BBC and Disney Partnership on Doctor Who Concludes

The BBC has confirmed that its collaboration with Disney on the Doctor Who series has come to an end, according to a recent report.

Sources cited various reasons for the termination, including worries about a potential “woke” backlash. A former Disney executive mentioned, “It was clear early on that this wasn’t going to be a long-term thing. There was a sense everyone felt that we weren’t quite hitting the mark.”

Interestingly, an influential industry source noted that Doctor Who has become “too woke for Trump’s America,” which may have influenced Disney’s decision regarding the revamp. The report also indicated that the show’s current writers included diverse characters such as a transgender actress, Yasmine Finney, and drag queen Jynx Monsoon as a villain, along with a significant gay kiss. These elements sparked some complaints from BBC viewers.

Another insider remarked that the writing had been on the wall for a while, indicating a lack of enthusiasm at Disney towards the project. Meanwhile, the 15th Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, reportedly struggled to grow his fan base. He is the second attempt at diversifying the lead role following Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the first female Doctor.

Adding to concerns, there has been an “alarming decline” in viewership, with audience numbers dropping by about a million since Gatwa took over the role, leading to questions about ratings. A source reflected, “Ratings haven’t gone up that much.”

In terms of investment, Disney officials have reportedly expressed regret over the significant funds allocated to the series, with the budget reaching approximately $11.6 million per episode. Meanwhile, BBC executives noted they never sensed Disney was committed to making a significant impact with the series.