'Obviously It's Hugely Disappointing': Doctor Who Ex-Showrunner Says That Solving The Show's 'Knotty Problems' Will Take 'Time'
Solving the "problems" currently plaguing Doctor Who will take time, the series' former showrunner Chris Chibnall has cautioned, explaining that the show's most pressing issue now is "primarily about money."
Former Doctor Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has cautioned that fixing the show's problems will take time, stressing that the primary issue is currently money. Doctor Who concluded its final episode in May 2025 after lead actor Ncuti Gatwa left the show following a period of disappointing seasons. Disney, the series' co-funding partner, ended its support shortly after, and the BBC announced it would offer the rights to other production companies.
However, progress on securing a new partner has been slow, with no clear sign of it happening two months later. Chibnall emphasized that the cost of funding BBC shows has been cut in real terms over the past decade, while the expenses of producing high-budget TV have risen. This, coupled with the withdrawal of Disney, has left the BBC unable to fully fund its programs, including Doctor Who.
While the exit of Disney is a significant factor, Chibnall stressed that the underlying problem is the BBC's inability to afford to fund shows, including Doctor Who, due to funding agreements and the dominance of large media conglomerates.
Written by urgent.news from IGN's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
