In an interview with Radio Times, former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, who is in contact with recent showrunner Russell T Davies, suggested that a decision on future series of Doctor Who will have to wait until its spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea transmits in 2026.

“The spin-off’s been shot and I imagine decisions don’t get taken until that’s gone out, and that’s not for a while. But it’s always painful when it’s off the air. I think there’s a national duty for the BBC to make Doctor Who.”

In July 2024, Russell T Davies said the decision on future series of Doctor Who would come some time after Season Two of the programme completed transmission in May 2025.

“It’s an industry decision, it’s like any business — these things take time. I think the decision will come after the transmission of Season Two. That’s what we’re expecting, that’s what we’ve always been heading towards.”

Is Moffat’s impression correct? He says he has “no idea” — yet he reports being in contact with Davies.

“I don’t have any inside information and I’m only vaguely in touch with Russell [T Davies] and we’re usually talking about the fact we’re both working for Channel 4 at the moment [series in development Tiptoe and Number 10]. I don’t know what the future is. I hope there is one. I have no idea.”

With an uncertain future for a programme they’ve both worked on and loved, it’s difficult to imagine the subject wouldn’t come up when a recent and former Doctor Who showrunner are in communication.

Doctor Who Season Two completed transmission in May 2025. The War Between the Land and the Sea isn’t slated to transmit until some time in 2026. If Moffat isn’t mistaken, fans have a longer wait than previously reported. To have decisions on a programme’s future depend on the reception of its spin-off seems illogical and unfair.