BBC Plans Doctor Who Preschool Spin-Off After Ncuti Gatwa Exit

Doctor Who is undergoing significant changes following Ncuti Gatwa's departure after two seasons as the Fifteenth Doctor, culminating in a surprise regeneration into Billie Piper, who is poised to become the Sixteenth Doctor. The original ending of Gatwa's final season was reportedly a festive party scene featuring several characters, including Susan, the Doctor's granddaughter, serving as a cliffhanger for a planned third season that will no longer happen. Concurrently, the BBC is expanding the Doctor Who franchise with a new pre-school animated spinoff on CBeebies, aimed at introducing younger audiences to the Whoniverse through age-appropriate adventures, with production companies invited to pitch for the project. This animated series represents a departure from the Disney partnership that characterized Gatwa's era, as the BBC is moving forward independently after the main show's ratings underperformed. Showrunner Russell T Davies has expressed hope for the series' return, indicating readiness with new plans despite uncertainty about the future. Billie Piper's return to the franchise adds a layer of intrigue, with fans eager to discover whether she will reprise her role as Rose Tyler or take on a new incarnation of the Doctor.