Rumours have been swirling in recent months about the future of Doctor Who beyond the upcoming Series 15. From speculation about the Disney+ deal falling through, to talk of Ncuti Gatwa quitting, and questions around Russell T Davies’ own future with the show. Now, in a new interview with BBC Newsround, Davies has strongly indicated that a “pause” is on the cards.
The segment began with Ncuti Gatwa and new companion Verada Sethu being asked if there was “any news about Series 3”. Gatwa, clearly cautious, responded, “I don’t know anything.”
Then the interview cuts to Davies, and his answer is far more illuminating. Up to now, Davies had maintained that no decisions about the future would be made until Series 15 had concluded. But now, even that cautious optimism seems to have faded.
Davies stated:
“I kind of know that the Doctor’s reached the status of like Robin Hood. Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back. So I have absolute faith that that will survive because I am living proof of it and that’s what happens to good ideas. No good idea ever dies.”
This marks the strongest indication yet that a hiatus will follow the next series. Notably, Davies’ remark about today’s viewers “growing up” before reviving the show implies that any potential break may not be brief, but a significant pause that could stretch over several years.
Sometimes there might be a pause, and during that pause, the viewers of Newsround now will grow up a few years and start writing stories and they’ll bring it back.
What he’s describing is the gap between oldWho and nuWho, which is not a good sign.
They bet big on RTD’s return and it seems they lost, that has to largely be down to RTD as he wrote the bulk of the last series and the quality was very variable. As it was during his first run.
He has a lot more writers on the second series and I was hoping that’d turn it around but his comments suggest it may be too late.
The thing is I jumped out under the last show runner and have no interest in returning. Not sure I just don’t care anymore. I don’t even rewatch the series like I used to. All the lost child B’s just not a fan anymore.
The original ran from 1963 to 1989. 26 years.
The reboot has run from 2005 to 2025. 20 years.
We’re almost at a point where there will be more seasons of New Who than Classic Who.
I’m not sure which side to root for… I find it hard to believe they can’t get 6 more years on Disney money…
I find it hard to believe they can’t get 6 more years on Disney money…
Unfortunately, streamers are brutal with cancellation - if they numbers aren’t looking good early on then it is in trouble.
This is true, but the numbers on Disney+ haven’t been awful, have they?
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-top-5-disney-newsupdate/
“was a top 5 series on Disney+ globally every week it aired”.
So it’s not like it tanked or anything… These aren’t “Acolyte” numbers.
Yeah, but SW is a franchise that can be milked a lot more with merchandise, toys, games and so on. Dr. Who not so much.
And Disney is thinking in brands above all other things.
I think they make bank selling Sonic Screwdrivers. :)
Unfortunately the design of the new one looks like ass.
Still better than “Sonic Sunglasses”. LOL.
Yeah, that was… ugh.
Chinibal killed it for me and now I’ve basically forgotten about it, which is making it hard to get back in to. Chinibals morals were way too in your face and not subtle, coupled with me missing the overarching series long plots woven in that made finales worth it and the hard cut of not including much from previous series made it feel way too different.
Well that sucks if this series of Doctor Who turns out to be the last. There are leaks going around that point to a cliffhanger but there are also leaks that say there is a open ended regen.
Also I would disagree with Russell that no good idea ever dies. Unfortuanly there are good ideas that can die. The terminator franchise being a sci fi example as well so it’s not improable that this current series of Doctor Who may be the last ever series which is wow. Well WW3 is on the horizon anyway just this time without the farting aliens
