The North PacificBoard

The midnight release means new episodes of Doctor Who will be released around the world at exactly the same time, with UK fans able to watch on BBC iPlayer and fans around the world able to tune in on Disney Plus.

The episodes will be arriving in a new release format, with fans around the world getting them available to stream simultaneously, at midnight UK time, ahead of them airing on BBC One later that day.

This change has provoked a mixed reaction from fans, but Davies has defended the decision, explaining some of the reasons behind it.

Writing in Doctor Who Magazine, Davies acknowledged the backlash, but insisted that this flexible release strategy is the "future" of television – which has been evolving rapidly since the rise of streaming services.

The screenwriter also called attention to Doctor Who's history of staggered release schedules, from Paul McGann's film being released on VHS days before its television broadcast to The Five Doctors novelisation arriving weeks before the episode itself.

"And now we have 2024," wrote Davies. "With plenty of warning of the new pattern, for you to plan ahead and choose your own viewing. And that’s the point: choice. You’re not having to change your habits to fit the show, the show is changing to fit you.

"And it’s changing to adopt the patterns of all modern TV shows. Yes, I think all of them, very soon. This is the future, and it’s here, right now."

Filming for season 14 began in December 2022, shortly after it was announced that Gatwa had been cast as the Fifteenth Doctor.

Production wrapped in July 2023, with showrunner Russell T Davies sharing a full cast and crew photo.

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