The BBC confirmed Wednesday that Russell T. Davies and production company Bad Wolf are leaving Doctor Who, and that the network will seek a new production partner through a formal competitive tender process.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the BBC has also scrapped the previously announced Christmas special for 2026. The tender process is an open invitation for independent production companies to pitch for the right to produce the long-running sci-fi series.
The BBC released a statement saying: "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."
The BBC, Davies, and Bad Wolf addressed the canceled Christmas episode jointly, stating: "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 departure comes after a difficult period for the franchise. The most recent series recorded the lowest viewership numbers in the show's history. At the end of that series, Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor regenerated into Billie Piper, who originally played Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant in the earlier Davies era.
The 2026 Christmas special had been announced last year, around the same time Disney+ confirmed it was ending its global streaming partnership with the BBC. Disney+ had served as the worldwide home of Doctor Who outside the U.K. and Ireland. The BBC retains all intellectual property rights to the show.
A new Doctor Who animation series for children's channel CBeebies is currently in production. Details of the production tender are expected to be announced in due course.
