BBC announce cancellation of Doctor Who special
BBC
The BBC has confirmed that the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas special will no longer go ahead, while also revealing it will put the show out to competitive tender.
In a statement on Tuesday (June 10), the broadcaster said the decision to scrap the festive episode had been taken jointly by the BBC, returning showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf.
“This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans,” it said.
Instead of bridging the gap with a “one off special,” it said, the focus would be on investing in the future of the show, “which ensures that when the TARDIS lands once more, it does so in all its glory.”
The cancellation confirms weeks of speculation. Davies had fuelled fan concern in May when he discussed his upcoming projects on the Full Disclosure podcast without once mentioning the special, and indicated he would not be filming anything until 2027.
Alongside the news, the BBC announced it will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year, in line with its Charter and Agreement requirements.
It described the move as part of “securing the next phase of the show for future generations,” insisting the tender “underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who.”
A previously announced Doctor Who animated series for CBeebies is also currently in production.
Disney+ confirmed last year that it would not continue its partnership with the BBC beyond two seasons.
The show has been off air since Ncuti Gatwa’s final episode in May 2025, which ended with a surprise regeneration into a character played by Billie Piper.
Doctor Who began in 1963 and remains one of the BBC’s most internationally recognised drama brands. Its Christmas specials, and later holiday specials, have long been a fixture of UK TV schedules and fandom culture.
Davies, who relaunched Doctor Who in 2005, created landmark LGBTQ+ TV including Queer as Folk and It’s a Sin, and recently spoke about campaigning for gay visibility.
