BBC America has successfully bid back the right to air their parent company's signature sci-fi series "Dr. Who". The series will move from its American home on the Sci-fi Channel over to the BBC's stateside representative beginning next month. The deal was announced by BBC America on Wednesday and includes the last five "Dr. Who" specials starring the most recent actor to inhabit the Doctor persona, David Tennant.
According to Variety the final five outings of Russell T. Davies' incarnation of the venerable BBC series will begin airing on BBC America with "The Next Doctor" on June 27th at 9 pm. "Planet of the Dead" will follow in July with the dates for the final three specials yet to be scheduled.
The network, which is already airing the Davies spinoff "Torchwood", has to be feeling a sense of satisfaction at this turn of events. The fact that BBC America launched sans the new "Dr. Who" has always seemed like an oversight to me. BBC America president Garth Ancier would seem to agree, saying today that - had he been in charge - "we wouldn't have sold it, to be quite honest." So thanks for all your hard work Sci-fi Channel - now suck it!