Osgood is joining Big Finish.

Practically confirms they have the new series license then otherwise they wouldn't be able to use Osgood. Looking forward to the inevitable 10th Doctor audios next year!

You do realise that authorship and ownership can be split don't you? Having a character from the latest series doesn't mean that a 'new series licence' is about to happen. The BBC would not be prepared to surrender that much control to Big Finish, which is why they're only prepared to drip feed separate licences for a limited amount of time.

Given there's more evidence than just Osgood (Kate Stewart, Torchwood audios featuring Captain Jack), I'd say it is incredibly likely they have the new series license. The classic series Doctors won't last forever; now is the right time.

You misunderstand me, the BBC would not be prepared to surrender that much control to Big Finish whilst the television show is on.

I don't think they would let them use the 12th Doctor but there's no reason why they can't let them use 9,10 and 11 now. I think enough time has passed for those Doctors to be used. Let's not forget that when it was initially agreed in 2005 that Big Finish wouldn't use the new series Doctors:

There was only one Doctor.

Big Finish was never acknowledged by the series.

Big Finish has since won awards.

Also: if Titan Comics can do comics starring 10 and 11, then I don't see why Big Finish couldn't be allowed to do 9, 10 and 11th Doctor audios now.

That's splitting ownership of characters which is a totally different thing to having a 'new series licence'.
Also, a licence to produce likenesses as in comic strip is a whole kettle of fish to using a medium recognised as being the closest medium to the actual television product.

Maybe not now, but the BBC seem, quite rightly, happy with Big Finish and would be surprised if we didn't see C21 Doctors appear some time down the line. At present think they're doing fine with 4,5,6,7 and 8.

I don't think it's that much different. Doctor Who Comic is clearly expected to be canon given that they've introduced new companions for 10 and 11. Big Finish would be no different IMO, even if it is closer to the TV medium than comic books.

If you say so, but never the less, it still doesn't confirm that they have the new series licence. Only partial licences.

Torchwood is it's own license.

Indeed. We're probably going to start losing them in the near future. Tom Baker is 81 and Colin Baker is 72. Sylvester McCoy will be 72 in August. Peter Davison is 64 and Paul McGann is 55. Jon Pertwee was 76 when he died, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton were both 67.

Big Finish recently posted this in one of their news articles.


I mean it'd be crazy to read too much into that but it doesn't rule anything out. They didn't announce the current new series-related releases until things had got going and they were basically up for pre-order. Even if they have the licence for new series Doctors, they still need to sign up the actors and figure out what to do about their availability, etc.

Tennant would do Big Finish, unsure about Eccleston and Smith.

The way I see it is:

John Hurt- Would probably consider it if he wasn't such a busy actor.
Christopher Eccleston- I think he'd rather walk outside with only his pants on than do it.
David Tennant- A definite cert.
Matt Smith- Possible but could be too busy.