Update: The initial reports of October and rumors about Sunday were correct.
On September 5, the BBC officially announced that the first Series 11 episode, The Woman Who Fell to Earth, will air simultaneously in the UK and the USA Sunday, October 7. No word yet on the exact time.
What follows is my journey to the truth:
All signs point to October but no specific date in October.
From Chris Chibnall in Doctor Who Magazine 523:
"I’ve been in Liverpool, along with other members of that team and the Thirteenth Doctor herself. For 72 hours at least, all roads lead to Liverpool – for Doctor Who and the global television industry.Here is a photo from the Doctor Who panel at BBC Worldwide Showcase, which was on February 20. If you look at the slide behind Chris Chibnall, Jodie Whittaker, Matt Strevens and Sam Hoyle in the second photo, you will see text that states, "Delivers October 2018"
We come here to talk, to tell people a little bit about what we’re doing and what this new series of the show will feel like. We come to meet with treasured commercial partners, like Big Finish and Penguin Random House, with broadcasters from all the territories, with iTunes and Amazon and Netflix, all of whom are massively important to taking Doctor Who as far around the world, and to as many people, as it can go."
Another source is BBC Newsround, which says,
"Doctor Who fans might have to wait until October for the new series - but the show's makers have revealed its brand new logo."There is also this from the former editor of Doctor Who Magazine:
Update: One more source has confirmed an October premier date for BBC One:I wouldn’t promise September.— Tom Spilsbury (@TomSpilsbury) December 25, 2017
"The new season of the acclaimed TV show will feature ten 50-minutes episodes and is set to premiere in October 2018. Crackle will add the eleventh season following its premiere on BBC One..."Second Update: Now the Radio Times magazine says its August 18-24 issue that the BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will air "by October".
Third Update: Ooh, Sunday???
The following issue is out on 17 October. So all it indicates is that the series is likely to have started before that date. (Perhaps the series will start on 7 or 14 October.) As for the book, that doesn't really factor into it. But we'll see.— Tom Spilsbury (@TomSpilsbury) August 20, 2018
Who knows – I only said 'perhaps'. :)— Tom Spilsbury (@TomSpilsbury) August 20, 2018
Fourth Update: Sunday, SEPTEMBER 23?
The SideReel website has Episode 1 premiering on Sunday, September 23, a huge departure from the October delivery date given at BBC Worldwide Showcase back in February. I'm told SideReel has been accurate in the past.Now the Sunday Times Culture magazine is also saying Sunday, September 23.
Looks like we will be getting a September release #DoctorWho #Series11 #Airdate (Sunday time Culture Magazine) pic.twitter.com/bnapCmaF3W— thomas (@tomsut14) August 26, 2018
Fifth Update: in relation to news received on September 4
On September 4, CultBox reported that the air date, Sunday, October 7, could be found on every iTunes website offering Doctor Who Series 11 for presale. BBC Studios promptly sent them a stern letter asking them to take down the story because the air date they reported (which was obviously accurate) was "classified" and a "trade secret". CultBox complied.
