Returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has said that he is "ready" to launch new spinoff shows.

The long-running sci-fi series will mark its 60th anniversary later this year with Davies back at the helm and Disney+ on board as a new investment partner with the BBC.

The deal with the streaming service has improved the budget of the main show but will also allow Davies to resume production of spinoff shows.

Speaking to GQ, he revealed: "So I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC's measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who.

"I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spinoffs are ready; I always believed in spinoffs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spinoff, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spinoff.

"Those spinoffs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that's fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things."

Filming is currently underway on the next full series of Who, for broadcast in early 2024, meaning that any potential spinoffs may not be released until late 2024 at the earliest.