|
The
British broadcaster has canceled a Christmas special previously
announced for later this year, and showrunner Russell T. Davies
has confirmed his exit.
Davies had been due to write the Christmas episode, announced
when the last season ended in May 2025.
The BBC said Wednesday that it, Davies and production company
Bad Wolf “have collectively decided not to go ahead” with the
Christmas episode. The broadcaster said it was determined “to
push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show.”
It said it would put out a tender for production companies to
work on the series. A deal between the BBC and Disney+ to
co-produce and distribute the show ended in 2025 after two
seasons.
First broadcast in 1963, “Doctor Who” follows the adventures of
a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels in the Tardis,
a time-and-space machine that from the outside resembles a
mid-20th century British police telephone box.
Its longevity is due in part to its premise: the central
character can regenerate into a new body when the old one wears
out, so the show can outlive any individual star. More than a
dozen actors have played the role, most recently Ncuti Gatwa.
Davies, who revived the show in 2005 after a 16-year hiatus and
returned as showrunner in 2022, said the Christmas episode had
not been written and no actor had been approached to play the
central role of the Doctor.
Davies, who has also written dramas including “Queer as Folk,”
“It’s a Sin” and the recent “Tip Toe,” said the show’s future
was “unpredictable” in an Instagram post.
“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!” Davies wrote. “It’s all up for grabs, which is so
Doctor Who — exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the
future.”
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved
|
|
