The BBC Won’t Have a New ‘Doctor Who’ Star to Announce Until It Figures Out the Show’s Future

After the BBC and Disney ended their Doctor Who co-production deal last year, fans have been wondering what will happen next. There’s definitely a Christmas special coming later this year. There’s definitely a spin-off series that has aired in the UK but not yet in the U.S. The BBC is definitely going to keep on keeping on. But who will be the next Doctor?

Typically that’s a bit of information confirmed in the moment the previous actor departs the show and the character regenerates, but given the Fifteenth Doctor’s transformation into someone being played by series veteran Billie Piper, it’s all very, very murky at the moment.

Part of the holdup, it seems, might be that casting is proving difficult. Not because actors aren’t interested in the high-profile role, presumably—but because the future of Doctor Who itself is still so uncertain.

According to a report in the Sun (a rather infamous British tabloid, but one that’s had a solid track record on reporting on the ins and outs of the show), the search has been on since Ncuti Gatwa’s run wrapped up. “From the moment it was confirmed Ncuti was leaving, bosses have subtly been putting feelers out among the industry for an actor who could play the Doctor,†a source identified only as an “insider†told the outlet.

“Despite once being one of the most coveted roles in TV, it’s now seen as a bit of a poisoned chalice,†the source continued. “Anyone taking on the job will want to know if they’re playing it for a one-off festive special or beyond, as they’ll want to plan their workload over coming years.â€

The BBC told the Sun, “We never comment on speculation,†but this theory does make sense from a practical standpoint. Committing to an episode or two is one thing; signing on for multiple seasons of new episodes is another. And whoever steps in will also be one of the most scrutinized new actors to step inside the TARDIS—though, of course, Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker and Fifteenth Doctor Gatwa, who both broke new ground with their portrayals, are also front-runners for that title.

Who’s your pick to play the new Doctor? Should it be Piper after all, or someone entirely new who’s brought in during the Christmas special? The BBC may not like it, but all we can do right now is speculate.

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