'Doctor Who' comes to BBC America

David Tennant of 'Doctor Who'

BBC America has acquired the first-run rights to five new "Doctor Who" specials, including the installments that will conclude David Tennant's run as Doctor.

The deal ends a four-season "Doctor Who" run on Sci Fi Channel and reunites "Doctor Who" with its spinoff, BBC America's popular "Torchwood."

Up first will be "The Next Doctor," the franchise's 2008 Christmas Special, which starred David Morrissey and Dervla Kirwan. It will air on Saturday, June 27, 2009.

In July, the first of the 2009 specials, "Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead," will premiere, featuring Tennant along with Michelle Ryan as Lady Christina. The second 2009 special, "Doctor Who: The Waters of Mars," plus the year's next two specials, will air later in 2009 and then in 2010. Those four 2009 specials will end Tennant's popular Doctor tenure.

"The outstanding quality of the 'Doctor Who' scripts from Russell T Davies and the on-screen dynamic that David Tennant brings to the role are a magic combination for our viewers," says BBC America President Garth Ancier. "Russell’s spin-off series 'Torchwood' is already our highest rated show on the channel and I know the fans will follow these new specials with equal passion and support.  We’re thrilled to bring this iconic show to BBC America, home of the best British sci-fi programming on television."

Writer-producer Steven Moffat has already begun work on a new "Doctor Who" incarnation, featuring Matt Smith as the new Doctor.

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Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.