Disney Plus has acquired the rights to stream future episodes of Doctor Who on their platform, courtesy of a report from the BBC. With new episodes expected to air in November 2023 to coincide with the sci-fi drama’s 60th anniversary, the show will feature globally on Disney Plus but still air on the BBC in the UK and Ireland. Ncuti Gatwa, who’ll be taking over from David Tennant as the Fifteenth Doctor, announced the news on Live with Kelly and Ryan.
Showrunner Russell T. Davies added in a statement: “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney Plus 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.”
Charlotte Moore, the Chief Content Officer with the BBC, said they were “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.”
Speaking about Russell T. Davies’ vision for the series, Moore described it as being “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,” the statement continues.
The President of Disney Plus, Alisa Bowen, added that they were “excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney Plus and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world.”
For more Doctor Who content, take a look at FlickLuster’s review for Jodie Whittaker’s swansong episode, “The Power of the Doctor.”
