BBC Studios to Bid to Produce Next Era of Doctor Who, Boss Says

BBC Studios has confirmed it will enter the competitive process to become the next production partner for the long-running science-fiction series, with the company’s chief declaring they are prepared to fight for the role.

The studio’s leader, Tom Fussell, told reporters that BBC Studios will join the tender to produce the show and pledged a full bid, summing up the company’s stance with the line, “We are in it to win it.” The remark underlines that the studio intends to be a serious contender as the broadcaster seeks a production partner for future seasons.

Opening up production of a flagship series to competitive bids is a notable moment. Historically, the show has been produced in-house for long stretches, but a formal tender invites external teams, independent producers and existing studio partners to present plans that could influence the show’s creative and logistical direction. For viewers and crew alike, the process raises questions about continuity, scale and the kinds of creative teams that might be assembled.

For BBC Studios, the decision to compete reflects both a defense of its established role and a bid to demonstrate capability. The company brings institutional knowledge of the series’ production needs, long-standing technical resources and relationships across the industry. At the same time, an open process can spotlight alternative proposals promising fresh creative approaches or different financing and international partnerships.

What happens next is a formal evaluation of submissions and proposals. The outcome will determine which producer oversees the next chapters of the series and how that production is organized. Regardless of winner, the tender process signals a moment of potential change for a show with a deeply rooted production history.

In sum, the studio’s confirmation that it will bid — and its blunt message that it aims to win — sets up a competitive selection that could shape the series’ next era. Production fans and industry observers will be watching the submissions and the eventual decision for clues about the show’s future direction.