Following on from yesterday's confirmation that Netflix will no longer have the rights to stream Doctor Who episodes from 1st February 2016, Hulu have now also confirmed to DWO that they too will no longer have the rights.

Earlier today we asked Hulu, via Twitter, if the recent rumours regarding them losing the rights were in fact true:

@jsb1980 @netflix rumours are that @Hulu are also discontinuing their #DoctorWho library - hope they are just rumours. What say you, @Hulu?

— Doctor Who Online (@DrWhoOnline) January 27, 2016

To which Hulu responded:

@DrWhoOnline We didn't drop #DoctorWho. We just no longer have the rights to stream it and are lacking a TARDIS to remedy the situation. :(

— hulu (@hulu) January 27, 2016

We then asked if there was any way around the issue, and once again got a reply:

@DrWhoOnline Unfortunately, not right now, but we're always striving to license shows our viewers (Whovian or otherwise) want to see.

— hulu (@hulu) January 27, 2016

Speculation is that the BBC are pulling streaming rights to give more focus to their own BBC Store service, but this has yet to be officially confirmed.

UPDATE - 28th January 2016
In a recent article on Decider.com, the BBC stated: “We hope to announce a new digital partner for Doctor Who shortly”. Whether this means the re-inking of a deal with Netflix or Hulu, or their own stateside streaming service, is yet to be confirmed.

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Sources: DWO; Hulu]

Peter Capaldi has been speaking with Radio Times about his preparations for Series 10 of Doctor Who, as well as what we might expect from the new companion.

Speaking at the Radio Times Covers Party he said:

"You have to be fit to do Doctor Who and so I’ve just been getting myself ready and I’ll be getting into training to start the show. When we start, it’ll run for nine months and the most important thing is to be there and to be fit and be on top of everything. I’m looking forward to starting."

Asked if he has any other work lined up during the Doctor Who hiatus, Capaldi said his mind was only on the Time Lord:

"There wasn’t really anything else around that I particularly wanted to do. I’m really looking forward to it. We’ve got, great writers. And some fabulous exciting stories."

As for the new companion, Capaldi added:

"We’ve just had some brief talks about it, we haven’t actually chosen someone yet — that I know of. Perhaps someone has been chosen but I would expect that I would meet them before we finalised all that. So we’re looking for someone different,"

+ Series 10 of Doctor Who airs in 2017.

Actor, writer, director and UNHCR Supporter Peter Capaldi travelled with UNHCR to meet some of the 630,000 Syrian refugees living in camps and towns and cities across Jordan.

Through writing, photography, film and a unique Virtual Reality experience, Peter will be sharing some of their extraordinary stories of escape and survival.

Check out the short film featuring Peter in the player, below:
[youtube:7M0i4x0HtLs]
A spokesperson from UNHCR said to DWO:

"We’re thrilled to have Peter support our work and to have his interest in learning more about the situation facing families across the word who have been forced to flee their homes because of war and conflict. We’d love you to take this journey with Peter and with us over the coming weeks, and beyond." 

+  Make A Donation to UNHCR!

[Source: UNHCR]

The news recently hit the headlines that Netflix were dropping their entire library of Doctor Who episodes as of 1st February 2016. Having received literally hundreds of emails from our visitors wanting to know what was happening, DWO sent Netflix the following tweet:

Hey @netflix @NetflixUK - removing #DoctorWho from your library is a bad idea. Don't just take our word for it, though. [Cue the fans] :)

— Doctor Who Online (@DrWhoOnline) January 25, 2016

Today, the Netflix team replied to us, clarifying that Doctor Who will remain on Netflix UK, but that it will be removed from 1st February in the USA only, due to "a variety of factors". Below are the tweeted replies:

@DrWhoOnline Good and bad news. Doctor Who is staying on @NetflixUK, but our dear Doctor will be departing on Feb 1 from the US. (1 of 2)

— Netflix US (@netflix) January 26, 2016

@DrWhoOnline Content comes & goes-a variety of factors are considered. It's goodbye to an old friend, but a promise to care for David & Matt

— Netflix US (@netflix) January 26, 2016

This then prompted some of our followers to enquire about Netflix' streaming service in Canada, and whether Doctor Who episodes would be pulled their, also. Fortunately Canada will not be affected either:

@Cap_XIII @DrWhoOnline @NetflixUK No change for the Doctor in Canada.

— Netflix US (@netflix) January 26, 2016

It seems all hope may not be lost, however, as Netflix further clarified their wish on working to get Doctor Who back again:

@DrWhoOnline Sometimes the licensing for our content will expire & we have to remove it. But we're always happy to work on getting it *JF

— Netflix CS (@Netflixhelps) January 26, 2016

@DrWhoOnline back. Your feedback is most helpful, thank you! *JF

— Netflix CS (@Netflixhelps) January 26, 2016

UPDATE - 27th January 2016
Hulu have also confirmed they too will lose the rights to air Doctor Who in the USA as of 1st February 2016.

UPDATE - 28th January 2016
In a recent article on Decider.com, the BBC stated: “We hope to announce a new digital partner for Doctor Who shortly”. Whether this means the re-inking of a deal with Netflix or Hulu, or their own stateside streaming service, is yet to be confirmed.

+  Follow @DrWhoOnline on Twitter!

[Sources: DWO; Netflix]

The BBC have now confirmed that Steven Moffat will be stepping down after Series 10 has aired in 2017, and that Chris Chibnall will be taking over for the 2018 series.

The news means that there will be no series in 2016, just a Christmas Special on Christmas Day. Moffat will be handing the TARDIS keys over to Chibnall, who has previously written for Doctor Who and Torchwood, as well as creating hit ITV series Broadchurch.

BBC1 controller Charlotte Moore said:

“I have decided to schedule Steven’s big finale series in Spring 2017 to bring the nation together for what will be a huge event on the channel. 2016 is spoilt with national moments including the Euros and Olympics and I want to hold something big back for 2017 - I promise it will be worth the wait! I want to thank Steven Moffat for everything he has given Doctor Who – I’ve loved working with him, he is an absolute genius and has brought fans all over the world such joy. I will be very sad to see him leave the show but I can’t wait to see what he will deliver in his last ever series next year with a brand new companion. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Chris Chibnall, a wonderfully talented writer who I know will bring something very special to the hit series.” 

Polly Hill, BBC controller of drama commissioning, added:

“Like Charlotte I would like to thank Steven for his brilliance, which has made Doctor Who a global hit under his tenure.  Chris Chibnall is the perfect successor to take over the reins of this incredible show, so I am delighted that his love for Doctor Who has made it impossible for him to resist !  Chris is an incredible writer and his vision and passion for Doctor Who gives it an exciting future and promises to be a real treat for Doctor Who fans across the world.”  

On stepping down from the role, Steven Moffat said:

“Feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m just starting work on the scripts for season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out. While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him. It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but I am beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

On taking over, Chris Chibnall said:

"Doctor Who is the ultimate BBC programme: bold, unique, vastly entertaining, and adored all around the world.  So it's a privilege and a joy to be the next curator of this funny, scary and emotional family drama. I’ve loved Doctor Who since I was four years old, and I’m relishing the thought of working with the exceptional team at BBC Wales to create new characters, creatures and worlds for the Doctor to explore.  Steven’s achieved the impossible by continually expanding Doctor Who's creative ambition, while growing its global popularity. He’s been a dazzling and daring showrunner, and hearing his plans and stories for 2017, it’s clear he’ll be going out with a bang. Just to make my life difficult." 

More news as we get it... 

[Source: BBC; Radio Times]

It is with deepest regret that DWO announces the passing of Classic Series Doctor Who Writer, Robert Banks Stewart.

Robert was perhaps best known to Doctor Who fans for penning two, much-loved, 4th Doctor adventures; Terror Of The Zygons & The Seeds Of Doom.

Robert's other career highlights included contributing scripts to; The Sweeney, Callan, Special Branch and The Edgar Wallace Mysteries. He also produced Bergerac, The Darling Buds Of May and Lovejoy (to name just a few)

DWO would like to extend our sympathies to Robert's family and friends.

+ Read DWO's Interview with Robert Banks Stewart from 2013. 

[Source: BBC News]

Doctor Who Magazine have sent DWO the cover and details for Issue 495 of DWM.

Doctor Who Magazine finds out what happens when River Song runs into the Eighth Doctor in the new audio series The Diary of River Song – and interviews both Paul McGann and Alex Kingston!

“River has to interact with the Eighth Doctor to save him, to help him,” explains Alex. “When she’s figured out how she can do that without having to be physically present in front of him, alongside helping him, she can then tease and flirt a little bit, because she knows she’s safe, and she knows she hasn’t overstepped a boundary, or changed his or her future in any way by that actual physical interaction. So she can then have fun! She’s in control.”

And what does the Eighth Doctor make of River?

“What the Doctor says to River when he realises her acumen, her calibre, is ‘Wow, hang on a minute – where did you pick up all this?! For an amateur, you ain’t half clever’,” chuckles Paul. “He says, ‘Any time you fancy joining me, I could always do with a pair of hands’. He realises, almost instantly, how clever she is. ‘If you’re ever stuck for a trip round the universe helping me out, you’re on.’ So there’s that lovely playfulness as well. Of course, he’s doing it in blissful ignorance. And she’s trying not to appear too clever, and give the game away, but of course she has to save his life. So it’s great. It’s childish, but it’s great fun.”

ALSO INSIDE ISSUE 495...

ASK STEVEN MOFFAT
Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat answers readers questions about the recent episode Heaven Sent – and find out whether the Doctor ever had to run around the castle naked!

THE DRAGON LORD
The latest comic strip adventure continues with Part 2 of The Dragon Lord, written by Steve Lyons, with art from Adrian Salmon.

CEREAL KILLERS
Doctor Who fans of the 1970s will get nostalgic, as we take a trip down memory lane and meet the artist behind Weetabix’s series of artwork cards, which were launched in 1975, and given away with packets of breakfast cereal.

THE ELEVENTH HOUR APPROACHES
The Time Team returns to watch the first adventure of the Eleventh Doctor – The Eleventh Hour. What will they make of the new Doctor, Amy Pond and Prisoner Zero?

WREAKING HAVOC
A tribute to stuntman Derek Ware, who worked on Doctor Who during its first decade, and has recently passed away at the age of 77.

THE EXXILON FACTOR
The Fact of Fiction takes an in-depth look at the 1974 Third Doctor adventure Death to the Daleks.

THE DWM REVIEW
DWM reviews the recent Christmas Special, The Husbands of River Song. We also take a look at the latest books and audio and revisit 1968’s The Wheel in Space and 1977’s The Face of Evil.

THE DWM SEASON SURVEY!
Vote for your favourites of the most recent series, plus the book and audio releases from the past 12 months!

PLUS! All the latest official news, previews of upcoming releases, competitions, the answers to The Watcher’s Fiendishly Festive Christmas Quiz, The DWM Crossword and much more!

+  Doctor Who Magazine Issue #495 is out on Thursday 7th January, priced £4.99.
+  Subscribe Worldwide to DWM from just £19.49 via Unique Magazines!
+  Check Out The DWO Guide to Doctor Who Magazine!

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]