Overview
- Submissions to the BBC’s formal tender closed in early October and reported bidders include Hat Trick Mercurio with Jed Mercurio attached, World Productions working with ITV Studios, STV Studios paired with Screen Scotland, and multiple BBC Studios labels.
- The BBC plans to interview shortlisted teams in January and expects to award the production contract in March 2027 for a multi‑episodic return aimed at 2028–29.
- The tender requires the show to be produced outside London, explicitly allows proposals that seek third‑party investment, and keeps ownership of Doctor Who with the BBC.
- Several well‑known independent producers declined to bid, citing concerns about the production contract, limited rights for outside producers, and unclear funding expectations.
- The competition follows a recent production shakeup — including the cancelled 2026 Christmas special and the exit of previous creative leads — and could shift work and spending to other UK regions while changing who controls the franchise’s future.