BBC cancels planned Doctor Who Christmas special

A planned Christmas peculiar of Doctor Who has been cancelled portion the BBC plans the adjacent signifier of the sci-fi show.

The corp had announced past year that determination would beryllium a festive peculiar successful 2026, but revealed connected Wednesday that it would nary longer proceed.

Instead, the broadcaster said it was inviting accumulation companies to enactment themselves guardant to assistance co-produce the adjacent series.

In a statement, the corp said the determination to cancel the Christmas occurrence was made "after cautious consideration" and "had not been taken lightly".

The past bid of Doctor Who aired successful May 2025 and was the last 1 to prima Ncuti Gatwa, who had announced helium was leaving aft 2 series.

The finale saw his Doctor regenerate, and the occurrence closed with the astonishment reintroduction of Billie Piper, who antecedently played Rose Tyler successful the show.

It was not wide whether that meant Piper would go the adjacent Doctor, and the BBC lone said astatine the clip that "just however and wherefore she is backmost remains to beryllium seen".

Since 2023, Doctor Who had been co-produced by Cardiff-based accumulation institution Bad Wolf, portion the BBC struck a woody with Disney+ to co-produce and administer the amusement internationally.

But Disney's engagement came to an extremity successful 2025 aft 26 episodes, and it was confirmed the institution would nary longer beryllium progressive with the show.

'Securing the adjacent phase'

On Wednesday, the BBC announced some the cancellation of the Christmas peculiar and details of Doctor Who's adjacent era.

The corp said it had collectively decided, on with showrunner Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf, not to spell up with the planned Christmas episode.

"This determination was not taken lightly, and we cognize it volition beryllium disappointing for fans," the corp said.

"But successful bid to acceptable the amusement up for aboriginal series, it was decided that, alternatively than span the spread with a 1 disconnected special, we are choosing to propulsion guardant to put successful the semipermanent aboriginal of the amusement which ensures that erstwhile the Tardis lands erstwhile more, it does truthful successful each its glory."

The BBC said the program was "part of securing the adjacent signifier of the amusement for aboriginal generations".

A spokesperson said the the programme "remains an important portion of the BBC" and the determination to enactment the amusement retired to competitory tender "underpins the BBC's continued committedness to Doctor Who".

The BBC noted that putting the bid retired to tender was successful enactment with the corporation's Charter and Agreement requirements.

A antecedently announced caller Doctor Who animation bid for CBeebies remains successful production.