Like clockwork, rumors of the cancellation of the beloved and long-running Doctor Who show have resurfaced, again.
After an article in notoriously gossipy The Sun over the weekend, the franchise's host network, The BBC, has found themselves needing to defend actions they have not actually taken. The article alleges that Who fans are "outraged" by the BBC "shoehorning wokery [sic]" into the show and are quitting watching it in droves.
The BBC made a statement clarifying that decisions about season 3 of the most current Doctor, a role that has been passed from actor to actor since the show's beginning in the 1960s, will not be made until the entirety of season 2 has aired.
Notably, this season's airing is in conjunction with Disney+, a departure from former streaming deals.
“This story is incorrect, Doctor Who has not been shelved. As we have previously stated, the decision on season 3 will be made after season 2 airs...The deal with Disney+ was for 26 episodes – and exactly half of those still have to transmit. And as for the rest, we never comment on the Doctor and future storylines.”
The most current Doctor is played by Ncuti Gatwa, a Rwandan-Scottish actor who faced intense homophobia and racism when he assumed the title of Doctor in 2023.
In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2024, he had nothing but praise for the BBC and the whole Doctor Who franchise, saying he had been welcomed with open arms.
However, he was quite aware of the realities of the reaction to his casting.
“I don’t want to invalidate the very real thing that is racism, homophobia. I don’t act as if they don’t exist or they don’t affect me. They do. But I try to pay it no mind and look at the many, many positives that came from joining the Whoniverse.”
Gatwa and the Doctor are here to stay, at least until the already-filmed season continues its release schedule.
Commenters familiar with the song-and-dance of Doctor Who cancellation were annoyed by the whole thing being brought up again and again.
@gimmeurcrisps/X
Honestly, "fearing cancellation of 'Doctor Who' " is just a semi-annual observance for your typical Whovian.
Folks sympathized with the poor BBC spokesperson who has to respond to this non-issue.
@pheebs_18/X
Still, some commenters pointed out, the BBC didn't address the other rumors about Gatwa's departure from the show.
Some people were on the fence about believing in the continued life of the show.
Finally, someone got to the heart of responding to the message The Sun was sending about "wokery."
The second season of the 15th Doctor will be released in 2025, following a Christmas episode in late 2024.
@lordye/Bluesky
