Is Doctor Who returning? BBC Studios boss breaks silence on future of the series after Disney pulled out of partnership
A top BBC Studios boss has broken his silence on the future of Doctor Who after Disney confirmed it was ending its lucrative partnership with the BBC.
The legendary sci-fi show last hit screens in May 2025. The episode saw star Ncuti Gatwa depart the show as The 15th Doctor, leaving a massive cliffhanger for fans as the Time Lord appeared to regenerate into Billie Piper, who memorably played former companion Rose Tyler.
However, much to the frustration of fans, the future of the show has been in limbo ever since with no solid news about a new series. Disney, who partnered with the BBC in 2022, announced that it would not be partnering again for future season, leaving question marks over the future of the show on the BBC without Disney’s involvement or budget.
BBC Studio Global Content CEO and Chief Creative Officer Zia Bennett has now broken his silence on the matter. In a new interview with Deadline, Bennett said that he “won’t speak for the BBC” but added that “we’re all in it together” when it comes to the future of the iconic show.
He said: "We’re a big important part of Doctor Who and are all motivated to make sure Doctor Who has a long and flourishing life. We’ve got the Christmas special coming. After that, it’s time for us all to work on it."
Showrunner Russell T Davies previously confirmed that a Christmas Special was due to hit screens in 2026, which will hopefully give fans a much-needed resolution to that shocking cliffhanger. Details of the Christmas episode, which has been penned by Davies, will be revealed closer to the time, including release date.
Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, previously affirmed the broadcaster’s commitment to the flagship show. She said in August 2025: "Any Whovians out there, rest assured – Doctor Who is going nowhere. Disney has been a great partnership... but, going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC."
The appearance of Billie Piper in the closing moments of series 15 of the show offered up a massive cliffhanger for fans. With no explanation yet as to why The Doctor has seemingly regenerated into a face resembling their old companion, Doctor Who viewers will be hoping that any future installments will answer this question.
After rejoining the show, Piper said: “It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there. So to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see."