Russell T Davies confirms he has left Doctor Who — here's what this means for the future of the sci-fi series

18 hours ago 13

Ruby Sunday and the Doctor look at each other on a Goblin ship.

Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has left the series alongside production company Bad Wolf
This means there will be no Doctor Who Christmas Special in 2026
Davies teased a "big new future for the show" in an Instagram post

Doctor Who fans are used to big changes, whether it's regenerating Time Lords or rotating companions, and the same can be said for its showrunners. Russell T Davies has just confirmed that he has left Doctor Who, meaning the show's future is currently unknown.

This may come as a surprise to fans who were excited to welcome Davies back, but others have been critical of his recent take on the iconic sci-fi series, especially after it moved to Disney+.

Whichever side of the fence you're on, it's safe to say he won't be making more Doctor Who episodes going forward, and we should expect a fresh new take on the series.

The news was confirmed via Davies' Instagram account, where he revealed that there'll be no Christmas Special this year, whilst clearing up rumors about a potential script. It was never written, and no new Doctor has been cast yet, per his long update.

Davies' update comes after the devastating finale of the Channel 4 series Tip Toe, in which the cast recently admitted they needed a week off after filming the intense scenes.

What does the future hold for Doctor Who?

The Doctor regenerating into Billie Piper in Doctor Who season 2

Your guess is as good as mine, and unfortunately, I don't have a TARDIS to go and figure that one out. In the immediate term, though, we do know that Doctor Who is "out to tender", where the BBC is inviting production companies to put themselves forward to co-produce the next series.

According to reports, the BBC said it had collectively decided, along with Davies and Bad Wolf, not to go ahead with the planned Christmas episode.

A statement from the BBC added: "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."

For now, Doctor Who remains in limbo, but considering it's such a beloved show and a huge name for the BBC, I'm hopeful it will be given the future it deserves.

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Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with TechRadar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.

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