Russell T Davies memoir: Disney deal ended, a third season "a nightmare", Netflix also pitched to
In his memoir The Queerest of Folk, Doctor Who's Russell T Davies says a third season under the Disney deal would have been a nightmare for him, and that the show was also pitched to Netflix and Amazon in 2022.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1Russell T Davies, the former Doctor Who showrunner, writes in his memoir The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television that a third season under the BBC–Disney deal would in some ways have been "a nightmare" for him, though he says he would have managed it. Digital SpyN “In fact, in some ways it would have been a nightmare for me if that third series had come along, but I would have managed it.” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Centre · 2The Disney co-production deal, which began with Davies's return for the 60th anniversary in 2023, covered three anniversary specials, two eight-episode seasons, two Christmas specials and the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea. Radio TimesN “That deal encompassed three anniversary specials, two eight-episode seasons, two Christmas specials and a spin-off, titled The War Between the Land and the Sea.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Digital SpyN “The deal was only for two seasons plus the three 60th anniversary specials and spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Centre · 2Under that deal Disney released the show on its streaming service outside the UK, and Radio Times reports that it was announced before the spin-off aired in December 2025 that the deal would not be renewed. Digital SpyN “with the House of Mouse releasing it on its streaming service outside of the UK” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Radio TimesN “before that latter show aired in December 2025, it was announced that the deal with Disney would not be renewed” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1In an excerpt published in The Guardian, Davies says the final Ncuti Gatwa episodes were made without knowing whether Disney would renew, a matter he says was down to Disney and the BBC rather than the production company Bad Wolf. Digital SpyN “But we had to make these final episodes not knowing whether the Disney deal would be renewed,”“That was nothing to do with us at [independent production company] Bad Wolf; it was down to conversations with Disney and the BBC.” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Centre · 1Davies writes that he thought deep down it would not be renewed, and points to new projects he was already setting up, including Tip Toe for Channel 4 and a dance version of It's a Sin with Rambert. Digital SpyN “Deep down I thought it wouldn't.”“I was already creating new work: Tip Toe for Channel 4, and also setting up the dance version of It's a Sin with Rambert.” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Centre · 1He says the plan had been to end Gatwa's run with an open-ended regeneration, but once it was "pretty much confirmed that Disney had said no", he felt cutting to credits without revealing the next Doctor would look "like the death of the show"; Billie Piper stepped in for the regeneration scene instead, which he says got people talking about the show again. Digital SpyN “pretty much confirmed that Disney had said no”“Instead, the decision was made to give Billie Piper step in for the regeneration scene” Read at Digital Spy ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times reports from the memoir that in 2022 the team pitched to all the streaming platforms, including Netflix (in person, with an illustrated booklet) and Amazon as well as Disney. Radio TimesN “"We pitched to all of the streaming platforms," Davies wrote. "We did Netflix and Amazon as well as Disney.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Davies writes that he assumed Netflix would win, using the name "in the way you use the word Sellotape", and regarded Disney as "the most impossible" option because of its expensive Marvel and Star Wars shows, but Disney said yes and he praises its executive Charlie Andrews. Radio TimesN “I think we all thought it would go to Netflix.”“I remember thinking the Disney option was the most impossible of all.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Davies has since left the series and it has been put out to competitive tender; Radio Times says it is now expected back in 2028 or 2029, with its format and production company not decided until spring 2027. Radio TimesN “Doctor Who is now expected to return in 2028 or 2029, but in what format - and with which production company at the helm - won't be decided until spring 2027.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times adds that Netflix UK's Anne Mensah told it at the Edinburgh TV Festival 2026 that she thinks Doctor Who "belongs on the BBC". Radio TimesN “I think Doctor Who belongs on the BBC, and I think all of its iterations.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets are entertainment press reporting on memoir excerpts: Digital Spy leads with Davies's "nightmare" admission about a third season, Radio Times with the 2022 pitches to other streamers before Disney.
- Emphasis
- Digital Spy stresses the uncertainty over renewal and the Billie Piper regeneration decision; Radio Times stresses the Netflix and Amazon pitches, Disney's executives and the show's future.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Digital Spy does not mention the other streamers pitched to or the tender; Radio Times does not cover the 'nightmare' remark or the Piper regeneration.
- Charged language
- “a nightmare”“House of Mouse”
- For example
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“Doctor Who's Russell T Davies has admitted that doing another season since returning to the science fiction show would have been "a nightmare".” — Digital Spy
“Now, in his new memoir The Queerest of Folk, Davies has revealed that there were actually multiple streamers in contention” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Davies's memoir The Queerest of Folk: A Life in Television was published on 8 October.
- The BBC–Disney deal covered two seasons, anniversary specials and the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea, and was not renewed.
- Doctor Who can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.
Russell T Davies person
In his memoir he says the Disney renewal was out of Bad Wolf's hands, that he expected it to fail, and that a third season would have been a nightmare but manageable; he recalls Disney as unlikely but lovely partners.
“Deep down I thought it wouldn't.” — Digital Spy
“But then they turned around and said yes! And they were very lovely.” — Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre3 articles
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Doctor Who's Russell T Davies admits it would have been "a nightmare" to do another season
Neutral Reports Davies's memoir remarks that a third Disney-era season would have been a nightmare and how the ending was reshaped.
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Doctor Who almost went to another streaming platform before Disney deal, Russell T Davies reveals
Neutral Reports Davies's account of the 2022 streamer pitches and Disney's selection, with context on the show's uncertain future.
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Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 5 Oct 16:11 First Digital SpyN Doctor Who's Russell T Davies admits it would have been "a nightmare" to do another season
- 8 Oct 11:45 +67h 34m Radio TimesN Doctor Who almost went to another streaming platform before Disney deal, Russell T Davies reveals
- 8 Oct 13:04 +68h 53m Screen RantN Doctor Who's Russell T. Davies Details Every Reason The Disney Era Failed
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.