The BBC is seeking a producer for a new multi-episode Doctor Who series, including specials, intended to air in 2028/29. That is the clearest confirmed sign of the show’s next chapter—but the tender does not call it Season 16 or name a Doctor, cast, showrunner or production company. The previously announced 2026 Christmas episode has been cancelled.
Has Doctor Who Season 16 been renewed?
Not explicitly. On 17 September 2026, BBC Commissioning opened a competitive tender for a multi-episodic Doctor Who series, including specials, for transmission in 2028/29. The notice describes a series, not a season numbered 16, so “Season 16” is not yet an official designation. The BBC tender notice is the clearest statement of what is being commissioned.
The tender gives the BBC an option, at its discretion, to extend the contract for a second series. It is a work-for-hire arrangement: the BBC says it will continue to broadcast the programme and retain all rights. The notice does not identify the successful bidder.
When could the new Doctor Who series air?
The only official timing specified in the tender is 2028/29. This is a transmission window, not a confirmed premiere date. The notice gives no production start date or episode count, so neither can be reliably inferred from the schedule.
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- The Fifteenth Doctor Barbie doll captures a moment in time of the Time Lord with an iconic look from this fashion-forward Doctor!
- Fans will appreciate the unique face sculpt that has been painted in the likeness of the fourteenth season’s on-screen actor.
- Doctor Who doll emits confidence in his signature outfit with colorful striped shirt, sleek blue pants and that super-cool long brown jacket!
- Unafraid to show his emotions or his sense of style, he accessorizes with white sneakers (or trainers, as the Doctor might say).
- Complete with doll stand and Certificate of Authenticity, this Doctor Who Barbie doll makes a great gift for collectors and fans of the series.
What happened to the 2026 Christmas special?
It is not going ahead. On 10 June 2026, the BBC said it, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf had collectively decided not to proceed with the previously announced Christmas episode. The BBC said it would put the programme out to competitive tender while working on its longer-term future. The BBC’s June 2026 update supersedes the earlier announcement.
In October 2025, the BBC had announced a 2026 Christmas special written by Davies and said plans for the next series would follow. That announcement reflected the plan at the time, not the current schedule. The October 2025 announcement should therefore be read alongside the later cancellation.
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- Action figure measures approximately 5-inches tall.
- Finely detailed articulatd figure.
- Made of durable plastic material construction.
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Who will be in the cast, and who is the new showrunner?
No future Doctor, cast members or replacement showrunner are named in the tender or the BBC’s June update. The tender is a production process, not a casting announcement, and the identity of the selected production company is also unresolved in the material made public. Treat specific names circulating without an official announcement as speculation.
A July 2026 BBC News report said director-general Matt Brittin had stated that the programme was going out to tender and reported that Davies had announced his departure. It does not establish who will lead the next series; the tender itself names no future creative leadership.
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- Celebrate 50 years of the Doctor and his greatest monsters with a unique figurine collection based on the world's longest-running Sci-Fi television series with this Doctor Who 10th Doctor Collector Figure! The series draws from every era of the show
- Cast in a specially formulated metallic resin and painted by hand, this 10th Doctor figure is sculpted with incredible care and attention to detail. The 10th Doctor is shown in a classic moment from a specific episode
- The process begins by collecting detailed reference material from the Doctor Who archives, which is then sent to the sculptor who produces a 3D digital sculpt. This sculpt is refined in consultation with the BBC's Doctor Who team before it is finally
- The factory scales the digital files to exactly 1:21-scale and uses them to make precision tools. The figurines are cast in a special metallic resin and painted by hand, using original production color references, and then given final approval by the
- Ages 14 and up
What the tender requires
The BBC requires the production to qualify as a regional production under two of Ofcom’s three regional criteria and says it prefers a Wales qualification. These are conditions for the production bid; they do not confirm which company will make the series or where it will ultimately be produced.
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- 4inch resins are collector items
- There are various characters in the resin collection
- They are all hand painted
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- From "The Pandorica Opens" Episode
- Matt Smith action figure
- Stand Included
- Collect them all
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