‘Doctor Who’ Returns May 10 In The US
by Erik Amaya
We finally know when The Doctor is returning to screens.
Disney and the BBC announced Friday that the new season of Doctor Who — known either as “Series 14” or “Season 1” depending on who’s talking — will debut Friday May 10 at 7pm ET in the States and May 11, 12am GMT in the UK and Ireland. The move is part of a worldwide simultaneous launch which will see new episodes of the program debut on Disney+ and BBC’s iPlayer before they air on BBC One in the UK territories.
The change is huge, in its way, as Doctor Who traditionally airs on terrestrial UK television before beaming out across the planet. Even the 60th Anniversary specials, which also streamed day-and-date on Disney+ internationally, aligned with BBC One’s schedule for a simultaneous broadcast. Prior alterations to the program’s Saturday evening time slot include a period in the 1980s when it aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and, in more recent days, a move to Sundays during the tenure of showrunner Chris Chibnall.
According to the Disney press release, the new run of episodes will see The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) “through infinite adventures across time and space in the TARDIS. From the Regency era in England to war-torn futures, the duo champion the forces of good while encountering incredible friends and dangerous foes.” Guest cast for the year includes Aneurin Barnard, Anita Dobson, Yasmin Finney, Michelle Greenidge, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush, Indira Varma, and Angela Wynter.
Showrunner Russell T. Davies added, “At last, it’s my great delight to unleash a whole new season of the Doctor and Ruby’s adventures together. Monsters! Chases! Villains! Mysteries! And a terrifying secret that’s been spanning time and space for decades. Don’t miss a second!” He has a way with making it all sound breathtaking. Of course, some mysteries are already in play, such as the identity of Ruby’s mother, whom The Doctor spotted at the end of the 2023 Christmas Specials, “The Church on Ruby Road,” and the enigma of Mrs. Flood (Dobson), Ruby’s neighbor who recognized the TARDIS in the special’s closing moments.
Hopefully, answers will be forthcoming as the season wears on. For the moment, though, Doctor Who debuts May 10th or 11th with two new episodes on Disney+ or BBC iPlayer.
