Doctor Who Disney+ partnership ends after 2 seasons, BBC vows to continue

Disney+ is stepping out of the TARDIS after just two seasons. The streaming giant announced on Oct. 28, 2025 that it won’t continue its partnership with the BBC on Doctor Who. But don’t panic—the legendary sci-fi show is sticking around. The BBC confirmed it remains “fully committed” and promises the Time Lord’s adventures won’t end.

What Happened With the Disney Deal

Disney+ partnered with the BBC to produce two seasons starting in November 2023. The deal included Seasons 15 and 16 plus a spin-off series. Together they filmed 26 episodes total. The partnership brought serious production budgets and star power. But viewership numbers tell a different story on Disney’s platforms.

The rumors swirled for months before the official announcement. Industry insiders suspected Disney might walk during the negotiation phase. Show costs climbed to an estimated £10M ($13.3M) per episode. Meanwhile, the series didn’t perform as strongly as expected on Disney+ internationally. Ncuti Gatwa, the 15th Doctor, also exited the role in May 2025 citing burnout, creating further uncertainty.

“The BBC remains fully committed to Doctor Who, which continues to be one of our most loved dramas, and we are delighted that Russell T Davies has agreed to write us another spectacular Christmas special for 2026.”

Why This Matters for Fans

The decision doesn’t kill Doctor Who. Instead, it returns the show to its roots. The BBC successfully aired the series for two decades before Disney’s involvement. Now it’s going back to that model. Russell T Davies, the legendary showrunner who revived the show in 2005, remains at the helm.

For viewers, this means change. The Christmas special won’t arrive until December 2026—more than a year away. That’s a long wait after Season 16 ended in May 2025. However, Doctor Who fans will get content before then. The spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea drops later this year. Plus, a brand-new animation series for CBeebies is in development. The universe isn’t ending—it’s just transforming.

The Numbers Behind the Split

Here’s what happened financially and creatively during the partnership:

Metric	Details
Partnership Duration	November 2023 to October 2028 (initially planned)
Completed Seasons	Season 15 (2024) and Season 16 (2025)
Total Episodes Produced	26 episodes including The War Between the Land and the Sea
Episode Production Cost	Estimated £10M ($13.3M) per episode
Next Content	Christmas 2026 special on BBC

The budget stakes were massive—each episode cost roughly the same as a major Hollywood film. Disney invested seriously in the production quality and promotional reach. Yet the return on investment didn’t materialize as planned. Streaming viewership numbers disappointed both parties.

What Happens Next for the TARDIS

The BBC isn’t revealing all its cards yet. The corporation says it will announce plans for the next full series “in due course.” Bad Wolf Studios, which produces the show, confirmed it remains committed to the project. Here’s what we know:

• Russell T Davies writes the 2026 Christmas special personally
• A brand-new animation for CBeebies young audiences is in development
• The War Between the Land and the Sea delivers content this year first
• No new streaming partner announced for international distribution yet
• The BBC vows the “Doctor is not going anywhere”

Can Doctor Who Thrive Without Disney?

History suggests yes. The show ran successfully for decades before Disney’s involvement. Russell T Davies proved he could revitalize it starting in 2005. The BBC retains ownership, creative control, and deep production expertise. Fans remain passionate—the Doctor Who fanbase is legendary for its loyalty.

The challenge: Doctor Who now competes in a crowded streaming landscape. Without Disney’s dollars and global reach, finding international distribution matters more. However, the show’s return to BBC control might actually strengthen its creative vision. The BBC understands Doctor Who’s DNA better than anyone.

Will the show come back stronger? That depends on how the 2026 Christmas special lands with audiences. Russell T Davies has proven he can write compelling Doctor Who stories. The question now: Can the BBC produce the scale and spectacle fans expect in a post-Disney era?

Sources

• BBC Media Centre – Official announcement of Doctor Who future and 2026 Christmas special
• Deadline Hollywood – Analysis of Disney exit and partnership breakdown details
• Variety – Reporting on streaming performance and industry reaction to split

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