BBC unveils new logo for Doctor Who

The BBC has unveiled the new logo for its Saturday night sci-fi show Doctor Who.

Doctor Who logo

The new graphic, designed by Red Bee Media, will be used to promote the fifth series of the popular programme and the introduction of the eleventh Doctor next spring.

Matt Smith takes over as the Time Lord from David Tennant in the new season. He is the third actor to play the character since the series returned to screens in 2005.

The logo features the Doctor’s initials, DW, moulded into the shape of the Tardis.

Red Bee says the new identity aims to align the Doctor’s brand with blockbuster sci-fi film emblems, such as Superman, Star Trek and Batman, which it says have achieved universal public recognition.

The design uses the same base colour as the original designs from the 1950s and “explores light and dimension to depict the adventure and mystery that is synonymous with the alien time-travelling Doctor”.

A BBC spokesman says: “Doctor Who is a series which has constantly evolved and regenerated for over four decades. In celebration of the new Doctor, Matt Smith, we felt that the time was right for an exciting new brand identity for the show.”

The unveiling of the new logo forms part of a wider BBC One campaign to promote the launch of the new Doctor Who series, which will roll out over the coming months on air, online and on radio.