
“Rest assured, Doctor Who is going nowhere,” Phillips said. “Disney has been a great partnership — and it continues with The War Between The Land And The Sea next year — but going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC … The Tardis is going nowhere.” Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s director of scripted, echoed the sentiment, noting that the programme continues to perform well with younger audiences.
Concerns had been mounting following a drop in ratings for the latest season, which averaged 3.2 million viewers across eight episodes — half a million fewer than last season and 1.7 million down from Jodie Whittaker’s final outing in 2021. The figures, analysed by Deadline using Barb data, show a continuing decline, though broadcasters often prefer 28-day viewing totals.
Showrunner Russell T Davies had said in June that the show’s future was uncertain, and Ncuti Gatwa has now confirmed he is leaving the role. The season finale saw Gatwa’s Doctor regenerate into Billie Piper’s character Rose Tyler, an unexpected twist. A spin-off, The War Between The Land And The Sea, produced by Bad Wolf, is set to air next year.
Despite the ratings dip and Gatwa’s exit, Phillips stressed that Doctor Who remains a key part of the BBC’s schedule. “The Tardis is going nowhere,” she reiterated, offering reassurance to fans that the programme will continue in some form, regardless of Disney’s involvement.
