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BBC Chief Praises AI-Generated 'Doctor Who' Episode
Confirmed
In Short: Matt Brittin, BBC's director-general, called an AI-generated 'Doctor Who' episode 'pretty good' but stressed it won't replace human creators.
At the Royal Television Society's London Convention, Matt Brittin, the BBC's director-general, revealed he recently watched a 50-minute episode of 'Doctor Who' generated entirely by artificial intelligence.
He described the episode as 'pretty good,' according to Variety, but emphasized that AI would not replace human creators.
Brittin, who previously led Google's Europe, Middle East, and Africa business, spoke alongside BBC presenter Kirsty Young, who noted that AI lowers costs, enabling more diverse stories to be produced.
Brittin said he would allow a programme to be made and presented by AI 'within guardrails,' indicating a cautious approach to the technology.
Fans reacted negatively to Brittin's comments, with some expressing they would abandon the show if AI is used.
Brittin's remarks followed an appearance on 'Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg,' where he discussed the impact of AI on jobs and the industry.
The BBC is looking for a new flagship series of 'Doctor Who' that feels contemporary and creatively ambitious, while remaining true to the show's values.
What this adds
Neither Brittin nor Day provided further details on the AI-generated 'Doctor Who' episode or how it might be used within their organizations.
The initial submission deadline for the Doctor Who tender is approaching, and praising AI-generated content risks diminishing the perceived value of professional independent production companies, writers, and directors.
Background
Neither Brittin nor Day provided further details on the AI-generated 'Doctor Who' episode or how it might be used within their organizations.
What's confirmed
- Brittin, who spoke alongside BBC presenter Kirsty Young, said the technology was not going to replace humans.
- He did not say who made it, or whether it used existing actors or invented new ones.
- BBC director-general Matt Brittin has revealed that he was sent a 50-minute episode of the sci-fi series, made using artificial intelligence.
- Speaking at the Royal Television Society conference, Brittin said the episode he saw was ‘pretty good’.
- Responding, Brittin said: ‘Everyone’s got the ability in their hands — or six billion people have — to create content at the standard of a Hollywood studio.
- Brittin said he was recently sent a 50-minute Doctor Who episode made entirely with AI, and his reaction was surprisingly positive.
What's still developing
- Brittin, who used to run Google EMEA, revealed that somebody had recently sent him a 50-minute ep of the BBC’s long-running sci-fi franchise, which was completely AI -generated, and today he refused to slam it.
- More generally, Brittin said he is “having conversations with people whose jobs are at risk on a daily basis” and he “doesn’t underestimate” the difficulty of the situation.
- Brittin was speaking at the RTS Convention after the head honchos at Amazon and before Channel 4 boss Priya Dogra.
- Matt Brittin can sit at the top of BBC Towers and promo AI to generate all the TV shows he needs, and he won’t need to employ anyone.
- ‘Being a Doctor Who fan in 2026 is just non stop humiliation rituals’, wrote @kingsmillirving, while @PotNoodleOW said: ‘It’s genuinely so over.’ @willbondspeare said: ‘if doctor who ever uses ai, kill the show!!’ @qLxke_ called the remarks ’embarrassing’, while @beeeeeeaan said: ‘doctor who is done, it’s over.’ Brittin, who joined the BBC earlier this year after spending 18 years with Google, was weighing in on recent comments by Amazon international chief Kelly Day.
- Additionally, the BBC recently published a criteria for production companies hoping to take on the beloved franchise, saying it is looking for an initial ‘brief editorial online for a new multi-episode series’ which will include ‘potential for specials’.
- ‘The series should feel contemporary and creatively ambitious, whilst remaining true to the values and characteristics that have made Doctor Who a beloved series across generations.’ Companies hoping to land the job have been told to be ‘brave’ and urged to ‘innovate and surprise’ bosses, striking a balance between ‘high concept science fiction’ and ‘strong emotional narratives’.
- They concluded: ‘Doctor Who is a show that has sparked conversation, taken risks and inspired audiences for decades and we are looking for this series to continue that tradition.
- Doctor Who fans are unimpressed after a BBC boss praised an AI-generated episode.
- Day insisted AI ‘brings down costs, meaning more stories can be made, more diverse voices can get heard and more creative risks get taken’.
- ‘In some cases it’s not perfect, but look at what you can do, and that’s changing all the time.’ While the immediate future of Doctor Who doesn’t appear to be AI, it is uncertain, as the Beeb officially put the long-running sci-fi series out to competitive tender in June.
- The announcement was made alongside the cancellation of the 2026 Christmas special, with showrunner Russell T Davies also departing.