Following the news that the Doctor Who Christmas special has been cancelled and showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Robot have departed the series, it seems like a rocky road is ahead for the sci-fi show.
The BBC has announced it has been put out to tender, allowing other production companies to bid for work on the long-running series. Now, according to a new report from Deadline, this may mean the show is off air for several years.
Citing industry insiders, it seems like the earliest it could be back on screens is 2028. This is an early estimate too, with another insider predicting it will be off air for five years or more.
There could be more problems on the horizon, as Deadline suggested that several respected UK production companies have already shared their reservations about the potential of bidding for the Doctor Who rights.
One producer was quoted as saying that "you would have to be mad" to take on Doctor Who, as another said it's a "bit of a nightmare for any producer in this market with the shadow of the Disney fallout."
However, it's not all doom and gloom, as another person named as "close to Doctor Who" compared the show to other huge franchises. They told Deadline: "If you look at the longevity of Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, these are valuable commodities over generations. The BBC is lucky to have one of these, and this should be no more than a bump in the road if they approach it properly."
Davies was optimistic about the show's future in his Instagram post announcing his departure. "Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new," he wrote on social media.
The sky, or the galaxy we should say, is the limit. For more on what's heading to our screens in 2026 and beyond, check out our guide to all of the new TV shows in the making.
