It has been revealed that season 14 of Doctor Who will premier on Saturday, May 11, in the UK and Friday, May 10, in the US and internationally.
For UK viewers, the first two episodes will drop on iPlayer at midnight on May 11. It will then be broadcast on BBC One later that day, presumably before the Eurovision final. From sci-fi straight into singalong, it’s set to be a Saturday evening of stellar TV.
It is expected weekly episode releases will follow this format; first dropping at midnight on iPlayer before being broadcast in line with BBC One’s traditional primetime schedule. For US and international audiences, the first two episodes of season 14 will be available to stream on Disney+ on Friday, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Again, it’s expected episodes will drop at the same time weekly on Disney+.
The landmark deal between the BBC and Disney+ will see the streaming giant become the international home for the ‘Whoniverse’. However, despite Disney’s acquisition of the international streaming rights (and reported £100 million cash injection into the show), showrunner Russel Davies and other BBC execs have assured fans the show will not lose its distinct British feel.
He previously said: “I love this show, and this is the best of both worlds – with the vision and joy of the BBC and Disney+ together we can launch the TARDIS all around the planet, reaching a new generation of fans while keeping our traditional home firmly on the BBC in the UK.”
What can we expect from Ncuti Gatwa’s first full season as The Doctor?
It looks like we are returning to ‘The Church on Ruby Road’, to kick off Gatwa’s first full season as The Doctor, alongside his new companion Ruby Sunday, played by Coronation Street actress Millie Gibson. Viewers can expect to accompany The Doctor and Ruby to far-flung corners of time and space; including war-torn futures, Regency England, and the swinging sixties.
Davies said: “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!”
Guest stars will include Aneurin Barnard, Anita Dobson, Yasmin Finney, Michelle Greenidge, Jonathan Groff, Bonnie Langford, Genesis Lynea, Jemma Redgrave, Lenny Rush, Indira Varma and Angela Wynter.
It was previously revealed that Gibson’s tenure as The Doctor’s companion will be for season 14 only, with Andor’s Varada Sethu (who has been pictured with Gatwat on set) reportedly set to take over.
You can stream all previous episodes of Doctor Who on iPlayer now.
Words by Hannah Bradfield
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