The audio drama, starring Christopher Eccleston and Carole Ann Ford, will be available on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel for a month from December 22nd, 2026. 

Following the disappointment of a cancelled Christmas Special for 2026, with the BBC choosing to put the series out to tender instead, audio producers Big Finish have come to the rescue.

Rather than an onscreen adventure, the Doctor will be back for a festive audio outing starring Christopher Eccleston. ‘The Wash’, a 60-minute story by Robert Valentine, also features the return of the show’s companion, the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford) – seen on screen in Ncuti Gatwa’s last series.

Of course, a Christmas Special for the Ninth Doctor also scratches a fan itch as the modern series’ run of festive specials began in 2025, just after Eccleston left the role (unless you count ‘The Unquiet Dead’, which was set at Christmas and featured Charles Dickens and ghosts, although it actually aired in April!)

The Wash

When Rose and Jackie start early Christmas prep, the Doctor opts to do the laundry. The Wash Inn is a hub and haven for lonely souls, and who is more lonely than the last of the Time Lords?

But why has the memory of his granddaughter, Susan, begun to trouble him? What terrible force lurks in an innocent washing machine? And is there enough Brite White in the world to deal with it? It will all come out in The Wash.

As a festive treat, ‘The Wash’ will be made available to stream for free via the Official Doctor Who YouTube channel on 22nd December 2026, where it will stay for a month.

The drama is also available to pre-order on Collector’s Edition CD + download to own, or as a downloard only, from Big Finish. The download will be available from 23rd December and feature addtional behind-the-scenes content. The Collector’s Edition CD comes packaged with a collectible Christmas card.

The audio producers promise that the story is part of a selection box of Doctor Who treats from Big Finish arriving over the Christmas period, with further announcements to come.

Christopher Eccleston said:

“This was a brilliant, really outstanding script, I thought. I love that notion that as we go through our lives, particularly if you’re a Time Lord, everybody you meet remains with you.

“And working with Carole was really exciting. I’d been looking forward to it. I think that An Unearthly Child is the greatest episode ever made – when I made the TV series, that was the one I watched as inspiration. And she’s a pro, she was absolutely brilliant – a real honour.”

Carole Ann Ford added:

“Acting opposite Chris was wonderful, marvellous. It’s such a strong story. Susan pushes this Doctor to try and sort himself out and not be so touchy with people. I think listeners will be cheering Susan on!”

This story comes in addition to the current run of The Ninth Doctor Adventures which has reunited Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor with Billie Piper as Rose Tyler.