'We Don't Know What's Happening Yet,' Doctor Who Showrunner Admits, as Series' Immediate Future Hangs in the Balance

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has said helium inactive doesn't cognize whether the bid volition beryllium renewed for a caller play successful the contiguous future, arsenic the flagship BBC show's presumption grows progressively unclear.

Amid a mixed effect to Doctor Who's existent era, and a increasing consciousness that Disney's caller co-production woody volition not beryllium renewed, fans person been near waiting to find retired if and erstwhile the seasoned sci-fi bid volition return.

The series' astir caller finale ended with the departure of its prima Ncuti Gatwa, successful a series added during aboriginal reshoots, and an unexplained regeneration cliffhanger featuring Billie Piper, with her authoritative presumption arsenic the adjacent Doctor near up for debate. Now, Davies has said adjacent helium is uncertain what volition hap next.

Writing successful the latest contented of Doctor Who Magazine, successful a regular file wherever the showrunner reveals details of the series' ongoing production, Davies admitted determination was small presently to cover.

"We don't cognize what's happening yet," Davies admitted, "and portion everyone works that out, I'll instrumentality a intermission connected this page... Hopefully, we'll person quality soon."

In a connection to Variety, a accumulation root confirmed the amusement was presently connected a "pause."

Analysis of Doctor Who's viewing figures by Variety shows a diminution of 500,000 viewers from Gatwa's archetypal play to the next, with the epoch down a further 1.7 cardinal viewers from episodes starring erstwhile Doctor Jodie Whittaker.

Davies has antecedently claimed the program had ever been for Disney to determine whether to proceed co-financing caller episodes of Doctor Who aft the decision of its latest season. However, the showrunner has besides said the program was for a caller play of Doctor Who to beryllium made connected an yearly ground — and it's wide from the existent accumulation hiatus that this is nary longer the case.

Next up for Doctor Who fans is simply a spin-off miniseries, The War Between The Land and The Sea, which has already been filmed and is expected to debut successful 2026. Last week, the BBC announced aboriginal plans for different spin-off — an animated bid for UK children's transmission CBeebies — but with a accumulation spouse yet to beryllium found, this sounds adjacent further off. There's besides nary connection connected which Doctor this volition absorption connected — oregon whether the quality volition adjacent appear.

With nary motion of accumulation resuming connected the main Doctor Who bid successful the adjacent future, fans expect caller episodes of the bid volition present not look until 2027.

Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Newt successful Somerset & Burberry.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social