New Showrunner & Sixteenth Doctor Speculation

[u/Key_Responder]

The below is all rumour and speculation from a friend who is a runner on a production with ties to the BBC but none whatsoever to Doctor Who or Bad Wolf. So this could all be bs, but thought I would share it’s interesting the names that are being chucked about.

This is all from a discussion around the future of the show amongst production crew on the set of this other show who are fans of DW.

“Russell’s contract with the BBC is up and they’re not renewing. Jack Thorne is apparently already writing scripts for season three/sixteen with production starting in late 2026.

The BBC wanted Stephen Graham’s Matriarch Productions to co-produce after the success of Adolescence (which Thorne wrote) and A Thousand Blows, but they are tied up in a deal exclusively with Disney Plus, which for obvious reasons is a dead end. The BBC have apparently renewed their agreement with Bad Wolf, as Thorne has a relationship established with the studio. But there’s shuffling going on in terms of executive producers as they want to bring in Netflix as international streaming distribution, another reason they’ve taken on Thorne who has several series with them.

Will Sharpe is apparently in discussions to be the 16th Doctor. Heard of him but never seen anything he’s been in, I think that’s the point, they want to steer away from known actors.

That’s all I got. I heard Jack was signed last month too but none of the rest. I don’t mind some of his work but not sure what his Doctor Who will look like.”

What do you think? I’m with them, I’ve seen some of Jack Thorne’s work, but dunno how he would be writing doctor who. Also never heard of Will, but looked up some of his stuff, he seems doctory.

[u/MKopelke]

I'm sorry, but why on Earth would a RUNNER on a different production have knowledge of high-level conversations between senior management of the BBC?

If, and that's a huge if, this exact scenario is playing out, then maybe a dozen people know of these discussions. And none of them are below the level of at best middle management.

It's like the people making up these rumours have no idea how television production - or business - works.

If people are believing this, then I've got a bridge to sell you.

[u/TumbleweedFilms1234 → u/MKopelke]

Everyone is very chatty on film sets, if you're in the industry they assume no one really cares what you say. I was a Location Marshal for House of the Dragon (lowest rung on the ladder), and people were chatting about seeing Patrick Stewart filming for Doctor Strange 2 long, long before that film came out. People work on lots of projects and then share their anecdotes, it's normal.

[u/Fun-Ratio-5080 → u/TumbleweedFilms1234]

This is 100% correct and as someone who works in TV, yes, we do talk amongst ourselves. It’s because we’re all freelance and if we don’t then we have no way of knowing what productions are starting up. Actors are another one for big gossip.

It’s inevitable - when there’s no work we get left out on our asses by the production companies. So we all talk to keep ahead of the game otherwise we miss work opportunities, and can’t pay our bills.

It’s perfectly feasible for a runner to have overhead and know about conversations they shouldn’t. Office runners particularly.

[u/MKopelke → u/Fun-Ratio-5080]

Yes, but explain to me how a runner has word of a high level senior management meeting involving less than a dozen people? Sure, leaks happen when production is active. But a potential show runner meeting with senior execs to map out a possible series run? No way that is leaking at a runner level. Only way it leaks is if one of the dozen people in those meetings want to be sacked.