10 Things We NEED From Doctor Who's Upcoming Christmas Special

RTD's return to Doctor Who was hailed as the return of the king. But four years later, things feel different.

There’s a sense that his second era hasn’t quite lived up to its potential, with the much-hyped “Whoniverse” resulting in a spin-off nobody really wanted, and the breakdown of the Disney deal throwing the show’s release pattern into doubt. Again.

RTD has also come under fire for over-hyping storylines and an over-reliance on nostalgia. Even among his biggest fans, there’s a feeling that it’s probably time to let someone else have a go.

The wording of the statement that announced the show's future – Russell has “agreed” to write the 2026 special – suggests that he’s perhaps ready to move on himself and is just returning to wrap up loose ends. When his return was announced in 2021, there was specific mention of him staying for several series – but nothing like that was present in this latest statement. It seems that the writing may be on the wall.

It’s in both his and the show’s interests to part ways too. Doctor Who is about change and renewal after all, and with the Disney era clearly not working out as intended it feels like the right time for a change of hands.