Complaining Doctor Who fans need to grow up

Fans of the show have kept it going for decades (Picture: Wire Image) Yesterday, Doctor Who fans got their first bit of good news about the legendary sci-fi series in what feels like forever. After months of reports about cancellations, controversies and a general feeling that Doctor Who was past its sell-by date, the BBC PR machine groaned into life to announce the show’s latest regeneration. Specifically, they announced a new kids’ cartoon called Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, which will follow a new blue-haired incarnation of the titular Time Lord as he and his friends travel through time and space while battling various evil aliens and ghoulish grumblies. It should give devoted followers of the TV behemoth something to enjoy while the Beeb starts a tender process for the main show. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Get personalised updates on Doctor Who Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. But if you thought news that there was still life in the twitching carcass of the Doctor Who franchise would make fans happy, though, then I’m afraid I’ve got a bridge in Gallifrey to sell you. Online, a certain section of the fandom is angrier than a cross Dalek confronted by a particularly difficult set of stairs, with some even saying this is proof the show is in a double heartbeat flatline. ‘The Doctor Who franchise is dead and decomposing after violently being mauled for years,’ moaned @DiscussThing on X. One of the most iconic supporting characters was a dog made of tinfoil and Hoover parts (Picture: Getty) ‘Doctor Who is officially dead at this point,’ wailed @themasething. ‘You never come back from the kids’ slope.’ While @lokinuenl asked: ‘Guys, be honest, is it over?’ Well, I’ve got some good news for you. It’s not over. In fact, I’d argue it’s not even close to being over. And look, I understand why some people might be disappointed in the direction the franchise seems to be going. In the last 18 months or so, we’ve gone from having a live-action Doctor backed by the limitlessly wealthy Disney to an 11-minute cartoon made for toddlers – on paper, that feels like a slow death march, but I honestly think it’s anything but. The show will almost certainly endure (Picture: Getty) I think that by producing this show, the BBC is demonstrating its continuing commitment to Doctor Who and the series’ future. After all, as Whitney Houston once warbled, the children are our future, and by exposing them to the ionising radiation of Gallifrey we’re ensuring a new generation of Doctor Who-loving nerds will march on Broadcasting House and demand the BBC keep the show going for another 25 years. Okay, perhaps I’m getting ahead of myself (and I don’t think Whitney mentioned radiation), but the point stands: the Beeb clearly thinks the franchise has legs and is working to ensure it endures by introducing kids to Who. This isn’t like the Wilderness Years – the 16-year gap when the franchise was kept on life support by comics, radio dramas, and a somehow monthly magazine . Doctor Who is still going to be on TV, even if it’s not in a form you’re familiar with, and that’s a good thing because it means Who will remain part of the conversation. I do think, as well, that we need to acknowledge the rather large trumpeting elephant in the particularly small room here. The people complaining don’t seem to appreciate that Doctor Who is a family show. The new pre-school series Doctor Who: Tardis Crew will hit screens sometime from late 2027 to early 2028 (Picture: BBC) One of the most iconic supporting characters was a dog made of tinfoil and Hoover parts, while the Doctor’s most iconic enemies are just racist pepperpots – this isn’t a serious show. I know that Who has told some dark stories over time and space, but I think people sometimes confuse seriousness with maturity. Those two things don’t always go hand in hand; a story can be silly and mature just as easily as a serious show can be immature. Look at something like Scrubs; a medical programme but ultimately a pretty daft show full of gags, jokes and over-the-top characters that can also make me cry like a baby. It is unclear how the CBeebies show will slot into the history of the Time Lord in the main show (Picture: BBC) Grey’s Anatomy, in contrast, is a series that takes itself seriously, while the drama is actually pretty high school play. And if you’re wondering what those shows have to do with Who, well, they all star doctors, so it’s a perfectly apt comparison. Perhaps I’m being optimistic, but I just don’t think this is the type of announcement that warrants the sort of doommongering I’m seeing online, especially as the BBC has just put the live-action show out to tender. And if the most recent reports are to be believed, Jed Mercurio of Line of Duty fame is interested in making the next series, which is pretty impressive for a show fans are saying is already dead. Deals of the Day Kurt Geiger's new Notting Hill collection is a love letter to London's chaotic weather I’ve found the Hoover gadget that could make cleaning your floors so much easier I tried L'Oréal Paris's new PDRN serum and my skin looked glossier after one use This new Cricut gadget turns your favourite photos into stickers in minutes From kitchen hatches to burgundy walls – the biggest home trends for 2027 So basically, if you’re whinging about the Doctor Who kids show, I suggest you grow up. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. Share your views in the comments below. 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