BBC Director of Drama, Lindsay Salt, recently spoke with Deadline about the current situation with Doctor Who, and what the future holds for the brand.

The current BBC line is to focus on the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas Special, but they have repeatedly confirmed that the show is very much at the heart of the corporation, with Salt adding:

“There are different ways of setting up a show. We just need to make sure we do it in the right way and make sure we take the right time to do it. Ultimately it’s one of the BBC’s most treasured brands, so it’s not going anywhere.”

With the BBC x Disney deal now officially over, eyes are looking towards a potential new streaming partner. Salt didn't rule out another co-production deal for Doctor Who, specifically referencing HBO:

“I managed to walk into this job when the co-pro market imploded and I’ve learned a lot about the tenacity of producers and writers to make things at all budget levels. Things are getting funded in so many different ways now.”We’ll wait and see how we figure it out. HBO have been great partners creatively. There’s a lot of stuff that is changing out there.”

DWO will continue to cover this story as it develops.

Matt Smith and Jessica Hynes are among the cast of British stars that will narrate a second series of poetry shorts for Disney Junior UK.

Previous Doctor Who supporting actors; Richard Briers and David Walliams will also support A Poem Is... which features poetry set to classic animations including Dumbo, Cinderella and Snow White.  

Disney UK’s general manager, Boel Ferguson, said: “Combining timeless poetry with imagery from some of Disney’s most beloved animations is a fantastic way for young children and their parents to enjoy the beauty of a poem well read.”

The 12-part series, produced in-house, is designed to introduce young children to poetry and will begin later this month.

[Source: Broadcast Now]