BBC cancels Doctor Who Christmas special, opens tender

The BBC has canceled the planned 2026 "Doctor Who" Christmas special and will seek a new production company to guide the long-running science fiction series into its next era. The decision, announced by the broadcaster on June 10, marks a significant transition as current showrunner Russell T Davies and production company Bad Wolf conclude their involvement.

Former showrunner Steven Moffat addressed the changes during an appearance at the Utopia 2026 fan convention over the weekend, seeking to reassure fans about the show's future. "Doctor Who has not been cancelled," Moffat stated. "Yes, Christmas has been cancelled. Well, to be clear, not all of Christmas, the day will still take place, even if Doctor Who's not on it." He expressed personal disappointment at the loss of the holiday episode, calling it "a black mark" and saying, "There should always be a Christmas special." However, he emphatically added, "the show will return very, very definitely."

The BBC's announcement confirmed the series is being put out to competitive tender, a process where production companies will pitch to take over the show. In a statement, the corporation said the move was "part of securing the next...