'It's pretty good': BBC boss Matt Brittin backs AI-generated 'Doctor Who' episode days before production tender deadline

From the Newshound archive · first published 29 September 2026 · last updated 30 September 2026.

BBC director-general Matt Brittin has sparked a row with writers and actors after praising a 50-minute fan-made 'Doctor Who' episode created entirely by artificial intelligence, calling it "pretty good" at the Royal Television Society conference in London. The remarks landed just days before the BBC's deadline for production companies to bid on the 2028/29 series — prompting critics to ask why he chose that moment to validate AI-generated content.

The episode is believed to be 'The Curse of Kilmorag' by fan project The Unmade Season, which used David Tennant's likeness without permission and racked up nearly 400,000 YouTube views before being removed.

Brittin insisted AI would "not replace humans" — but fans threatened to abandon the show entirely if the technology is used in official production.

The remarks sit awkwardly against the BBC's ongoing £500 million savings drive, with Brittin admitting daily conversations with staff facing redundancy as further channel closures loom.