Doctor Who producer Jane Tranter has fired back at a former series writer who recently shared their opinion that the sci-fi show is “dead as we’ve ever known.” Robert Shearman’s comments were made in the latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine, and instigated a fiery reaction from Tranter in response.
Doctor Who recently celebrated its 60th anniversary, and is regarded as one of the longest running sci-fi shows ever made. Although the series had a two-decade hiatus – barring a TV movie – since it was, appropriately, regenerated in 2005, it has been a consistent presence in pop culture. However, recent seasons have been struggling to keep viewers, frequently been the subject of “woke” complaints, and the departure of Ncuti Gatwa from the titular role after just two seasons caused concern among fans that the series could be in trouble.
The idea that this is in any way true is not something Tranter is willing to accept. Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, she said of Shearman’s comments:
“That’s really rude, actually, and really untrue. The plans for Doctor Who are really simply this: the BBC and BBC Studios had a partnership with Disney+ for 26 episodes. We are currently 21 episodes down into that 26-episode run. We have got another five episodes of [spin-off series] ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea’ to come. At some point after that, decisions will be made together with all of us about what the future of Doctor Who entails.”
‘Doctor Who’ Is Going Nowhere
While many fans have accused the show of going nowhere in a negative sense, for Tranter that is simply a matter-of-fact statement. The series is going nowhere. She added:
“It’s a 60-year-old franchise. It’s been going for 20 years nonstop since we brought it back in 2005 [when I worked at the BBC]. You would expect it to change, wouldn’t you? Nothing continues the same always, or it shouldn’t continue the same always. So it will change in some form or another. But the one thing we can all be really clear about is that the Doctor will be back and everyone, including me, including all of us, just has to wait patiently to see when — and who.”
The last time we saw Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa was seen regenerating at the end of his second season, and the new face of The Doctor was a familiar one to long-term fans. In a shocking turn of events, the new Doctor has the face of former companion, Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper. While it has remained very vague whether Piper will be the next Doctor or not, details emerged weeks after the reveal that the end of the season, and Piper’s appearance, was not the original plan, and things had changed at the last minute.
It has been suggested that Disney’s investment in the series is potentially not going to be renewed, but no one seems to believe that Doctor Who will not continue in the future. Previously, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Kate Phillips, defiantly said:
“Rest assured, Doctor Who is going nowhere. Disney has been a great partnership — and it continues with The War Between The Land And The Sea next year — but going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC. The Tardis is going nowhere.”
- Release Date
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May 11, 2024
- Network
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BBC One
- Directors
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Alex Pillai, Peter Hoar, Ben Chessell, Julie Anne Robinson, Jamie Donoughue, Amanda Brotchie, Dylan Holmes Williams
- Writers
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Steven Moffat, Pete McTighe, Kate Herron, Inua Ellams, Juno Dawson
- Franchise(s)
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Doctor Who / Whoniverse