Overview
- Disney is no longer a production partner after two recent seasons, a split the BBC acknowledged while thanking Disney for its collaboration.
- The broadcaster reiterated full commitment to the franchise and said it will announce plans for the next series in due course.
- A 2026 Christmas special written by showrunner Russell T Davies is confirmed and will be produced by the BBC and Bad Wolf without Disney.
- Industry reporting cites higher budgets and softer UK viewership as context, with episodes reportedly near £10 million and a 3.2 million seven-day average for the latest season per BARB data via Deadline.
- Future distribution arrangements remain undecided, with recent seasons currently on Disney+ and older episodes on other platforms, and the latest finale closed on a cliffhanger without further explanation.