For die-hard Whovians, there are few things you can rely on as much as the Christmas Special. For Doctor Who fans in Australia, it’s usually mandatory viewing on Boxing Day, as we recover from our food comas and hangovers, and watch in awe as The Doctor does something remarkable around the Yuletide theme.
However, if reports from the Mirror are to be believed, it’s that last point that has caused the most problems, with the landmark BBC sci-fi series looking to skip the annual Christmas Special for the first time since 2005. Specifically, because they’ve run out of Christmas-themed stories to tell.
Exclusive images from the Doctor Who writers’ room.
It isn’t all bad news, though. Instead of a Christmas Special, it is rumoured that the show will have a New Year’s Special instead, to air January 1st.
The rumour is corroborated by a statement made by showrunner Chris Chibnall back in July during San Diego Comic-Con, where he said:
We seem to be filming 11 episodes, and it’s only a series of 10… I would definitely think there’s another episode after the end of the series.
Previously, former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat had noted that it was getting more and more difficult to mine unique stories from Christmas.
Which, well, makes sense. After 13 years, there’s only so many Christmas-related things you have left to do. What’s left for them to do now? Help Wham! write “Last Christmas” while fighting off Daleks with George Michael?
Actually, that sounds amazing. If anyone at BBC is reading: Please do this.