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‘Doctor Who’ Christmas Special Canceled, As Russell T Davies & Bad Wolf Exit BBC Sci-Fi Series

Big news in the Whoniverse.

The BBC has canceled the special Christmas episode of Doctor Who, while showrunner Russell T Davies and producer Bad Wolf are exiting the iconic sci-fi series.

In an announcement on Wednesday, the BBC acknowledged that the news would be “disappointing for fans” after the broadcaster promised last year that it would air a “spectacular” special episode in 2026.

The Doctor Who festive special is something of an institution in the UK, with previous favorites including David Tennant making his full debut as the Doctor in 2005’s “The Christmas Invasion.”

The exit of Davies and Bad Wolf, who signed up for Doctor Who as part of a major reboot in 2021, will result in the BBC putting the series out to competitive tender.

It means that BBC Studios, which owns the rights to Doctor Who, or an independent producer will have the opportunity to reinvent the beloved Time Lord.

“As part of securing the next phase of the show for future generations, and in line with the BBC’s Charter and Agreement requirements, the BBC will put Doctor Who out to competitive tender this year. 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 said in a statement.

“After careful consideration, the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode.

“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.”

At the same time as the BBC statement, Davies posted on Instagram bidding farewell to the Doctor after his second spell as showrunner. He told followers that he had not written a Christmas special script and “no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor.”

Davies has previously spoken about having a story for the Christmas special, but there is some dispute about how much he had written. In February, Doctor Who composer Murray Gold told the Radio Times that Davies had written several versions of the script for the 2026 special.

One afternoon Bernie's on her way home following a walk in the nearby park when she spots flames coming from one of the houses. She manages to break her way into the house and finds Serena, getting her out into the front garden. Then Serena tells her that Jason's probably still inside as he tends to listen to audiobooks while wearing noise-cancelling headphones and he might not have heard the smoke alarm going off. Bernie can't go upstairs to rescue Jason because the stairs are already alight, so she asks Serena if she's got any rope in the garage. She grabs the tow rope that Serena's never used and another coil of rope, then runs into the back garden where she spots Jason standing awkwardly at the big window in his room. There's a narrow balcony, big enough for plant pots, but not much else, in front of his window, so Bernie throws up the rope and with Jason's help, attaches it to the balcony railing. Then she climbs up to help him get down the rope.

She asks him to trust her, even though he doesn't know her, and he startles her by stating that she's Major Bernie Wolfe, who used to be in the RAMC. He's seen her around the Holby City General Hospital, where he works as a porter, when she's been there for physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions. He asks where Aunty Serena is and Bernie tells him she's safe in the front garden, then she uses the second rope to tie Jason to her so that she can climb down to the garden with him. It's awkward because he insists on taking his backpack with him, which Bernie later discovers holds keepsakes from his mum, his laptop computer, his headphones, and his favourite audiobooks on CD.

Eventually, they make it down the rope and just as they reach the ground fire engines and an ambulance arrive with screaming sirens and flashing blue lights. Bernie's feeling a bit worse for wear after her rescues of Jason and Serena, but it's worth it for the tight hug and kiss on the cheek she gets from Serena, and Jason's now-tearful thanks as well.

Since their home is now uninhabitable, Bernie insists that the pair of them come and stay with her: she'd bought a three bedroom house post-divorce so that there'd be room for both Charlie and Cam to stay, if they ever forgave her for divorcing Marcus, that is. She takes them back to her home after the paramedics have finished checking them both over, and gives them both hot sweet tea and a late lunch, then she takes them shopping for clothes and food. Luckily, it's fish and chip night, so there's no need for Serena to cook for Jason that evening.

Serena's slightly amazed at how Bernie takes Jason's needs in stride without making any fuss, until Bernie reveals that she has a cousin who's on the spectrum, so she's not unfamiliar with Jason's need for routine.

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Buffy and Ted Lasso star Anthony Head dies at 72

British actor Anthony Head, best known for his roles in TV shows including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ted Lasso, Merlin and Little Britain, has died at the age of 72.

Head found international fame as Rupert Giles in hit supernatural teen show Buffy in the late 1990s.

He went on to have a recurring role in sketch show Little Britain, play king Uther Pendragon in the BBC's Merlin, and appear as former football club owner Rupert Mannion in Ted Lasso.

"He passed away peacefully of complications due to pneumonia, surrounded by his family," his daughters Emily and Daisy said.

Anthony Head played Rupert Giles in Buffy

His daughters' statement said "it is with heavy hearts that we announce the death of our extraordinary father".

They added: "It has been, and forever will be, an honour and a privilege to be his daughters, and to have witnessed firsthand the impact both he and his work have had on so many."

They also said they knew "how dearly he will be missed by friends, colleagues and fans of the show he was in", adding that he "loved his job very much" and "always considered himself incredibly lucky".

Actresses Daisy Head and Emily Head with their father Anthony at a film screening in 2013

His family acknowledged that "his legacy will live on" and said they considered themselves "lucky" to have watched him doing what he loved throughout his career.

Head's other credits included The Iron Lady, Doctor Who, Persuasion, The Inbetweeners and Manchild.

Head first found fame in the UK in the 1980s as the face of Nescafe coffee adverts on TV.

He was part of the Gold Blend couple alongside Sharon Maughan, with their coffee-themed romance ads becoming popular between 1987 and 1993.

Head appeared opposite Jason Sudeikis in Ted Lasso

Head starred in numerous popular British shows during his career, also including Motherland, Silent Witness and Doctor Who.

He also joined the cast of BBC Radio 4's long-running drama The Archers in 2018, playing Robin Fairbrother.

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