Has Doctor Who’s Next Production Partner Just Revealed Itself?

BBC Studios has confirmed that it will aggressively compete to produce the next era of Doctor Who when the series is put out to tender.

BBC Studios is the BBC’s commercial production and distribution arm. It operates separately from the licence fee-funded public service BBC, which commissions and broadcasts the programme.

Speaking to Deadline, CEO Tom Fussell made clear that the company intends to fight for the contract.

“We’ve been the producer for 60 years and we want to be the producer for another 60 years so we will be going for that tender with gusto,” he said. “We are in it to win it.”

Fussell did not reveal which BBC Studios label would enter the competition, or whether more than one of its production teams could submit a proposal.

“We’ve got the full breadth of our studio to look at that and we will do the best for an absolute adored brand,” he said.

He added: “As the distributor and commercial licensor [of Doctor Who] we understand those fan relationships and can build on that. Doctor Who is something that people in this organization care passionately about.”

BBC Director-General Matt Brittin also reassured fans that the current production changes do not mark the end of the programme.

“That’s a show that has regenerated multiple times in its 60-plus year history, and we’ll do so again,” he said.

“I think that’s one of the great things about the 100-year history of the BBC. We can do that, and we can creatively renew shows that people love, and we’ll be working hard on that right now.”

Still, even with this update, industry sources cited by Deadline believe 2028 may be the earliest realistic date for Doctor Who to return, with some suggesting the break could last longer.