Doctor Who has already seen a number of overhauls ahead of its upcoming series, with a new logo unveiled, Russell T Davies returning as showrunner and Ncuti Gatwa cast as the new Time Lord.
And the popular sci-fi franchise is also set to get a record-breaking new budget after the BBC signed an exciting new deal with Disney+, according to reports.
Sources told Broadcast magazine the budget is set to increase from £1-3million per episode to a staggering £10million per installment when the show returns next year.
Big changes: Doctor Who has already seen a number of overhauls ahead of its new series, with a new logo unveiled and Ncuti Gatwa being cast as the new Time Lord
One source told the publication that the ramping up of production values and investment from Disney+ is an attempt to help the show find success in the US.
The reported budget would break BBC records and see Doctor Who become its most expensive series, surpassing the previous record-holder His Dark Materials, which had a budget of around £6million per episode due to its HBO collaboration.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC and Disney+ for comment.
Disney+ is set to become the new global home for Doctor Who, with episodes from late 2023 premiering on both the BBC and the streaming service.
New budget: The show is also set to get a record-breaking new budget after the BBC signed a deal with Disney+, according to reports. Pictured: David Tennant returning to the show
Russell T Davies said of the collaboration: ‘I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.’
As reports of more money being pumped into the show, the BBC have already secured huge names for its big 60th anniversary in 2023, including Neil Patrick Harris starring as a mystery villain.
The actor, 49, will play the ‘greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced’, with fans convinced that he will take on the nostalgic villain The Toymaker during his guest-starring stint.
The budget comes as part of a huge overhaul which has seen Russell, 59, return as showrunner in a bid to save the show from falling ratings – 12 years after he stepped away.
Production values: Sources told Broadcast the budget is set to increase from £1-3million per episode to a staggering £10million per installment. Pictured: Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor
Jodie Whittaker’s final episode pulled in just 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million, according to overnight ratings.
Her last hurrah as the Time Lord proved more popular than the New Year’s special, which racked up just 3.2million average viewers with a peak of 3.4million.
However, audience numbers still remained far below the start of Jodie’s tenure as the Doctor in 2018, which pulled in a staggering 9million viewers.
As Jodie, 40, stepped back from the role after five years, David Tennant made his shock return as The Doctor in October’s much-anticipated epic.
Big names: As reports of money being pumped into the show, the BBC have already secured huge names for its 60th anniversary, including Neil Patrick Harris starring as a mystery villain
The Power of the Doctor was jam-packed with excitement as famous faces returned, Jodie bowed out after five years as the Time Lord, David made his return, and fans were given a first-look at Ncuti Gatwa as the 14th Doctor.
A number of former assistants – including Janet Fielding, who plays Tegan – and former Doctors Peter Davison and Colin Baker made guest appearances in the epic.
The episode came to a very dramatic conclusion as Jodie’s Doctor shockingly regenerated into a very familiar face – David Tennant’s 10th Doctor.
Despite not being ready to regenerate, she said while watching the sunset: ‘The blossomiest blossom. That’s the only sad thing. I want to know what happens next.’
He’s back! The budget comes as part of an overhaul which has seen Russell, 59, return as showrunner in a bid to save the show from falling ratings – 12 years after he stepped away
‘Right then, Doctor Whoever-I-am-about-to-be. Tag, you’re it,’ before Tennant made his shock appearance.
The newly regenerated Doctor ran his fingers over his teeth and said ‘I know these’ clearly perplexed as he returned to his former body.
David is returning for three special episodes, set to air in November 2023, after bowing out from the role in 2010.
The feature length 60th celebration of the sci-fi series will also star Catherine Tate before Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa takes control of the Tardis.
Audiences dropping: Jodie Whittaker’s final episode pulled in 3.6million average viewers with a peak of 4million, according to overnight ratings
Jodie’s finale episode on Sunday night ended with a short trailer for the new series, which will hit screens in 2023.
The trailer teased Ncuti’s much-anticipated arrival as the star was seen asking: ‘Can someone tell me what the hell is going on?’
Following the episode, Russell said: ‘If you thought the appearance of David Tennant was a shock, we’ve got plenty more surprises on the way!’
‘The path to Ncuti’s Fifteenth Doctor is laden with mystery, horror, robots, puppets, danger and fun! And how is it connected to the return of the wonderful Donna Noble? How, what, why? We’re giving you a year to speculate, and then all hell lets loose!’
Excitement: But David’s surprise return as the Time Lord is sure to get longtime fans of the sci-fi franchise glued to their seats, along with Ncuti’s debut as the 14th Doctor
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