Disney+ Calls It Quits With Doctor Who (Official)

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After months of questions about its future, Disney+ has ended its partnership with Doctor Who, but the show is still in good shape. The BBC, which has been the home of Doctor Who for nearly 60 years, has teamed up with Disney+ for a new co-production deal. This deal includes 26 episodes total: three special episodes celebrating the show’s 60th anniversary with David Tennant, two full seasons and two holiday episodes starring Ncuti Gatwa, and a new spin-off series called The War Between the Land and the Sea, which will be released at a later date.

The official Doctor Who website has revealed what’s next for the show. The BBC has confirmed that Disney+ will not be involved in the upcoming season, bringing their two-year collaboration – which included 26 episodes – to an end.

Ever since the second season of Doctor Who finished in May, Disney+ hasn’t made a clear decision about continuing its partnership with the BBC. This lack of clarity has disrupted plans for yearly new seasons and appears to have contributed to Ncuti Gatwa’s departure after the recent finale, “The Reality War.”

Lindsay Salt, the BBC’s Director of Drama, expressed gratitude to Disney+ for their collaboration on the most recent two seasons of Doctor Who, calling them “terrific global partners.”

We’re grateful to Disney+ for their fantastic partnership and collaboration over the last two seasons, and we appreciate their continued support for our upcoming special, The War Between the Land and the Sea.

Salt confirmed that the BBC is still completely dedicated to Doctor Who and is thrilled to announce another fantastic Christmas special is planned for 2026.

As a huge Doctor Who fan, I’m thrilled to hear the BBC is still completely dedicated to the show! It’s fantastic news that Russell T Davies is writing another Christmas special for 2026 – he really understands what makes the Doctor special. The BBC has reassured us that the Doctor isn’t going anywhere, and they’ll be sharing details about the next series soon, promising the TARDIS will remain a central part of the BBC’s programming. It’s a relief and I’m really excited to see what they come up with next!

Doctor Who will return to the BBC with a Christmas special in 2026, written by showrunner Russell T. Davies. Details about the next season will be revealed later to keep the Doctor’s adventures going.

The announcement also revealed that a five-part spin-off series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, will launch later this year. The show, which focuses on UNIT, is still planned to air on BBC One and iPlayer in the U.K. and Ireland, and on Disney+ everywhere else, as previously agreed.

Find out more about Doctor Who‘s more mature spin-off coming in 2025.

Doctor Who’s Future Is Finally Clear, And It’s Looking Better

The future of Doctor Who was unclear at the end of Season 2, leading to a slightly unexpected finale that was largely shaped by last-minute reshoots. A particularly disappointing development was Ncuti Gatwa, known for Sex Education, leaving the show after only two seasons. This was followed by the unexpected return of Billie Piper, who famously played Rose Tyler.

When Doctor Who comes back at Christmas 2026, fans will finally learn why Piper unexpectedly returned, and whether she’s secretly the Sixteenth Doctor. This reveal will be a big deal for the show’s future, potentially making her the next main Doctor or paving the way for a new Doctor to arrive.

Viewers in the U.K. and Ireland can look forward to the 2026 Christmas special and the next season of Doctor Who, expected in 2027, on BBC One and iPlayer. For fans outside of these regions, it’s currently unknown if the BBC will find a new streaming service to distribute the show, or go back to working with different broadcasters around the world.

Fans can look forward to The War Between the Land and the Sea later this year, likely in December, on Disney+ worldwide. This means the wait for more Doctor Who won’t be too long – only about a year and a half separates Season 2 from the 2026 Christmas special. The new Whoniverse show will offer even more content in the meantime.

Fans are hoping the next season of Doctor Who will be a return to form after a somewhat divisive run on Disney+. They’re eager to see the show’s quality improve across all future content, including specials, new series, potential spin-offs, and the upcoming animated series for young children on CBeebies.

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2025-10-28 19:39