Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has teased an incoming announcement in the next couple of weeks after recent reports about the Christmas special being delayed.
While the BBC has not confirmed anything, a recent report from The Sun claimed that the festive special, which was expected to broadcast over the festive special, may instead air over Easter 2027 as the producers continue their search for the next person to take over the role of the Doctor. The BBC declined to comment when contacted by Radio Times.
Appearing on BBC Radio 2, Davies didn’t directly address that report – but was asked by DJ Gary Davies about whether we’ll “get an announcement about a new Doctor soon”.
He responded: “You will get an announcement. There is a press release lumbering through the BBC which, as you know, is like the Jurassic period and 57 people have to sign off on every single word.
“I promise you in about a week, two weeks, there will be some sort of press release, and yet I can hear the gears slowing down even as I say that. You know this place!”
The writer, who is currently promoting his Channel 4 series Tip Toe, also opened up about his role as showrunner on Doctor Who, a role he returned to ahead of the show’s 60th anniversary, after rebooting the series in 2005.
“I kind of keep it running,” he explained. “It’s scripts, actors, casting, when you’re finding Ncuti Gatwa, who had just come out of Sex Education, keeping your eye on business, like who’s the next upcoming star? Oh my god, Ncuti – what a meteor of a star he is.”
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He added: “It’s also the other end of it with the budget and the schedules and what’s on location where, and the writers, of course, and getting directors in. It’s kind of running everything, but helped by a vast team of people – please don’t think it’s just me, as much as I like to claim otherwise!”
Gatwa departed Doctor Who a year ago in The Reality War, the final episode of season 15. The last scenes of the episode saw his Fifteenth Doctor regenerating into returning star Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler.
When the episode aired, Piper wasn’t credited as the Doctor, leading some to wonder whether there’s more going on with her role than there might appear.
In a statement at the time of her return, Piper said: “It’s no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there.
“So to be given the opportunity to step back on that TARDIS one more time was just something I couldn’t refuse, but who, how, why and when, you’ll just have to wait and see.”
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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