Chris Chibnall Didn't Want To Write A 'Doctor Who' Christmas Special This Year

Since its revival back in 2005, Doctor Who has become well-known for its festive special episodes every year. From spinning Christmas trees to a giant spider; Christmas in the science fiction show always goes wrong, but hey, it usually has a happy ending as well.

However, it has been revealed that the iconic show almost lost its usual Christmas Day slot on BBC One this year. This was because incoming showrunner, Chris Chibnall, wanted to start work on the hit BBC series in January, not on the Christmas Special this year.

We Could've Met the Thirteenth Doctor Sooner

Departing Time Lord, Peter Capaldi, announced he will be ending his tenure as the Doctor this year. After three seasons, Capaldi felt it was right for someone else to take on the legendary role. It has been revealed that the original plans were for Capaldi to regenerate into Jodie Whittaker during the final episode of season 10.

Current showrunner, Steven Moffat, wanted to depart #DoctorWho after season 10, meaning Capaldi's regeneration scene was written and planned ready for filming. But, Chibnall persuaded Moffat to rewrite the ending of the season, as he had no intentions of taking over as showrunner so soon.

"There was one big glitch, which was Christmas. I was going to leave at the end of series 10 – I had my finale planned and what I wanted to do with it. I had a good notion of that. Then I learned at a drinks event somewhere that Chris didn't want to start with a Christmas, so at that point they were going to skip Christmas."

With the debate about a Christmas special becoming intense, Moffat realised he had to do the Christmas Special, primarily because if Chibnall didn't write it, Doctor Who would've lost its Christmas Day slot on BBC One forever.

"Doctor Who would've lost that slot if we hadn't [done a special] because Christmas Day is now so rammed. So I said, probably four glasses of red wine in, 'I'll do Christmas!' and then had to persuade Peter [Capaldi] that's how we were leaving. Then I had to work out how you could get mortally injured in one episode and spend an hour regenerating on Christmas Day, which I hopefully have done!"

Final Thoughts

After hours of persuasion, we have Moffat to thank that Doctor Who will return this Christmas, where we will see Peter Capaldi regenerate into the show's first female Doctor. The special titled 'Twice Upon A Time', will see the Twelfth Doctor team up with the First Doctor, portrayed by David Bradley.