After a recent spate of news questioning the lack of signs of production progress on the Doctor Who 2026 Christmas special, showrunner Russell T Davies neglected to mention the special when discussing his future career plans to James O’Brien on the Full Disclosure podcast.

The interview took place some time in the first full week of May 2026 according to interviewer, James O’Brien. “Just as an indication of how absolutely up to the wire Tip Toe is, I mean, we’re having this conversation three weeks before the episode goes out on Channel 4,” O’Brien stated, referring to Davies’ latest thriller series which premieres on May 31.

Toward the end of the podcast after Davies discussed the worsening state of the world, O’Brien asked, “I feel we should end on a more upbeat note but I’m not sure that that’s… What are you doing next?”

Davies began with with, “I don’t actually know…” before mentioning a dance stage show planned for 2027 based on his hit television series It’s a Sin.

“I’m having a nice time,” he continued. “I’m kind of not rushing to write the next thing. I’m going to start now. The Tip Toe, we finished work on that next week and I’ll start right on the next one. So, that script will take a few months then we’ll start talking to people about it. So, I won’t be back filming anything until next year, really.”

It’s worth mentioning that Doctor Who composer Murray Gold has confirmed in February 2026 that Davies has already written several versions of the script for the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special. However, that special is obviously something he would be obliged to film this year, not next year.

Three thoughts spring to mind from this statement that he is not filming anything until 2027: He’s not executive-producing the Doctor Who special he’s written so he’s not involved with the filming, he’s only talking about filming projects he hasn’t yet written, or the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special is not going to be filmed.

Also worth noting is that the Doctor Who Christmas special doesn’t receive a mention when he is asked what he is doing next. After bragging to BBC Newsbeat in December 2025 that, after sharing his plans for the special with BBC bosses, it left them leaving them “with jaws agape, loving it”, it seems a bit strange for him to omit mentioning something which arguably needs to go into production fairly soon if it is to be ready for Christmas 2026.

Fans are waiting for the explanation of why the Fifteenth doctor regenerated into the form of Billie Piper without definitive word that Piper is playing the Doctor.

It’s also worth noting that Davies not feeling rushed to “write the next thing” might indicate that he’s not involved with potential future series of Doctor Who.

When Radio Times reached out to the BBC to comment on recent rumours regarding the current state of the Christmas special, the BBC “declined to comment”.

CultBox will provide an update on the 2026 Doctor Who Christmas special as soon as we learn more.