New showrunner, Russell T Davies, has said that Doctor Who is entering its “next stage” — and that means more spin-offs, seemingly supporting by streaming platforms.

He said:

“So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC’s measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who.

“I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off.

“Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that’s fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things.”

Indeed, such spin-offs have been rumoured for some time now, but it’s especially fantastic to hear Davies looking to the future and bringing an enthusiasm for not just Doctor Who as a show but as a wider franchise.

This was further fuelled by photos of the Bad Wolf studios lot, which feature the words, “Home of the Whoniverse”, alongside Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.

We are, of course, left with lots of questions, namely: what sort of spin-offs? And where will they be made available? His talk of streaming leads us to think Disney+ might be involved, but we can’t see Russell fully taking these extra tales away from the BBC. Maybe a split broadcasting deal has been made, similar to how BBC1 will remain Doctor Who‘s home in the UK, but Disney+ will make it available in other territories.

And what spin-offs might be in the works? There’s speculation that a Doctor Who Confidential-like programme is being made already, and we wouldn’t be surprised if we see Sophie Aldred returning as Ace again for a Sarah Jane Adventures-inspired spin-off. She was sketched in to return for SJA before Elisabeth Sladen’s sad passing, and she came back to the main show for The Power of the Doctor.

What would you like to see, DWC readers? Are spin-offs the next stage for the Doctor…?