The legendary British series Doctor Who is entering its 62nd anniversary this year, with a new season set to start soon giving us our second full set of adventures with Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal of the Doctor. Things haven’t gone as well as fans had hoped though, because there are a lot of rumors on social media and in British tabloids about the state the show is actually in right now. Let’s break down the facts from the theatrics used for clickbait, and we’ll tell you exactly what is going on with Doctor Who.
Firstly, no, the show is not set to be axed. The BBC responded to these claims directly, saying that it “has not been shelved” after falsely speculative and extremely hyperbolic reports from certain British media outlets claimed it would be cut for ten years. However, the BBC does say they will make decisions on Season 3 of the show’s latest reboot once Season 2 airs later this year, with viewership and feedback influencing what’s next for the Tardis crew.
Does that mean that Doctor Who still might be cancelled? Not entirely, but it’s not a no either. It’s highly unlikely the BBC would ever cancel Doctor Who forever, but it’s not unprecedented for the show to go on a break. Whether this would be the decades-long hiatus we saw before the 2005 reboot or just a short few years as the creative team is refreshed, we just don’t know. Doctor Who remains the BBC’s flagship franchise and a landmark in sci-fi television, and that legacy is hard to erase with a few weak seasons of viewership.
The rumor that may be more credible is that Ncuti Gatwa could be set to depart sooner than expected. Reshoots have been seen taking place over the last week, and we don’t exactly know why the BBC would go back to film new scenes in a season that’s so close to airing unless something considerable changed. Not only is the suggestion that the Doctor could regenerate soon being speculated by the British tabloids, it’s even a rumor that’s been heard by Whovians online from those in the know. The BBC denied to respond to this claim, making it still a possibility but ultimately unconfirmed still.
So let’s wrap things up neatly here: no, the show has not been axed, yes, it’s possible the show could go on hiatus if Season 2 doesn’t perform well, yes, it’s possible the Doctor could regenerate again soon, but no, it’s not confirmed that Ncuti is leaving just yet.
We hope that answered all your Doctor Who questions without any needless hyperbole and clickbait theatrics. What do you think is next for Doctor Who? Sound off in the comments below, and keep your eyes on FlickLuster for more things movie and TV!
