The longest-running science-fiction series in the world, Doctor Who will be returning for season 13 — and beyond! The secret to Doctor Who's success is the Doctor's ability to regenerate. This allows the show to continually reinvent itself, and since the 2005 relaunch, showrunners have taken it as an opportunity to overhaul the format as well. Current showrunner Chris Chibnall has been particularly ambitious, dropping a lot of the stylistic choices of the Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat eras.
The Chibnall era has been a controversial one so far, with the fanbase divided over its themes and overt political messaging. The Doctor Who season 12 finale didn't exactly help matters, with Chibnall retconning the entire history of the Doctor. Far from just a Renegade Time Lord, the Doctor is actually the Timeless Child, an ancient being who potentially predates the universe itself and served as the base genetic template for the entire Time Lord race. While this fits surprisingly well with classic Doctor Who, it outright contradicts countless moments from the 2005 relaunch — which isn't particularly surprising given Chris Chibnall dreamed up the idea back in the '80s.
All this has led to intense discussion about the future of Doctor Who. The following is everything publicly known about Doctor Who season 13, as well as upcoming plans for the franchise in general.
The BBC Still Has A Long-Term Plan For Doctor Who
It's true that Doctor Who's viewing figures are declining, but that doesn't mean the show is in trouble. It is one of the BBC's most profitable exports, and in fact back in 2017 the BBC struck a deal to export the show to China — with a first look for seasons 12 through 15. Although some fansites have taken this to mean both showrunner Chris Chibnall and current star Jodie Whittaker will be sticking around until at least the end of Doctor Who season 15, the Chinese deal shouldn't really be seen to indicate that; rather, it simply suggests the BBC want to keep Doctor Who around in the long-term. The BBC has defended the Chibnall era, insisting Doctor Who is "an incredibly important show for young audiences, it’s still watched by families in a world where there are fewer shows that have the power to do that. It will always be an important show for us and we’re a very long way from wanting to rest it."
Doctor Who's Season 13 Cast Haven't Entirely Been Confirmed
Showrunner Chris Chibnall is returning for Doctor Who season 13, as is Jodie Whittaker; but the Doctor's companions look to be changing. Bradley Walsh and Tosin Cole are reportedly leaving after this year's Holiday Special, which completed production before the coronavirus pandemic and is expected to air over the New Year. Mandip Gill is believed to be sticking around, though, so the gang isn't completely breaking up. It's currently unknown whether the Doctor will pick up any new companions, or whether the TARDIS crew will be slimmed down. Scripts in Doctor Who season 12 struggled to navigate such a large crew, so this is possibly something of a course-correction.
Doctor Who Season 13 Has Been Delayed Due To Coronavirus
Chris Chibnall has pushed for a dramatic production value to modern Doctor Who, but unfortunately that means the show is particularly vulnerable to disruption — especially during a global pandemic. In a speech to the Royal Television Society in June, the Director of BBC Wales confirmed the show could not resume filming at present. According to Rhodri Talfan Davies, social distancing made it impossible to make Doctor Who. "A production like that, which at any point employs hundreds of people, freelance and stuff, I don't believe can be made to the current standard in a socially distanced environment," Rhodri explained. There's been no word since on when the current restrictions will be relaxed enough to recommence filming. Fans could have a long wait after the Doctor Who Holiday Special.