MAGA America and so-called “woke” casting have been blamed for Disney’s decision to end its financial backing of cult sci-fi show Doctor Who.

Production and streaming giant Disney, which signed on as the co-producer and exclusive home of Doctor Who outside the UK in 2022, ended the deal this week.

While lower than expected viewing figures were a major factor for the decision, industry publication Deadline quoted sources at the show as saying a “woke” backlash may have been awakened as Doctor Who has embraced diverse storytelling under writer and producer Russell T Davies.

Doctor Who’s viewing figures have experienced a severe drop off in recent years according to Barb, the UK’s official ratings agency.

Season 15 averaged 3.8 million viewers, a decline of 1 million on season 14.

Both seasons with actor Ncuti Gatwa as the titular Doctor were down on Jodie Whittaker’s concluding season in 2021 – which was watched by an average of 5.2 million people.

Under writer Davies, the series has cast transgender actress Yasmin Finney as drag-queen villain Jinkx Monsoon.

It also featured an historic gay kiss between Gatwa – who publicly came out as gay in 2023 – and American performer Jonathan Groff, which attracted complaints from some BBC viewers

The BBC rejected the complaints in June 2024, saying Doctor Who “will always continue to proudly celebrate diversity and reflect the world we live in”.

But Deadline cited a “well-placed industry source” as saying Doctor Who became “too woke for Trump’s USA”, and this was a factor in Disney minds when it came to renewing its production deal.

The ABC was the home of Doctor Who in Australia for 50 years. Photo: BBC

Despite the controversy, Disney’s decision to end its association with Doctor Who may be welcomed by Australian fans.

The 2022 deal ended the ABC’s 50-year association with the show and free -to-air access in Australia.

While it’s unclear if the ABC will again pick up the show, the BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will live on, starting with a Christmas special in 2026 written by Davies.

“We can assure fans, the Doctor is not going anywhere, and we will be announcing plans for the next series in due course, which will ensure the TARDIS remains at the heart of the BBC,” BBC director of drama Lindsay Salt said this week.

Billie Piper played the Doctor’s assistant from 2005 to 2006. Photo: BBC

While the future of the show has been assured, the identity of the next Doctor is still up in the air.

Gatwa, the 15th Doctor, left the show in the final episode of the 2025 season.