New Doctor Who special tipped to be delayed from Christmas 2026

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Doctor Who‘s planned return this Christmas reportedly may be delayed until Easter.

The BBC’s popular science fiction series concluded its run in May 2025 with Ncuti Gatwa finishing his portrayal of the Doctor – the fifteenth version of the character – after appearing in two seasons.

In a surprising turn of events at the end, he transformed into Billie Piper, the actress known for her role as Rose Tyler, creating a big mystery about what will happen next.

The show was originally intended to return for a Christmas special in 2026. Showrunner Russell T Davies has said that BBC executives were very enthusiastic about the planned storyline when he presented it to them.

According to The Sun, the Doctor Who Christmas special might be delayed. Producers are still looking for the next Doctor, and the episode could now air around Easter 2027 instead.

The BBC declined to comment when approached by TopMob.

Although Piper Maru appeared as the Doctor after the character’s transformation at the end of season 15’s ‘The Reality War,’ she wasn’t listed in the credits as the Doctor. This has led to questions about whether she’ll officially become the Sixteenth Doctor, or if another actor will take on the role in future episodes and the upcoming special.

When Ncuti Gatwa became the 14th Doctor, the BBC and Disney began a partnership. This collaboration provided a larger budget for the show and allowed it to reach a global audience.

As a Whovian, I’ve been keeping close track of the Russell Davies return, and it’s delivered! We got a fantastic 26 episodes total – that includes the thrilling 2023 specials bringing back David Tennant, the first two seasons of Ncuti Gatwa piloting the TARDIS, and even a spin-off series called ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea.’ It’s been a really strong run so far.

However, it was announced in October last year that Disney will not partner on any future seasons.

BBC’s Kate Phillips, who oversees content, has reassured fans that the series will continue, even though the BBC’s partnership with Disney is ending. She confirmed the BBC’s ongoing commitment to the show.

“Any Whovians out there, rest assured – Doctor Who is going nowhere,” she said in August last year.

We’ve had a fantastic relationship with Disney, but Doctor Who will continue to air on the BBC, whether we continue working with them or not.

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Zai Bennett, the head of BBC Studios Global Content, said in February that the Christmas special was still planned and that the BBC is fully committed to the show’s future.

He told Deadline that they play a key role in Doctor Who and are dedicated to ensuring the show continues to thrive for many years to come.

“We’ve got the Christmas special coming. After that, it’s time for us all to work on it.”

You can now watch Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer. For a complete guide to the show – including episode reviews from 1963 to the present, details on the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes facts, and exclusive content from the TopMob archive – check out our Doctor Who story guide.

Don’t miss out on Doctor Who! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance journalist who covers television, from popular reality shows like Love Is Blind to science fiction series like Fallout. She’s a highly qualified journalist, accredited with the NCTJ Gold Standard, and has experience working as a deputy editor at both Digital Spy and Daily Express US.

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2026-05-26 15:34