So I guess this means that not only will that massive cliffhanger not be resolved for years, but whatever resolution we do get, assuming anyone picks this up, won't be what they originally had in mind. Disappointing news, to be sure.
this post was submitted on 10 Jun 2026
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It was just a gag RTD thought of a couple of weeks before transmission, when he realised it would be his final episode and there was no successor to regenerate to.
the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year
What's that mean? Probably has to do with being a public service broadcaster?
I think it means Bad Wolf Studios is out, right?
That's what it means. Deadline confirms that both RTD and Bad Wolf are out: https://deadline.com/2026/06/doctor-who-christmas-canceled-russell-t-davies-bbc-bad-wolf-1236952398/
Ah, so RTD posted on Instagram. Okay. That's a lot clearer then. thank you for the link.
Would be my tentative first guess but that would be at least as big a piece of news, no? And they're also included in the decision to not do the special, according to the text.
BBC in-house producers were producing solely for the BBC, which meant if their proposals weren’t commissioned there, they were dead. In 2017, in-house production was spun off as a commercial subsidiary, BBC Studios, that for the first time was permitted to seek business from outside the BBC. It now produces content for all major UK broadcasters.
As the BBC Charter forbids it from distorting the market, and as BBC Studios became a major new entrant into the commercial production sector, a compromise was made whereby a selection of some of the BBC’s stalwart shows were made available by competitive tender.
In this process, the contract to produce a show is put to tender to the independent production companies and to BBC Studios, with the bid representing best value to the licence fee payer winning. All rights and editorial control remain with the BBC.
While the BBC appointed Bad Wolf as production contractor for Doctor Who in 2022, this will be the first time Doctor Who has been available to competitive tender.
They are looking for some company to come in and produce a new series. This will be another hard reboot.
I feel like this is a missed opportunity. Have a one-off special with Billy Piper, indicate that a lot of off screen adventures have happened, then transition into the next permanent Doctor.
unpopular opinion but the Billy Piper reveal pissed me off. Not because I didn't want a Rose Tyler Doctor, but because I didn't want a stupid 'gotcha' moment where the Doctor sneezes and her face is gone or a single special with her as The Doctor. I wanted a FULL Rose Tyler Doctor season and pulling her in like this pretty much kills any chance of that.
I don't think that it's an unpopular opinion. It was very strange to do and we may never get any real followup for it. Really too bad.
It was the final nail for me. I dont like Piper, and seeing that godawful 'grin' turned my stomach.
Neo-RTD was a mistake.
Exciting announcement! The one thing you thought you knew you were going to get isn't happening! We have no idea what's going to happen instead! Here's to the future!
laughs in classic fan
Looking forward to seeing Shonda Rimes or the company that makes those endless Law and Order tv shows bid for Doctor Who. I can't see anything good coming out of this sale.
Its not a sale, it’s a supply tender.
It's a "make it for us" with a cut of the IP rights.
No, all IP rights remain with the BBC.
Where did you read that?
The BBC’s open tender scheme is not new, it’s just new to Doctor Who. IP remains with the BBC on all tendered contracts. Besides, they’re not letting one of their biggest properties get out of their total control. The only time they ceded IP rights to an external producer was for the movie, and what a headache that was.
But if you really need reassurance, this from the BBC Commissioning site:
The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC.
Good stuff. Thank you for the info.