Nocturnal 
Doctor Who could be about to change hands behind the cameras, with several major production companies now in the running to make the next era of the show.
According to an exclusive report from Deadline, the BBC has launched a competitive tender for Doctor Who, effectively a “bake-off” process in which rival producers pitch their vision for the long-running sci-fi series. The move comes after showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf stepped away from the series.
Among those said to have thrown their hat in the ring is Line of Duty and Bodyguard writer Jed Mercurio. Deadline reports that Mercurio is fronting a bid through Hat Trick Mercurio (HTM), the production company he runs with Hat Trick founder Jimmy Mulville, with Mercurio himself attached as an executive producer. Mercurio has sci-fi pedigree too, having created BBC series Invasion: Earth back in the 1990s. HTM declined to comment when approached by Deadline.
Mercurio isn’t the only Line of Duty name circling the TARDIS. World Productions, the company behind that hit police drama, has reportedly submitted a separate proposal, with sources telling Deadline that the firm is effectively leading ITV Studios’ efforts to land the contract. World Productions boss Simon Heath had previously signalled his interest in the process. World Productions also declined to comment.
Perhaps the most eye-catching pitch comes from STV Studios, the company behind Blue Lights and Criminal Record, which has reportedly teamed up with Screen Scotland to propose moving Doctor Who’s production base north of the border for its next series. STV Studios declined to comment on the reported bid.
Deadline also previously reported that two separate labels within BBC Studios are likely to table their own bids. BBC Studios scripted boss Jamie Hall reportedly argued the wider BBC group should “reap the rewards” of the franchise, telling Deadline there is “an opportunity to get back to what the core offering was” during the Matt Smith and David Tennant years. BBC Studios’ stable includes Baby Reindeer maker Clerkenwell Films, Sherwood producer House Productions and Lookout Point.
Why it matters
Doctor Who has called Wales home for most of its revived run since 2005, but the BBC has reportedly stipulated that the next series must be made outside London, opening the door for a relocation. A Scotland-based bid is notable given the BBC faced criticism last year for axing long-running Scottish soap River City, although the corporation said at the time it planned to spend £100 million on drama in Scotland over three years.
The deadline for submissions passed last Friday, according to Deadline, meaning the BBC is now weighing up competing visions for a show that needs what Jamie Hall called a “dramatic refresh” after Davies and Bad Wolf’s exit.
What happens next
None of the production companies named have confirmed their bids publicly, and the BBC has not announced a decision or timeline for choosing a winner. Until an official announcement is made, who exactly will steer Doctor Who’s next regeneration behind the scenes remains unconfirmed.
[{“name”: “Deadline”, “url”: “https://deadline.com/2026/10/doctor-who-bids-revealed-jed-mercurio-bbc-scotland-1237147648/”}]
A photo of the Doctor Who TARDIS prop, or a generic BBC Television Centre/Cardiff studio exterior shot
Jed Mercurio and a Scotland-based bid are reportedly among the pitches to take over production of Doctor Who, according to Deadline.
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All claims are attributed to a single Deadline exclusive and are unconfirmed by the BBC or named companies, several of whom declined to comment – worth flagging as not yet officially verified.
[“Jed Mercurio”, “Doctor Who TARDIS”, “BBC Television Centre”, “David Tennant Doctor Who”, “sci-fi television set”]
[“Confirm with BBC whether a formal tender process for Doctor Who production has been launched”, “Verify Jed Mercurio/Hat Trick Mercurio bid directly with BBC or Mercurio’s team, as HTM declined to comment to Deadline”, “Confirm World Productions’ and STV Studios’ involvement, as both declined to comment on the reported bids”, “Verify Jamie Hall’s quotes and BBC Studios’ reported bidding labels”]
