The Doctor Who Christmas special for 2026 has been cancelled, the BBC has said.
It comes amid speculation about the future of the series after Ncuti Gatwa ended his run as the 15th incarnation of the time-travelling Doctor.
The BBC has also said that the long-running sci-fi series, which launched in 1963, will be put out to “competitive tender” this year as part of its Royal Charter agreement.
A statement issued by the broadcaster said: “After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies (showrunner) and Bad Wolf (production company) have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series, it was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one-off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show, which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.”
Departing showrunner Davies shared a drawing of the TARDIS – the spaceship from the hit show – as he told his Instagram followers about the “big new future” for Doctor Who.
He wrote: “There won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it.
“You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!”
Addressing the speculation about the Christmas episode, Davies added: “For the record: There was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.”
He also said he is “excited as anyone to see what comes next” and reflected on the possible changes to come, adding: “Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?!
“It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who – exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future.”
The BBC has also assured fans that its previously announced Doctor Who animation series, which will air on CBeebies, is currently in production.
Doctor Who follows the adventures of an eccentric Time Lord who travels in a spaceship that disguises itself as a 1960s British police box.
Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy, and William Hartnell all portrayed The Doctor in the original series of the show, which was cancelled in 1989.
It was later revived in 2005 by showrunner Davies, and in the last two decades stars including Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jodie Whittaker have played The Doctor.
Source: Press Association