The Doctor has found a new home and it’s on Disney XD! The network has acquired the rights to air Seasons 2-4 (also known as The Tennant Years) of the iconic BBC series ‘Doctor Who’ beginning next month.
Seasons 2-4 followed the exploits of the 10th Doctor played by David Tennant and featured many fan favorite companions such as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and Wilfred Mott (okay, Wilfred may not technically be a companion but should deservedly get an honorable mention). One of the highlights of Season 2 was the return of classic ‘Doctor Who’ companion Sarah Jane Smith (the late Elisabeth Sladen) and in Season 4, we got our first introduction to a person who later becomes important in the Doctor’s life, River Song (spoilers, Sweetie!).
A “preview airing” of the series will broadcast on Saturday, May 9 and will feature the episode ‘New Earth’ (or technically “new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new, new Earth”). Here, the Doctor and Rose go up against a familiar villain from Season 1, the moisture demanding Cassandra.
Beginning Saturday June 13, Disney XD will begin a week-long programming event where they will air eight episodes per day every day through Saturday, June 20. And on June 14, episodes will be available to watch on the Disney XD app which will allow fans to take the Doctor with them and watch on their tablets, computers, phones and connected TVs.
Marc Buhaj, Senior Vice President, Programming and General Manager, Disney XD said of the channel’s new acquisition:
“It has been a pleasure working with BBC, and we are thrilled that their hallmark drama series ‘Doctor Who’ is joining the Disney XD programming line-up. This iconic series features the high-quality, high-stakes action and adventure storytelling that our viewers love. The show headlines one of the most charismatic lead characters in television in the form of the Doctor and showcases a compelling rogues’ gallery of villains from around the universe.”
Matt Forde of BBC Worldwide North America added:
“Disney XD is recognized for its family-friendly programming, making the channel a great partner to introduce the David Tennant seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ to a new generation of viewers.”
While New Who has been airing for the last 10 years, only the 10th Doctor’s adventures will be airing on Disney XD. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as David Tennant is starring in Marvel’s upcoming Netflix series ‘A.K.A. Jessica Jones’ as the villainous Kilgrave and since Disney owns Marvel, it does seem like a good way to cross promote Tennant.
Either way, the news is molto bene! So shake off your pin striped suit and get ready to run! Or as the 10th Doctor would say, ‘Allons-y!”