After months of speculation, Disney+ is officially moving away Doctor Who. The streaming giant’s partnership with the BBC, which helped revive the legendary sci-fi series for a new generation, will end after two seasons and the upcoming spin-off. The war between land and sea.
The BBC confirmed it Doctor Who will continue to fly the TARDIS flag alone, with a new Christmas special set for 2026, written by the returning showrunner Russell T. Davies. The network also teased other upcoming announcements, including details on the next full season and a new Doctor Who animation for preschoolers.
BBC director Lindsay Salt praised Disney’s contribution, saying: “We would like to thank Disney for being an exceptional partner and collaborator globally over the last two seasons, and on the upcoming The War Between Land and Sea.”
Salt reaffirmed the BBC’s dedication to the series, adding: “The BBC remains fully committed Doctor Whowhich continues to be one of our best-loved dramas, and we’re delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026.
“We can assure fans that the Doctor isn’t going anywhere and we will announce plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC.”
The Disney deal, originally slated for two seasons and a spinoff, covered 26 episodes in total. He reportedly helped increase the show’s budget to around £10 million (around $13.3 million) per episode, one of the largest ever. Doctor Who history. With that funding, Davies brought new energy, crazy storytelling, and some big-name guest stars to the table.
But despite the hype, viewership hasn’t risen to intergalactic heights. While the series has seen a strong creative return, ratings in the UK have been weaker than expected and its performance on Disney+ overseas hasn’t generated the numbers the streamer was likely hoping for.
More than a year ago, some industry insiders hinted that the future of the Disney-BBC partnership was uncertain. That uncertainty grew as season 15 concluded Ncuti Gatwathe fifteenth Doctor, exited the show under a cloud of speculation, later citing burnout as the reason for his departure. The regeneration seemed to return things to a familiar face Billie Piperis Rose Tyler, which sparks a lot of debate among fans.
In Doctor Who magazineDavies himself addressed the uncertain road ahead, writing: “We don’t know what’s happening yet, and while everyone sorts this out, I’ll take a break on this page… Hopefully, we’ll have news soon.”
While the future may have been dark for a while, the BBC always planned for The Doctor to live on, with or without Disney’s backing. Lately, Jane Tranterexecutive producer and head of Bad Wolf Productions, which currently oversees the series, rejected these claims Doctor Who he was “as dead as we’ve ever known him,” calling out a former writer for his negativity.
Tranter’s Bad Wolf studio will continue to produce the Doctor Who Christmas special, while BBC Studios will handle international distribution.
So while Disney+ may be leaving the TARDIS behind, the Doctor’s adventures are far from over. The BBC is once again at the helm of the ship, and with Russell T. Davies still at the helm, fans can expect the universe’s favorite Time Lord to keep running.
Source: deadline
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
