The BBC has shared plans for the future of Doctor Who. This is not the plan that many fans had anticipated or hoped for. What had previously been thought was coming was a Christmas Special that would follow the events that ended the Doctor Who run on Disney+. What appears to be happening now is a complete halt while the future is figured out without Disney. This does mean that the Christmas Special has been cancelled. It does not mean that the show has been, however. Instead, it appears that the BBC is starting from ground zero on where the show will be going next. This could mean a new showrunner. It will mean a new Doctor. Below is the statement that the BBC released regarding the future of Doctor Who.

Update on plans for the future of Doctor Who

Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC

Today we’re announcing an update on plans for the future of Doctor Who.

As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. Doctor Who remains an important part of the BBC and this tender underpins the BBC’s continued commitment to Doctor Who ensuring audiences will enjoy the show for years to come.

After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode. 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.

The previously announced new Doctor Who animation series for CBeebies is currently in production.

Details of the tender will be announced in due course.

The BBC retains all IP in Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to lead the global distribution of Doctor Who as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences on behalf of the BBC.

This announcement also appears to mean that Russel T. Davies and Bad Wolf will no longer be in the driver’s seat for Doctor Who. In a statement on Instagram, Davies confirms this. He said:

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. As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special – we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. 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! 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 🪑 Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future, vworp vworp

Davies was the original showrunner and head writer for Doctor Who from 2005 to 2010 and 2023 to 2025. At the end of Season 15, the 15th Doctor, who was played by Ncuti Gutwa, regenerated as Billie Piper’s Rose Tyler. Fans had hoped that there would be answers surrounding this surprise in the Christmas Special. This will not be happening now. The BBC will instead seek out a new person and/or production company to take the Doctor into this next chapter of this iconic series.

What do you think about this update regarding Doctor Who? What do you think the future should look like? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!