‘The end of the BBC is undoubtedly on its way’
Doctor Who’s creator Russell says his show is likely to outlive the broadcaster
THE man who brought the Time Lord back to TV screens believes time is running out for the BBC.
Doctor Who boss Russell T Davies told fans the end of the corporation is “undoubtedly on its way”.
But he is confident their favourite time travelling character will survive any future transition.
Russell, 60, who oversaw the successful revival of Doctor Who in the mid-2000s, said the decision to coproduce the latest series with streaming giant Disney was to “prepare” for it to outlive the UK broadcaster.
He said: “Before they [the BBC] approached me, I had already said...I think Doctor Who would have to become a co-production. There’s no way the BBC is going to fund that.
“You’ve also got to look in the long term at the end of the BBC, which is somehow, surely, undoubtedly, on its way in some shape or form.
“Is Doctor Who going to die then? No.You’ve got to prepare for that kind of stuff.”
He added on the They Want To Watch podcast: “If Disney collapsed tomorrow and we had to go back to making DoctorWho on a normal BBC budget, you know what?
“We’d all rally round and make it – and suddenly the stories would become claustrophobic ghost stories and a lot of people would like that.”
But Russell said it would be a “real shame” if Doctor Who was not available alongside other sci-fi “big hitters” such as The Mandalorian.
The new series of Doctor Who, starring Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa in the title role and former Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson as his companion Ruby Sunday, will begin with a double bill on May 11.
Debate
Russell’s comments come after BBC director general Tim Davie said he is open to a “more progressive” licence fee and revealed the broadcaster will launch its “biggest ever consultation process” next year so the public can drive the debate on its future.
The television licence fee has been frozen for two years at £159, but in 2023 the Government announced it would use a lower rate of inflation to increase the charge to £169.50 a year from next month.
The freeze and rising inflation has driven the BBC to reassess its priorities.
It has already been seeking to make £500million in savings.
But at a Royal Television Society event in London this week Mr Davie announced a further £200million of cuts will need to be made.