Doctor Who Christmas special to return in 2024

Russell T Davies has confirmed that the Doctor Who Christmas special will return to the BBC in 2024.

Ahead of the show's 60th anniversary celebrations next year, Davies confirmed to Doctor Who Magazine that he was hard at work on the Christmas special, the show's first since 2017.

The showrunner said: "For the first time ever, I'm writing a Christmas Special... at Christmas!"

Davies added: "The 2023 script has been long since signed-off. The new one is for end-of-year 2024!"

There will however be a long wait before the Doctor is back on TV screens next winter with Davies saying: "It takes a while to get the empire in shape, but that's a serious plan: annual Doctor Who, no gap years, lots of content, on and on."

Read more: Doctor Who series 14 begins filming as Millie Gibson shares her new life in Cardiff

The 60th anniversary specials will see David Tennant return as the Doctor in his fourteenth incarnation alongside Catherine Tate as Donna Noble while Yasmin Finney joins the cast as a character called Rose.

Bernard Cribbins also filmed scenes for the specials before his death earlier this year.

A Series of Unfortunate Events star Neil Patrick Harris will also play a villain across the three 2023 specials.

Ncuti Gatwa will take over as the Doctor at the conclusion of the specials, becoming the first Black actor in the role.

Coronation Street star Millie Gibson was also recently confirmed to play Gatwa's companion Ruby Sunday during Children in Need.

Gatwa and Gibson are already filming season 14 in Cardiff with Davies marking the occasion on social media writing: "FILMING BEGINS on the next season! So many mysteries to come. Who is the X? What is the Y? And what the hell is the spinning Z?!? You’ll find out! On BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+".

Watch below: David Tennant and Catherine Tate wish fans happy Doctor Who day