Doctor Who's Christmas special has been cancelled for this year, but a new favourite has emerged to take over the Tardis. Poldark star Aidan Turner is now the leading candidate to become the next Doctor, according to recent betting odds.
Uncertain Future for Doctor Who
The BBC series faces an uncertain future following the cancellation of its Christmas special. It remains unclear whether the show will return in 2027, leaving fans with the Billie Piper cliffhanger unresolved for potentially years.
The show has experienced a ratings crisis in recent years, leading to a premature end to the series. A drop in viewership over the last two years has forced major structural changes behind the scenes at the BBC.
Ratings Decline
After the show's revival in 2005, Doctor Who reached its ratings peak when David Tennant and Matt Smith played the Time Lord. Episodes routinely attracted 7 to 10 million consolidated viewers. However, during Ncuti Gatwa's final season, overnight figures plummeted to historic lows, with some mid-season episodes drawing just 1.5 million live viewers. Even with 7-day streaming catch-up, multiple episodes failed to cross the 3 million mark.
The Christmas special has been axed, and showrunner Russell T Davies officially confirmed his departure alongside Gatwa.
Who Will Be the Next Doctor?
Despite these challenges, it is highly unlikely this is the end of the Tardis's time-travelling adventures. Like James Bond, Doctor Who is a British staple that will persist. The only question remains: who will the Doctor regenerate into next?
The last season's finale saw the Time Lord bizarrely change into Billie Piper, initially promising to see the former companion take the reins. However, according to gambling.com, Piper has drifted to 15/8 odds. It was also speculated that David Tennant could return as the Doctor for a third time, but he has drifted to 3/1.
Aidan Turner Leads the Race
Tennant has been a huge hit as evil Lord Baddingham in Disney+ series Rivals, but his on-screen nemesis Aidan Turner, of Poldark fame, is now the 13/8 favourite to be the next Doctor. If the new showrunner wants to please Whovians immediately, they could appoint Jo Martin (5/2) as the new official Time Lord. Former Doctors Paul McGann (7/2), Christopher Eccleston (5/1), and Matt Smith (10/1) have also been linked to a comeback.
