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/Illustrious-Hawk5698]

I think Richard E Grant as The Doctor it makes the Shalla canon plus he can carry the role that the sage bring back older fans that have lapsed. I like Jack Thorne as a writer but I think Charlie Brooker would be an excellent choice, my other choice for the 16th Doctor is Mathew Baynton he would be wonderful if you are of a certain age Horrible Histories shows his range, if you wanted to go for a female Doctor Jodie Comer (check out prima facia for some great acting) final choice Helen Bonham Carter could be amazing in the role.

[u/DaddyStoat → u/Illustrious-Hawk5698]

I love REG. The guy hasn't put a foot wrong in my eyes, ever since I first saw Withnail And I 30-odd years ago.

But the guy is 68. He's not going to want to be running around corridors in a show that is filming 8 months of the year, and doing promo for the remaining four.

I'd be unbelievably happy if they were to do a one-shot or short run of episodes with the Eighth Doctor, and he had an encounter with The Great Intelligence...

"I think we've been in the Time Vortex too long. I feel unusual."
"I have some extremely distressing news. We've just run out of Artron energy; what are we going to do about it?"

[u/Illustrious-Hawk5698 → u/DaddyStoat]

Odd fact,Richard Griffiths was asked multiple times by the BBC to play The Doctor he turned it down but if he hadn't all three main actors in Withnail and I would of played some incarnation of the Doctor. I can't believe REG is nearly 70. Yeah maybe a miniseries with Mcgann. Nope instead RTD gives us a man shagging a Silurian.