The BBC and Bad Wolf announced that Russell T Davies is leaving Doctor Who, canceling the planned 2026 Christmas special in favor of long-term planning for the series.
The BBC, showrunner Russell T Davies, and Bad Wolf stated Wednesday that they will not move forward with the previously announced Christmas episode. Davies is officially exiting the series as part of the decision. This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, the official announcement read. 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. Davies posted on Instagram confirming the news and noting there was no script written and no actor approached for the next Doctor. The previously announced Doctor Who animation series remains in production.