Doctor Who showrunner makes shock departure and Christmas special canceled as sci-fi classic is set to be rebooted
The BBC says the news will "disappoint" fans
Russell T Davies has exited Doctor Who as showrunner, as the BBC confirms that the Christmas special of the beloved sci-fi drama has been canceled. The broadcaster confirmed the news while announcing they are looking for a new production company to work on the show.
In an official statement, the BBC confirmed this means that Davies and Bad Wolf are not working on this year's Christmas special. They said: "This decision 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."
Davies has also shared a statement on Instagram following the news. He wrote: "And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender."
He also confirmed that no scripts had been written for a Christmas special as the future of the show was uncertain. He added: "For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor. You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time."
It all sounds like Doctor Who will be rebooting in the near future as the series regenerates once again. For more, check out all the new TV shows on the way in 2026 and beyond.
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I’m the Deputy Entertainment Editor here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for the Total Film and SFX sections online. I previously worked as a Senior Showbiz Reporter and SEO TV reporter at Express Online for three years. I've also written for The Resident magazines and Amateur Photographer, before specializing in entertainment.
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