Disney+ will become the new global home for upcoming seasons of Doctor Who outside the UK and Ireland, BBC will remain the exclusive home of Doctor Who in the UK.
The announcement, first made by the next Doctor Ncuti Gatwa on Live with Kelly and Ryan, begins a new collaboration between BBC and Disney Branded Television to transform Doctor Who into a global franchise for UK audiences and the rest of the world.
. @bbcdoctorwho is coming to @DisneyPlus! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/12Qr8Zjalq
— LIVEKellyRyan (@LiveKellyRyan) October 25, 2022
Past and current Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies released a statement about the new partnership.
“I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”
Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, Executive Producers and Co-founders at Bad Wolf, the new Doctor Who Production company said:
“For Doctor Who to have the backing of two of the most innovative and respected media organizations in the world is a testament to the unique drive and vision at the heart of this show. Bad Wolf are beyond delighted to be once again working with the genius that is Russell T Davies and, with the exciting new partnership between the BBC and Disney, we can together reach to even greater heights, producing from Wolf Studios Wales ambitious stories through time and space for audiences across the globe.”
Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content Officer said:
“We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world. Russell T Davies’ vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy the Doctor’s epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve. Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it’s an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world.”
Alisa Bowen, President, Disney+ said:
“We’re excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalogue of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”
A new, albeit familiarly retro, Doctor Who logo was unveiled for the announcement, featuring the word Doctor in a curved banner and the world Who highlighted by a warm light. The words sit on top of a diamond-shaped symbol, all in TARDIS blue.
Three new episodes celebrating the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ beginning in November 2023 for fans all over the world. David Tennant will play the fourteenth Doctor for the 60th Anniversary specials before Ncuti Gatwa takes over the role as the fifteenth Doctor over the 2023 festive season.