The BBC’s planned “Doctor Who” Christmas special appears to be in doubt, with the reason being put down to a struggle to find the next Doctor, according to the tabloids.
A new report from British press outlet The Sun indicates that the upcoming special may have been scrapped, or at least delayed until Easter, as they allege the BBC can’t find anyone to take on the role.
The paper’s insider says with seven months to go and no confirmation from network executives about the franchise’s future, it’s all hanging in the balance. They say:
“The problem is that they have found it difficult to find anyone who’ll take on the part of the 16th Time Lord, partly because it now feels like a role that comes with all the baggage of the most recent series. There are fears that even if they do manage to pull something together, it is going to be a poor cousin to previous Christmas specials, which have always been adored by fans.”
Disney+ ended its deal with the BBC over the show after their second season together ended – the finale seeing Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor regenerate into Billie Piper in a surprise cameo at the end.
Russell T. Davies wrote a Christmas episode, starring Piper, that was due to be released this December with it expected to be a one-off in which she would transform into The Doctor’s next incarnation at the end. A new team and a more cost-effective approach would then presumably take over the show.
Last year, BBC CCO Kate Phillips pledged to keep the series on the air, saying “Rest assured, Doctor Who is going nowhere” and they’re committed to bringing it back: “Going forward, with or without Disney, Doctor Who will still be on the BBC. The Tardis is going nowhere.”
Indeed, the series recently announced deal with AMC Global Media which will see all the non-Disney episodes make their way to AMC and AMC+ in the United States shortly. Actor Paul McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor, also recently appeared on The Gerry Anderson Podcast and shot down apparent set photos of himself and Piper filming something not long ago.
For the moment, Bleeding Cool rightly points out that the main issue is a lack of any official comment from Davies or The BBC, which is fueling this speculation.
