Director‑General Matt Brittin told the corporation’s 2026 annual report that the BBC is “working hard” to regenerate the long‑running sci‑fi series. He confirmed the franchise is being put out to competitive tender, meaning other platforms will be invited to bid to make future episodes.

Brittin pointed out that Doctor Who has undergone many reinventions across its more than six decades and said the BBC is confident it can renew the show creatively. “We can creatively renew content and shows that people love, and we’ll be working hard on that right now,” he said in the report.

The most recent TV run concluded in May 2025 with a surprise regeneration: Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor transformed into Billie Piper, who had previously appeared in the series as companion Rose. The cancelled Christmas episode was intended to follow on from that finale.

The BBC also confirmed that a Doctor Who animation series for younger audiences is currently in production for CBeebies, signalling parallel efforts to keep the brand active across platforms.

First broadcast in 1963, Doctor Who has become one of British television’s best‑known exports. After an original run that ended in 1989, the programme was successfully revived in 2005. Over the decades, actors including William Hartnell, Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith and Jodie Whittaker have taken on the role of the Doctor.

As the BBC seeks bids and considers creative directions, fans can expect a period of transition — but the corporation insists Doctor Who will return in refreshed form when new arrangements are finalised.