Major new Doctor Who publishing deal for Penguin Random House

Following the announcement of the new Thirteenth Doctor, BBC Books and Penguin Random House Children’s UK are delighted to announce a major new publishing acquisition. Rebecca Smart, Managing Director for Ebury Publishing and Francesca Dow, Managing Director for Penguin Random Children’s UK have acquired world publishing rights all languages, for Doctor Who series 11 from BBC Worldwide.

This is an exclusive deal for all formats including non-fiction, fiction, activity, novelty, audio and the annual. Books will be a combination of titles that introduce the show and the Doctor to a new audience as well as more in-depth books for die-hard fans. Penguin Random House UK has long been the home of Doctor Who, with BBC Books publishing the series since the 1990’s and Penguin Random House Children’s UK publishing Doctor Who titles for over a decade.

News of the deal follows the BBC’s announcement on Sunday 16th July that Jodie Whittaker will be the new Doctor. She will be the thirteenth Time Lord and takes over from Peter Capaldi who leaves the global hit show at Christmas.

Rebecca Smart, Managing Director, Ebury Publishing, says: “We are really delighted to have completed a two series publishing deal with BBC Worldwide. At BBC Books we have a long history of publishing alongside Doctor Who and are so pleased to be able to continue, particularly as the series enters this exciting new phase!”

Francesca Dow, Managing Director, Penguin Random House Children’s UK, adds: “What an exciting time to be renewing our partnership with BBC Worldwide as Doctor Who moves into a new era with its first female Doctor. Doctor Who stands for transformational magical storytelling and we can’t wait to take the new Doctor on new adventures in our books as we continue to expand the Doctor Who universe. We’ll be publishing for brand new fans meeting the Doctor for the very first time, as well as the existing fans who already know and love the show as much as we do."

Jan Paterson, Head of Book and Audio Publishing, BBC Worldwide comments: “The Penguin Random House publishing agreement is one of the most important and successful partnerships for the Doctor Who brand, and so we are really pleased that we have renewed terms with them for Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor. Both in their publishing for the Children’s and Adult audiences, they have created an imaginative, diverse, extensive range of quality books that have reflected the content and values of the series and brand. We have worked with them on Doctor Who publishing for many years, and are excited about the plans for the future.”

Jodie Whittaker said on her appointment as the Thirteenth Doctor: “To be asked to play the ultimate character, to get to play pretend in the truest form: this is why I wanted to be an actor in the first place. To be able to play someone who is literally reinvented on screen, with all the freedoms that brings: what an unbelievable opportunity. And added to that, to be the first woman in that role.”

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