It’s official, it’s confirmed, it’s happening: Doctor Who went out to tender today, on the afternoon of 17th September 2026.
The Invitation to Tender (ITT) document was published online by the BBC; you can read the full document here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/news/doctor-who-invitation-to-tender-september-2026/
As with the Silent Witness ITT recently covered by The Doctor Who Companion, the Doctor Who ITT starts with a summary of the series and details what it expects from any prospective production company. Interestingly, there is no mention of BBC Studios bidding to make the programme as there was in the Silent Witness ITT.
The BBC is flexible about whether the series has self-contained episodes or stories are stretched across a number of episodes; the BBC is flexible about the number of episodes which make up the series (are we going to return to the 25 minute serial format, then?); the BBC is not committed to having a single showrunner as a model for the production team; intriguingly, tenderers are instructed they must not communicate with Bad Wolf or the BBC former production teams.
The tendering process is initially for one season, with an option for further seasons (presumably if all goes well). The award for tendering will be made in March 2027 with broadcast of a new season in 2028/9.
What The ITT Tells Us
The introduction to the ITT is full of positivity about Doctor Who and indicates seriousness on the BBC’s part about getting any new series right:
Doctor Who is one of the most enduring and distinctive brands in global television. For over sixty years, it has captivated audiences through imaginative storytelling, compelling characters, and ambitious adventures that span all of time and space. The series occupies a unique position in popular culture, combining entertainment for a broad audience with sophisticated science fiction concepts, emotional depth, humour, and spectacle.
The ITT emphasizes that the new series “should feel contemporary and creatively ambitious, whilst remaining true to the values and characteristics that have made Doctor Who a beloved series across generations.” Eligible producers are invited to pitch an outline for a new multi-episode series, including ideas for specials (so: will a Christmas special be back, then?). Producers need to develop at least one new companion.
Companions should be distinctive, authentic characters in their own right, whose lives, relationships, ambitions, and personal journeys enrich the series. They should serve as an access point for audiences whilst also challenging, supporting, and influencing the Doctor.
Science Fiction, Not Magic
The document emphasizes the science fiction credentials of Doctor Who, suggesting that the BBC has ditched the recent drift of the programme into fantasy with lashings of magic. There is a requirement for “high concept science fiction with strong emotional narratives.” Spectacle should always be “grounded in character and human experience” (so: it’s not just going to be a special effects fest).
The traditional mix of future, past, contemporary Earth and alien stories is expected, which will deliver “scares, tension and jeopardy while remaining suitable for a broad family audience.”
The ITT insists on themes for Doctor Who which are arguably different from those we have become used to over the past few years:
Doctor Who embraces themes that celebrate curiosity, courage, intelligence, and compassion, themes that interrogate the human condition and most of all, it should and will always be distinctively British storytelling.
The programme’s past villains and characters will be available to a new producer but the emphasis is on new ideas and creations: there is no mention, for example, of the Daleks (whose copyright has historically been a problem). The BBC “is keen not to be overly reliant on existing Doctor Who lore” (again, something that recent seasons had arguably over-mined):
We are looking for a new perspective that ensures Doctor Who remains relevant, surprising, brave and inspiring for both long-standing fans and new audiences.
Perhaps the most radical proposal in the ITT is contained in this sentence:
We are not necessarily looking to work to a strict showrunner model and would expect once in production that the series will also use episodic writers.
A Creative Vision
The BBC is not, the ITT explains, expecting producers formally to propose a lead writer at this stage but the show should not just be written by one person: other writers are expected to contribute.
The ITT specifies that special effects and the “look” of the programme are important, but the document is clear that a new season is not to be a special FX fest:
Visually, the series should feel cinematic, distinctive, and ambitious, capable of competing for audience attention in a highly competitive global market.
And finally, in the introduction:
We are seeking a creative vision that embraces the breadth of what Doctor Who can be and could be. Doctor Who is a show that has sparked conversation, taken risks and inspired audiences for decades and we are looking for this series to continue that tradition. Be brave, have fun and we look forward to hearing from you.
As for the specifics:
The eligibility for tender closes on 2nd October 2026.
- On 9th October, the long list of eligible tenderers is published.
- The shortlist is published on 9th November, followed by a briefing with those tenderers on 13th November.
- Final tender submissions close in early December, with interviews with tenderers taking place in January 2027.
- The final contract will be awarded in March 2027.
Perhaps as a sign of the seriousness with which the BBC takes the tendering process of such a beloved programme, the ITT includes a list of the evaluation team panel who will oversee all proposals: there was no such detail in the ITT for Silent Witness. The senior personnel involved are:
- Lindsay Salt – Commissioning Director, Drama
- Nick Lambon – Commissioning Editor, Drama
- Geraldine Atlee – Head of Business, Scripted Content
- James Dundas – Commercial Rights & Business Affairs Manager
The ITT goes on to state that the BBC has a preference for the show to be made in Wales (its home since 2005) but it seems it is open for production to take place in other parts of the UK. Production companies are expected to pay at least the national living wage.
On The Longlist
Producers who make the longlist are invited to provide a short proposal outlining the new multi-episode season and ideas for specials. They must give details of the Doctor and the companion character(s), ideas for locations and up to three story ideas. They need also to detail the production talent and key team members they have available to them. The criteria for this short proposal requires the following:
- Storytelling: Creative storytelling that appeals to Doctor Who loyal audiences and attracts new audiences [so it’s not to be made just for the fans…]
- Doctor Who knowledge: Deep knowledge of the world of Doctor Who [hooray!]
- On-screen talent: Proven ability to attract and nurture high profile on-screen talent
There is no mention in the ITT of the gender or the ethnic identity of the Doctor or their companions, although there must be “strategies for identifying emerging new faces, including on screen diversity and representation throughout the United Kingdom”. Producers are expected to show that they can secure and nurture new and recognised writing talent, “including succession planning”. They need to have plans for innovation of the programme’s format, “including digital opportunities”. There must be evidence that the producers will work with deaf, disabled and neurodivergent talent on and off the screen.
There is no mention in the ITT of how large the budget is to be, nor (unlike the Silent Witness ITT) how much licence fee money the BBC will invest in the new season.
Intiguingly, the ITT specifies that
Tenderers are not permitted to seek information about the production of the Programme from employees of BBC Studios or Bad Wolf Ltd, unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Tender Manager.
What does this signify, one wonders…?
Doctor Who will remain the intellectual property of the BBC, and all innovations in the new season will become the property of the BBC as well. Tenderers have the right to use the BBC archives without problems of copyright infringement (presumably, this means that a new season might use clips from old Doctor Who episodes or reference characters, stories and so on). A new producer is expected to comply with any provisions for the smooth handover from the existing production team (so might the TARDIS set be preserved?).
And – that’s it! Exciting times are ahead! Full steam and all aboard the TARDIS!
