Doctor Who writers have come out in force to share their views about the cancellation of the 2026 Christmas special.
It’s important to remember that Doctor Who itself has not been cancelled, as many Doctor Who writers have been quick to point out. Chief among these is the latest showrunner, Russell T Davies, who offered some clarity during an interview on Gaydio…
“It’s extraordinary to see newspapers who should know better saying the show has been cancelled,” he said. “It’s the opposite. It’s been put out to tender, and I understand that’s an industry phrase and people might not understand what a show being put out to tender means.”
Davies added: “Being put out to tender means – and this will happen to every BBC show, it’s happened to Casualty, it’s happened to the weather… It means the programme is pitched to be made by an independent company, as opposed to the BBC… Independent companies include BBC Studios, by the way – separate to BBC Public Service – so they’re in the running.”
Davies also pointed out that no independent production company would take on the show for a single year, as it wouldn’t be worth it, so the tender process actually guaranteed Doctor Who‘s future for many years to come.
The next of the Doctor Who writers to share some encouraging words was another former showrunner, Steven Moffat – perhaps one of the most prolific and popular Doctor Who writers of the modern era. Moffat’s remarks were subtle, so pay close attention.
“Doctor Who has not been cancelled,” he stated. “Yes, Christmas has been cancelled. Well, to be clear, not all of Christmas, the day will still take place, even if Doctor Who‘s not on it… and that’s a black mark. I don’t like the fact there’s not going to be a Christmas special. There should always be a Christmas special… but the show will return. Very, very definitely.
Courtesy of Emma/electriccandles on TikTok;
— -𝐉𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐄- (@AMadmanNotABox) June 13, 2026
Steven Moffat's been at Utopia and he's rather clear that Doctor Who will return in the most comical fashion. pic.twitter.com/5fLHntuDpK
Of course, all Doctor Who writers of a certain age remember the dreaded Wilderness Years, where Doctor Who was off the air for some 16 years (give or take) and Steven Moffat had this to say: “Those of us who are old, remember it was 16 years of, ‘Well, we’ll maybe tell you something next week.’ It’s not that situation.
“So, ‘out to tender’ is not ‘out to grass.’ ‘Out to tender’ means actively seeking a future for Doctor Who. It may take a little bit longer.”
And for those of us who are nervous about a few years without new Doctor Who gracing our airwaves? “Oh, so what?” Moffat retorted. “How much Doctor Who do you need?! On your phones right now is every episode ever made – except for the ones we accidentally lost.”
He has a point. However, other Doctor Who writers have been more creative in their interpretation of the show’s future. Gareth Roberts wrote an entire article for The Spectator titled ‘Twenty Ways to Fix Doctor Who.’ He said, “I offer the following suggestions – in a reflective but constructive spirit – for anybody barmy enough to take the thing on.” (Gareth Roberts isn’t the biggest fan of the current state of the show – again, his words are subtle.)
We won’t list all of Roberts’ suggestions here, but naturally – like all Doctor Who writers – he has his own take on how the show ‘should be.’ Perhaps his most interesting suggestion is number 11. “As in the 1960s, it should be the case that Dr Who cannot steer the TARDIS,” he writes. “At all. Ever. This immediately solves nearly all of a writer’s narrative problems, and raises the stakes of every story and situation. Being able to pop home or zoom about where you fancy on a whim makes the scenario mundane.”
Another thought-provoking suggestion from this Doctor Who writer is number 20. “The big emotion should be joy: the joy of adventure, excitement, frights and laughs. The viewer must feel elated. Doctor Who should be a delicious helping of trifle that anybody and everybody can enjoy.”
We can’t argue with that.
The last of our Doctor Who writers has a more varied connection with the show. Pete McTighe penned ‘Kerblam!’ and ‘Praxeus’ and more recently ‘Lucky Day,’ but he also co-wrote and executive produced the spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.
This Doctor Who writer took to Instagram to share some encouraging words with fans. “I know yesterday was a lot,” he remarked, writing the day after the cancellation of the Christmas special. “But brave heart, because the show that we love WILL return. And relatively soon… because this isn’t the 1990s all over again. Since those dark times, @russelltdavies63 brought the show back in triumphant fashion, its popularity soared to new heights, and the Doctor is now a beloved British institution in the tradition of Sherlock Holmes or Paddington or James Bond.
“There are so many more stories to be told, but while we wait, celebrate the fact that the show we love is also loved by the BBC and has been guaranteed a long-term future.
“And meanwhile, what a perfect time to delve into the back catalogue. Scroll through iPlayer, where almost the entire history of the show is laid out, relish the beautifully restored classic Blu-ray box sets (watch the short films on YouTube!) or leaf through a Target novelisation. Go back to the beginning, start the journey over. Binge a Doctor you’ve never seen before. Meet the Axons, battle the Terileptils, cook with the Kandyman or play chess with Fenric.
“And know that the Doctor will return. Because, honestly, he will outlive us all.”
Amen. So tell us, reader – have these Doctor Who writers managed to calm your nerves, or is the TARDIS cloister bell ringing in your ears?
Time will tell. It always does.
Cloister Bells. It’s a whole bunch of Copium.
I think the misinformation around the future and the cancellation of the Christmas special has awakened the fan race memory of the Wilderness Years. There was talk then of ‘fixing’ the show before it returned in a truncated and violence-diluted format from Trial onwards when it didn’t need major changes, just more inventive scripts.
People speculate about a new Doctor when we have one or two waiting in the wings for a special or miniseries, Eight and Fugitive. They won’t scupper a new series like The Dark Dimension and Amblin.
The great pity is no more Susan or resolution of her proposed storyline and less likelihood of a return of ageing past classic series companions and Doctor.
I think we just wanted a treat of a morsel while the cupboard is currently bare.
If they do this by a short Children In Need episode don’t tell me it isn’t the Nineties all over again! 🤷♂️