A new behind-the-scenes Doctor Who spin-off show will accompany the sci-fi series from 2023.
Returning showrunner Russell T. Davies has commissioned the series believed to be called Doctor Who: Unleashed which will begin in 2023 in conjunction with the 60th anniversary special which sees David Tennant reprise his role as the Tenth Doctor alongside Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble.
The programme will be fronted by BBC radio presenter and gaming reporter Steffan Powell.
The show will be in a similar format to Doctor Who Confidential - which launched in conjunction with the series when it was brought back in 2005 by Russell and which ran until 2012 – giving fans interviews with the cast and writer, as well as sneak peaks of filming and special effects wizardry.
The sister show is part of Russell’s grand plan to boost Doctor Who’s flagging ratings and get fans back on side following the disappointment of departing showrunner Chris Chibnall’s time in charge and a lukewarm response to Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to ever play the Time Lord.
A source said: “Doctor Who Confidential was hugely popular amongst fans when Christopher Eccleston brought the show back as the Ninth Doctor and that continued during David’s tenure in the TARDIS as the Tenth Doctor.
“Russell is aware that Doctor Who fans can never get enough content when it comes to the show and how it is made, with David and Catherine making a sensational return to the show, he thought the time was right to bring back a behind-the-scenes show which will document their comebacks and show how the special was made.”
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The plan is for Doctor Who Confidential to continue to run in conjunction with the series when Russell’s first full season airs with Ncuti Gatwa joining as the Fourteenth Doctor.
Russell helped revive Doctor Who in 2005 and was the showrunner until 2009. Episodes under his tenure featured Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as the Doctor with ratings of over ten million.
Recent episodes under showrunner Chibnall has struggled and the New Year’s Day special this year attracted 3.4million in the overnight figures, although more people have since watched on BBC iPlayer.
At the peak of its powers, spin-off show Doctor Who Confidential announced in a BBC1 special that Matt Smith as the new Doctor in January 2009 and then screened the first in-depth interview with him in the role.
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