The BBC has announced a new partnership with Disney+ that will aim to turn Doctor Who into "a global franchise".
The deal will result in significant investment for the long-running sci-fi show, which will return for a new series with Ncuti Gatwa as the new Doctor and Russell T Davies back as showrunner in 2023.
Under the agreement, BBC One will remain the UK home of Doctor Who, with Disney+ gaining the exclusive rights in the rest of the world.
Davies, who has previously spoken of his desire to launch more Who spinoffs, 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."
Charlotte Moore, chief content officer at the BBC, added: "We are thrilled to announce this exciting global partnership with Disney who are the perfect partners to bring this very British show to the rest of the world.
"Russell T Davies' vision for Doctor Who has always been out of this world and we are committed to ensuring that audiences across the globe get the opportunity to enjoy The Doctor's epic adventures with the scale and ambition that they deserve.
"Joining forces with Disney will elevate the show to even greater heights and reach new audiences so it's an extremely exciting time for fans in the UK and across the world."
Doctor Who will return in November 2023 for three specials, with David Tennant taking over as the Fourteenth Doctor, before Gatwa becomes the Fifteenth over Christmas 2023.
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