Today, the BBC and Disney Branded Television have joined forces to transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world.
Under a shared creative vision, they will deliver this quintessentially British show to future generations on an unprecedented scale, with Disney+ as the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland.
The announcement — which was made this morning by the next Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, during an appearance on Live with Kelly and Ryan — begins a new collaboration between BBC and Disney Branded Television.
Both partners have aligned under returning showrunner Russell T Davies’ bold vision, who takes control of the TARDIS in 2023. He was responsible for Doctor Who‘s revival in 2005 and is credited with propelling the show into one of TV’s biggest hits.
The new episodes will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ beginning in late 2023 for fans all over the world. The show will be produced in Wales by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios Production.
Russell T Davies says, “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together, we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s chief content officer, says, “We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney, which is the perfect partner to bring this very British show to the rest of the world.
“Russell T Davies’ vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world, and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor’s epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve.”
Moore added: “Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences, so it’s an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world.”
Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+, says, “We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”
Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, says, “Doctor Who has captivated the imaginations of families around the world for the past six decades. We are so excited about this collaboration with the BBC and the opportunity to bring this iconic franchise – and Russell T Davies’ brilliant vision – to life for a huge new global audience. Grab your sonic screwdrivers and prepare to travel through time and space!”
Rebecca Glashow, CEO, Global Distribution, BBC Studios, says, “We’re delighted to join forces with a partner who shares our vision and ambition for one of the most iconic shows in British TV history. This is great news for everyone who loves Doctor Who and for all the new fans we will reach through this powerful partnership.”
Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, Executive Producers and Co-founders of Bad Wolf, say, ” Doctor Who’s having the backing of two of the most innovative and respected media organizations in the world is a testament to the unique drive and vision at the heart of this show.
“Bad Wolf is beyond delighted to be once again working with the genius that is Russell T Davies. With the exciting new partnership between the BBC and Disney, we can reach even greater heights together, producing ambitious stories through time and space for audiences across the globe from Wolf Studios Wales.”
The new episodes of Doctor Who will premiere on Disney+ (and BBC in the UK and Ireland) in November 2023, marking the show’s 60th anniversary.
David Tennant will play the Fourteenth Doctor for three specials before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role of the Fifteenth Doctor over the festive season.
Jenna Busch has written and spoken about movies, TV, video games, and comics all over the Internet for over 15 years, co-hosted a series with Stan Lee, appeared on multiple episodes of “Tabletop,” written comic books, and is a contributing author for the 13 books in the “PsychGeeks” series including “Star Wars Psychology.” She founded the site Legion of Leia and hosted the “Legion” podcast.