In July, the BBC announced a competition to produce the next version of "Doctor Who". Interested companies will be able to submit their proposals for the series' development, and the winner will form a new creative team and prepare the season.
Now, former "Doctor Who" showrunner Chris Chibnall has explained why the BBC decided to change its production model. On the WHO Corner to Corner podcast, he cited financial difficulties at the broadcaster as the main reason:
"It's very hard for the BBC to fund its programs now because of agreements over the last 15 years and a gradual reduction in funds, and also because large Hollywood monopolies and conglomerates are increasingly taking over the market. The BBC can no longer fully pay for the production of drama series — and certainly not 'Doctor Who'. Any discussion of what's happening is primarily about money. I think this point was somewhat missed in conversations about the series."
Uncertainty around the series arose after the end of the collaboration between the BBC and Disney, which helped fund the last seasons. Then showrunner Russell T. Davies and Bad Wolf announced their departure, and the planned Christmas special was canceled.
There is no exact timeline for "Doctor Who"'s return yet. The search for a new production team could take up to six months. So far, only BBC Studios has publicly announced its participation, having produced the series for most of its history before transferring production to Bad Wolf. The head of the division, Tom Fassell, promised that the studio would make every effort to bring the project back. According to Deadline sources, even with an optimistic scenario, the next version of the series will not be released before 2028.