LOVE ME TENDER cont’d: BBC STUDIOS confirms bid for WHO…

Likely surprising no-one, BBC Studios has confirmed that it will be placing a bid to be the next producer of Doctor Who.

BBC Studios has been the producer of Doctor Who for most of its modern run, though the last two seasons were a collaboration between Bad Wolf (now owned by SONY), the BBC and Disney+.

But with the collapse of the Disney deal after two seasons and the announced exit of Russell T. Davies and Bad Wolf earlier this month (alongside the cancellation of the previously-announced Christmas ’26 Special) the future of the series was put into flux with few details as to when it would return and if there would be any fundamental changes.

It was confirmed that the show would be put out to tender, so that various production companies could compete with bids for the right to make the show – though the ‘branding/IP’ rights would remain with the BBC. It is expected that process would mean it will be at least two years before the show – in whatever iteration – is back on screens.

BBC Studios CEO Tom Fussell. said that: “… we’ve been the producer for 60 years and we want to be the producer for another 60 years so we will be going for that tender with gusto. We are in it to win it.”

It has long been speculated that BBC Studios were the obvious choice given their legacy with the show, though it will be interesting to see if any other companies also put forward new ideas and proposals. (To be clear, the BBC is the UK’s public service broadcaster, while BBC Studios is its commercial production and distribution arm, formed in 2018 by merging the BBC’s commercial production arm and BBC Worldwide, its then international distribution arm and it now has to compete with other production houses).

Many have said that the tender process and the gap in broadcast may actually do the show some good, allowing for a new approach and fresh energy.