Doctor Who showrunner Russell T. Davies has clarified speculation on the show's exact budget following its recent acquisition of a distribution deal with Disney+, which reportedly received increased funding going into its 60th Anniversary. Davies is returning as the showrunner since 2010, beginning with the three-episode 60th Anniversary special, airing later this year. This will be followed by a Christmas special episode, which will officially introduce Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor. Doctor Who will then air season 14 in 2024, which will include eight episodes and a Christmas special.
Doctor Who Magazine's 586th edition was released this week, and Davies spoke with editors regarding the news about the show's increased funding, as reported by the Radio Times. Rumors have suggested that Doctor Who's Disney+ distribution deal would land the show a glamorous £10 million (equivalent to roughly $12.1 million) to work with per episode, but Davies has quickly dismissed these reports as incorrect. Here's what he had to say:
"That has been exaggerated. If [£10 million per episode] was the budget, I’d be speaking to you from my base on the Moon. That is not the budget, and I worry that misinformation like that creates false expectation. Nonetheless, we have a lovely, handsome budget, and we’re very happy with how we’re proceeding with it."
What Does The Disney+ Deal Mean For Doctor Who?
Doctor Who has once again set its sights on global fame by sealing a deal with Disney+, which will see the show release on the platform in every country where it's available – except for the UK where it will remain on BBC iPlayer. Though the show's popularity has declined in recent years, it was once an international phenomenon whose 50th Anniversary in 2013 broke many ratings records across the world. Davies is now looking to reclaim Doctor Who's perch on the international stage as he looks to usher in the kind of popularity associated with the show during David Tennant's era; this could very well explain why he has decided to return.
The news of a distribution deal leading to increased funding for Doctor Who seemed promising, but a potential consequence was that Disney+ executives would have a large influence over the stories and the show's direction. There were some concerns that the show could lose its quintessentially British identity due to meddling by American producers. However, Davies has since reassured fans that Doctor Who will remain a BBC product and Disney will have no creative influence.
Though the reported £10 million per episode budget has been debunked by Davies, he still spoke of a "handsome budget," which is a hugely exciting prospect. The show has not always received the healthiest share of BBC's purse, but recent years have seen the broadcaster invest more into what has often been its flagship show. Much of Davies' run, however, was affected by a less-than-ideal budget, which limited the types of stories he could produce and characters he could use. Increased funding may enable Davies far more freedom than he's previously been afforded, and he has not been silent about his ambition to create a Doctor Who universe akin to Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Source: Doctor Who Magazine 586 via Radio Times