Doctor Who faces its most uncertain future in decades after Ncuti Gatwa’s departure following just two seasons as the Fifteenth Doctor. Former series writer Robert Shearman declared in Doctor Who Magazine issue 622 (via Cultbox),
I go through phases, I have a real push/pull thing with the show. At the moment I’m in a ‘pull’ phase. It’s weird because the show is probably as dead as we’ve ever known it.
Gatwa regenerated into Billie Piper in the Season 15 finale on May 31, 2025, but the exact role remains unclear.
With no confirmed Sixteenth Doctor, no Season 16 greenlight, and Disney’s streaming partnership uncertain, the franchise confronts challenges that executive producer Jane Tranter insists are overblown.
What Comes Next After Ncuti Gatwa’s Unexpected Exit
Ncuti Gatwa’s tenure ended after just 19 regular episodes across two seasons, making him one of the shortest-serving actors in the modern era. He cited physical and mental exhaustion, telling the press he was “physically, emotionally, mentally tired” after working seven days a week for eight months he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (via Variety). His departure leaves the show without a clear lead actor for the first time since its 2005 revival.
The Season 15 finale saw Gatwa regenerate into Billie Piper, but the credits notably avoided labeling her as The Doctor. Instead, they simply stated “introducing Billie Piper,” breaking from traditional regeneration episodes. Industry leakers claim her scenes were filmed separately on green screen in London and digitally added to boost viewer interest during production uncertainty.
Multiple theories suggest she could be playing the Bad Wolf entity, The Moment from the 50th anniversary special, or Rose Tyler rather than the Sixteenth Doctor.
When Doctor Who was cancelled in 1989, the Seventh and Eighth Doctors continued in novels and audio dramas during the 16-year hiatus; the current ambiguity makes that continuation impossible. Shearman, who wrote the acclaimed 2005 episode Dalek, argues this situation exceeds the 1989 cancellation crisis in severity. Shearman also told Doctor Who Magazine,
After 1989, we had, for years, a current Doctor. Now, everything that is ever going to be produced in Doctor Who terms is going to feel retrogressive. No one’s going to start writing Doctor Who books with a Billie Piper Doctor, because no one knows what that means. In a funny way, the closing moments of The Reality War seem to put a full stop on things. We didn’t have that before.
Former Sixth Doctor Colin Baker called the Piper regeneration “a load of old malarky,” arguing she cannot be the Doctor (via Oxford Mail).
Executive producer Jane Tranter rejected Shearman’s assessment, saying, “‘As dead as we’ve ever known.’ That’s really rude, actually. And really untrue,” during an October 17 BBC Radio Wales interview (via Deadline). She confirmed that 21 of the 26 episodes in the BBC-Disney deal have aired, with five remaining for The War Between the Land and the Sea spin-off scheduled for 2026.
Can Doctor Who Survive Its Most Uncertain Era?
Disney will not make a renewal decision until after The War Between the Land and the Sea airs in 2026 (via Radio Times). The streaming giant is experiencing budget cuts, and the current 26-episode deal provides a clean exit point. BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips stated in August 2025 that “Doctor Who will still be on the BBC” (via The Guardian) regardless of Disney’s decision, but industry insiders acknowledge the corporation cannot afford current production values without Disney’s co-funding.
Season 15 averaged 3.2 million viewers across eight episodes, down 500,000 from Season 14’s 3.9 million, according to BARB (via Deadline). These figures represent some of the lowest ratings in the show’s modern history, with overnight viewership ranging from 1.5 to 2.6 million (via Doctor Who TV). By comparison, Jodie Whittaker’s final season averaged 5 million viewers.
Bad Wolf Productions warned in October 2025 that its Welsh future is “by no means certain” due to declining US investment. The BBC is reportedly seeking alternative streaming partners, as per SFF Gazette.
Whether Doctor Who returns as scheduled or enters another extended hiatus depends on decisions yet to be made in 2026.
Doctor Who is available on Disney+ internationally and BBC iPlayer in the UK.
