It’s been over five months since Doctor Who spinoff series The War Between the Land and the Sea hit television screens, created by Russell T Davies and starring Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave and Colin McFarlane.
But one person that didn’t appear in the five part miniseries features characters from the franchaise was the Doctor himself - last seen when Scottish-Rwandan actor Ncuti Gatwa bowed out of the role last May.
The BBC had previously said that Doctor Who would be back in a new 2026 Christmas special, again being written by Russell T Davies.
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But that’s now been scrapped, with the programme “put out to competitive tender” as producers look for somebody to take over from Davies, who is now no longer involved in the franchaise.
A BBC spokesperson explained: “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.”
It comes after the BBC parted ways with Disney+, who have shown the last two series outside the UK.
But with the broadcaster seemingly still ‘committed’ to a new series - and with a new Doctor Who animation series already in production for CBeebies - there is now plenty of speculation as to who will (eventually) replace Gatwa - who transformed into a very familiar face at the end of his last episode.
Here are the 11 favourites to take over the Tardis, according to the experts at gambling.com.
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9. Alan Cumming - 4/1
Scottish actor Alan Cumming has never been busier - he's the artistic director at Pitlochry Festival Theatre where he's about to star in 'The History of Paper', is the host of the US version of 'The Traitors', was recently in hit Channel 4 drama 'Tip Toe' and will be in the new 'Avengers' blockbuster. The bookies reckon there's a 4/1 chance he'll find time to play Doctor Who. | Getty Images
10. Domhnall Gleeson - 9/2
Domhnall Gleeson has a television hit on his hands with his starring role in American comedy 'The Paper'. Could he be persuaded to return to this side of the Atlantic to helm the TARDIS? He's priced at 9/2. | Getty Images
11. Christopher Eccleston - 5/1
Another actor who could return to the role in a bid to save the series is ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston. He's priced at 5/1. | Getty Images for ReedPOP