DOCTOR WHO Producer Called Writer ‘Rude’ for Calling Show ‘Dead’

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It’s an understatement to say that fans of *Doctor Who* are upset about the show’s uncertain future. Since the series returned in 2005, they’ve handled changes in actors, creative teams, and where the show airs, always knowing what was coming next. That’s not the case now. The recent season on Disney+ ended with a shocking and unexplained twist: the lead actor, Ncuti Gatwa, suddenly transformed into Billie Piper. This left many fans, including myself, completely bewildered. One former writer even declared that *Doctor Who* is “as dead as we’ve ever known it,” a statement that didn’t sit well with series producer Jane Tranter.

Writer Rob Shearman (known for the 2005 episode “Dalek” and other related works) shared his thoughts in *Doctor Who Magazine* (as noted by *Den of Geek*). He described a fluctuating relationship with the show, currently feeling distanced from it. He believes the series is currently in a particularly difficult state, pointing to Ncuti Gatwa’s unexpected exit and the appearance of Billie Piper without further explanation as signs that the show has effectively ended, at least for now.

That seems like a fair point, considering the show is currently on hold until the five-episode spin-off, *The War Between the Land and the Sea*, premieres on Disney+ sometime in 2026. However, Jane Tranter, the producer who originally revived the show in 2005 and returned for the Disney seasons alongside Russell T Davies and others, disagrees with this assessment.

Tranter responded to reports claiming the show was ending, calling them “really rude and really untrue.” In an interview with BBC Radio Wales, he explained that the BBC and Disney+ partnered for 26 episodes of *Doctor Who*. They’ve filmed 21 so far, with five more episodes of the current series, *The War Between The Land And The Sea*, still to come. After those air, the BBC and Disney+ will collaborate on deciding the show’s future.

Honestly, Ms. Tranter’s comments don’t really reassure me. We still don’t know *when* we’ll actually get to see *The War*. They originally planned for November of this year, but Disney pushed it to sometime next year. So, we have to wait for that series to air, and *then* the BBC, Disney, and Bad Wolf Studios will figure out what happens next. It feels like things have really stalled – there’s no forward movement at all. Even Russell T Davies has admitted he’s not sure if the show will continue, which is a bit disheartening.

It’s clear that *Doctor Who* is a really important show for the BBC, and I don’t believe it will be cancelled permanently. However, after running for almost 20 years with very few breaks, it definitely feels like the show is at a major turning point.

Kyle Anderson is a Senior Editor at TopMob and the host of the weekly podcast, Laser Focus, where he dives deep into pop culture. He also writes film and TV reviews, and you can find him on Letterboxd.

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2025-10-17 20:33