Doctor Who Director Says Show “Went Wrong” Under Disney

Director Peter Hoar has delivered a blunt assessment of the show’s short-lived Disney era, suggesting the high-profile co-production failed to deliver despite its improved scale.

Speaking to Deadline while discussing his Blake 7 reboot, Hoar cited Doctor Who as a cautionary example of how bigger budgets do not automatically lead to better storytelling.

The director has previously helmed Doctor Who episodes “A Good Man Goes to War”, alongside last year’s “The Robot Revolution” and “Lucky Day”.

“I don’t think anybody would doubt the skills at the front line of that show but something went wrong,” Hoar told the outlet.

“I think there were lots of areas you could point fingers at but ultimately it wasn’t a better show with more money. And that’s a good thing, because we haven’t got the money anymore, nobody has.”

Hoar framed the Disney partnership as part of a wider industry problem, where ambition and funding have not always aligned.

The director contrasted Doctor Who’s recent struggles with older British sci-fi, arguing that creative intent once mattered more than polish.

Reflecting on Blake’s 7, he said, “The Blake’s 7 story is legendary because they were given the Softly, Softly slot that was intended for police drama with a budget intended for one big set and a few location shoots. At the time it felt like it meant something. Those shows got into my veins. I could tell they didn’t have money but I was able to compartmentalize and enjoy the ride knowing that the sets wobbled.”