
Andy Pryor, a well-known casting director for Doctor Who, has announced his departure after the BBC decided to open the show’s production up to bids from different companies.
The BBC announced that the Christmas special has been canceled, and Russell T Davies is leaving his role as the show’s lead producer.
Pryor, the casting director for Doctor Who since its 2005 revival – and responsible for choosing every Doctor in the modern series – announced on Instagram that he is retiring.
He marked the end of a fantastic run, noting they’d filmed 196 episodes and featured eight different Doctors. The show also had a large and ever-changing group of companions – somewhere between ten and thirty, depending on how you count them – and involved thousands of cast and crew members. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who contributed to the series.
He also expressed immense gratitude to his colleagues, especially Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, who first brought him onto the project and became close friends. He fondly remembered his time working with Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall as well.
Pryor is leaving because the BBC announced it will be opening the show up for bids from different production companies this year.
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The BBC announced it will be opening up bidding for the production of Doctor Who later this year. This is to ensure the show continues for years to come and follows the BBC’s guidelines for how its programs are made.
Doctor Who is still a key program for the BBC, and this agreement confirms the BBC’s ongoing dedication to the show, promising fans will be able to enjoy it for many years to come.
The BBC, along with Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf Productions, have decided to cancel the planned Doctor Who Christmas special after giving it careful thought.
We didn’t make this decision easily, and we know fans will be upset. However, to make sure the show has a strong future, we’ve decided against a single special episode. Instead, we’re focusing on investing in future series so that when the show returns, it can be as good as ever.
A new Doctor Who animated series for CBeebies is currently being made. More information about the project, including how to get involved, will be shared soon.
Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from TopMob – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google.

The BBC owns all intellectual property related to Doctor Who. BBC Studios will continue to handle the show’s distribution worldwide, along with licensing, merchandise, and digital experiences on behalf of the BBC.
As a huge Doctor Who fan, I was a little sad to see Russell T Davies announce he’s stepping down as showrunner again. He came back to lead the special episodes for the show’s 60th anniversary, and he shared the news on Instagram that he’ll be moving on. It’s the end of an era, but I’m grateful for everything he’s done for the show!
Well, it looks like my time watching Doctor Who as it currently exists is coming to an end! The BBC has announced they’re opening up the production of the show to bids from different companies, which is a huge change. It’s sad to say goodbye to this era, but honestly, it sounds like an exciting new chapter for Doctor Who, and I’m really curious to see where it goes next.
Because we now have a clear plan for the future, we won’t be doing a Christmas special. We originally created it as a safety net when things were uncertain, but that’s no longer necessary.
If you don’t agree, that’s okay – feel free to wait and see if you’re right, but you’ll likely be waiting a very long time. I, for one, am really eager to find out what happens next! I’m curious if they’ll keep the iconic theme music, and whether they’ll change the look of the time machine.
As a huge Doctor Who fan, I’m completely on the edge of my seat wondering if they’ll bring back the Drahvin! That’s the thing about this show, though, isn’t it? Anything can happen, which is what makes it so thrilling and fresh. It really feels like the future is arriving, and I can almost hear the TARDIS dematerializing – vworp vworp!
You can now watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. For a complete look at the show, check out our story guide, which includes reviews of every episode from 1963 to the present, details on the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes facts, and special content from the TopMob archive.
Don’t miss Doctor Who! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations, articles, and more.
Authors

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro, and she holds a degree in English Literature.
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2026-06-10 18:05