Christmas Special Cancelled
The BBC has confirmed that the previously announced 2026 Christmas Special of Doctor Who has been cancelled.
The corporation has decided to put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year, in the hope of guaranteeing its long-term future.
The decision, made in consultation with Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf, means that the pre-planned edition of the show, due to continue the series after the departure of the fifteenth Doctor, will no longer be made.
It means that 2026 will be the first year in which no new Doctor Who is screened since 2004.
The BBC issued the following statement
Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC, and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who, ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.
This decision to cancel 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.
Details of the tender will be announced in due course.
Current showrunner Russell T Davies has also confirmed that he will leave the series and will not be involved in the tender process. He confirmed on Instagram that no script for the Christmas special was ever written and that no actor was approached to play the next Doctor.
The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC.
A previously announced new Doctor Who animation series for CBeebies is currently in production
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