BBC addresses Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa’s accidental reveal about season 16’s renewal. Gatwa plays the Fifteenth Doctor on the long-running show, with his tenure beginning with season 14. Doctor Who season 15 has completed filming and will likely air next year. On The Graham Norton Show, Gatwa revealed filming for season 16 would start in 2025. His quote was edited when the show was broadcast on BBC1 to “We finished the second season earlier this year, we’ve got the Christmas episode coming out … at Christmas … But it’s been amazing,” removing the reference to season 16.
A spokesperson for the BBC tells Deadline in a statement that they haven’t made the decision for season 16 yet, and a decision will not be made until after season 15 airs, reinstating their position on Doctor Who’s future. According to the source, Gatwa’s response was edited to “liven up Gatwa’s answer and was not obeying a ‘sinister’ request from BBC bosses.” Addressing the rumor Gatwa started about the filming dates, the spokesperson explains that the BBC “[doesn’t] comment on speculation.”
As we’ve said previously, the decision on season three will be made after season two transmits and as always we don’t comment on speculation.
What This Means for Doctor Who’s Future
Season 16 Isn’t A Done Deal
Showrunner Russell T Davies previously shared a similar statement about the show’s future after season 15. While the writer confirmed he is already working on the scripts and feeling confident about the upcoming season’s performance, the statement from BBC casts some doubt about the series’ renewal. What seemed like a done deal is still up in the air. However, when the new era of Doctor Who was picked up, it received a two-season order. This could potentially also be the case for the show.
The statement also reinforces the BBC’s current position on renewing the show. It seems that whether there will be another season after season 15 will depend on its reception, along with other factors, such as the cast, the script, and the story. It’s not entirely unheard of for the BBC to announce the renewal ahead of a show’s release. With Gatwa’s future on the show also up in the air, it suggests that there is a lot of uncertainty around which direction Doctor Who will go.
Our Take on Doctor Who’s Future
It’s Too Soon To Tell
It’s interesting that the BBC didn’t censor Gatwa’s remark but only changed it when The Graham Norton Show was aired. By doing so, the network neither encouraged nor discouraged the rumor. What Gatwa revealed about filming seems like a genuine mistake and suggested that there’s a high possibility for Doctor Who to return after season 15 with the show’s long history tracing back to the ’60s.
Doctor Who’s reboot has generally been well-received by fans and critics. Doctor Who season 14 takes the show in a new direction. It’s still too early to tell about the reboot’s future with the show still adjusting to production changes and Disney’s acquisition. Uncertainty is unavoidable, but the chances are fans will hear more from the BBC when season 15 hits the streaming platform in 2025. For now, everything is up in the air.