The race to revive Doctor Who has a field of named bidders. Deadline reports that Hat Trick Mercurio, the production company run by Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio with Hat Trick founder Jimmy Mulville, has submitted a proposal to produce the BBC sci-fi series, with Mercurio attached as an executive producer. He is a lifelong sci-fi fan and created the BBC series Invasion: Earth in the 1990s.
Other bids are in as well. Line of Duty producer World Productions, now part of ITV Studios, has tabled its own plans to reimagine the Time Lord, and STV Studios wants to move the TARDIS to Scotland with a proposal backed by Screen Scotland. BBC Studios scripted chief Jamie Hall has said one or two BBC Studios labels are also expected to compete.
The bids landed after the BBC put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this September, following the exit of showrunner Russell T Davies and producer Bad Wolf. The broadcaster is weighing the competing visions now, with the winner set to be named in spring 2027 and the new season targeting 2028 or 2029.