BBC abandons plans for Doctor Who Christmas special

The BBC has cancelled the special Christmas episode of Doctor Who amid speculation about the series' future after Ncuti Gatwa ended his run as the Time Lord. The broadcaster said 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 following the departure of showrunner Russell T Davies and producer Bad Wolf.

The Doctor Who Christmas special has been a festive fixture in the UK and has often introduced new actors in the role. Gatwa made his full-episode debut as the 15th Doctor in The Church on Ruby Road in 2023, David Tennant debuted as the 10th Doctor in The Christmas Invasion in 2005, and Jodie Whittaker first appeared as the 13th Doctor in the 2017 special Twice Upon a Time immediately after Peter Capaldi’s regeneration.

United Kingdom

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