By Sarah Sterling
Allons-y! This morning on ABC’s Live with Kelly and Ryan, actor Ncuti Gatwa (the next regeneration of The Doctor) announced that new seasons of the hit BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who will soon be available to stream on Disney+, making it the exclusive home for the show outside of the UK and Ireland! Showrunner Russell T. Davies is set to return to Doctor Who and new episodes will premiere on the BBC and Disney+ in late 2023—marking a new and exciting collaboration between the BBC and Disney Branded Television. “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds—with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet,” says Davies,” reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”
Doctor Who first debuted in 1963 and follows the time-traveling escapades of The Doctor, an alien who wanders the universe in a spaceship (the TARDIS, which resembles a blue British police box) and who regenerates periodically—adopting a completely new appearance... and ushering in a new actor to play The Doctor each time that happens. Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+ explains, “We're excited by the opportunity to bring new seasons of this beloved franchise exclusively to Disney+ and introduce the show to the next generation of audiences in more than 150 markets around the world. The series is a perfect addition to our ever-growing catalog of global content that continues to make Disney+ the home for exceptional storytelling.”
Doctor Who will celebrate 60 years of adventure in November 2023 with three specials featuring fan favorite David Tennant returning as The Doctor, before Gatwa takes over the role as the fifteenth Doctor. The BBC will continue to be Doctor Who’s exclusive home in the UK, with new episodes debuting on Disney+ in late 2023 for viewers outside of the UK and Ireland. Keep an eye on D23.com for future developments on Doctor Who—and all your favorite Disney shows and movies!