As part of the BBC Charter & Agreement the BBC has posted its Invitation to Tender (ITT) for qualified independent production companies to pitch for contract to produce Doctor Who for a multi-episodic series (including specials) for transmission in 2028/2029.

Surprisingly, the offer is for only one series of Doctor Who with an option to extend the contract at the BBC’s discretion. The number of episodes per series was not specified.

In an interview on Gaydio, most recent and former showrunner Russell T Davies explained why he thinks the Doctor Who tendering process should inherently point toward a multi-year future rather than a single series.

I think – and I’m not in charge of this process – that means, many years ahead, no-one’s going to… apply for a tender for one year. It’s not worth it… You got to lock it in just to make it financially worthwhile!”

Eligible production companies will need to qualify as a regional production under specific Ofcom criteria and will be expected to establish a production base in the agreed region ‒ with a preference for Wales.

Tender applicants are not permitted to seek information from prior Doctor Who producers BBC Studios or Bad Wolf Ltd, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Tender Manager.

The maximum budget contribution by BBC Content for each series is not available in the ITT but will be provided to verified shortlisted production companies via an NDA agreement. The ITT document mentions the likely possibility third party investor/distributor. Eligible interested suppliers will be invited to have a detailed discussion with the distributor prior to the final interview with the BBC.

A plan to develop actors, as well as writers, directors and other off-screen roles on the title will need to be submitted as part of any proposal. At this stage of the process, it is not a requirement to formally attach a writer though one could be suggested in a submission. The BBC is not necessarily looking to work to a strict showrunner model and would expect a production to employ episodic writers. Aside from the central character of the Doctor, competitors will need to develop at least one distinctive, accessible, fully-realized companion for the series.

The BBC describes the commission as a new flagship series of Doctor Who. It should feel contemporary, creatively ambitious and appeal to all generations while remaining true to the series values and characteristics.

“We see this pitch as an exciting opportunity to innovate and surprise us. Stories should balance high concept science fiction with strong emotional narratives, ensuring that spectacle is always grounded in character and human experience. Episodes should transport audiences to extraordinary times and places, ranging from historical settings to distant futures, alien worlds, and contemporary Earth. Successful pitches will deliver ‘back of the sofa’ scares, jeopardy and tension, whilst remaining suitable for a broad family audience. Doctor Who embraces themes that celebrate curiosity, courage, intelligence, and compassion, themes that interrogate the human condition and most of all, it should and will always be distinctively British storytelling. We are flexible in the way the series is structured i.e. serialised or ‘story-of-the-week’ and the number of episodes which make up the series.”

“Iconic, established villains are a mainstay of the series over 60 years and we invite you to use them, but we will want to begin to get an understanding of the original characters, aliens and themes that producers wish to bring to the show and are keen not to be overly reliant on existing Doctor Who lore. We are looking for a new perspective that ensures Doctor Who remains relevant, surprising, brave and inspiring for both long-standing fans and new audiences.”

The process will begin with interested suppliers (tenderers) submitting an eligibility application with the intention to select a longlist of suppliers which best meet the criteria. The deadline for this is 2 October 2026 with the chosen longlisted tenderers notified on 9 October 2026.

Longlisted tenderers will then submit a first pitch of no more than three pages with a brief editorial outline for a new multi-episode series, including ideas for specials by 23 October 2026.

Tenderers who submit a first pitch will be notified on 6 November 2026 whether or not they made the shortlist. Shortlisted tenderers will be provided with more information, invited to a tender briefing on 13 November 2026, then invited to submit a comprehensive editorial pitch by early December 2026.

In January 2027, tenderers will be issued any relevant areas of focus and engage in distribution conversations and interviews.

The announcement of the successful pitch for the Doctor Who tender is set to occur some time in March 2027.