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Steven Moffat has struck an optimistic note about Doctor Who's future, insisting the long-running BBC sci-fi series will "very definitely" return despite the current period of uncertainty. Ad Speaking during an appearance at the Utopia 2026 convention, the former Doctor Who showrunner addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding the beloved BBC sci-fi series, after it was confirmed that this year's planned festive episode would no longer be going ahead. "Doctor Who has not been cancelled," Moffat said. "Yes, Christmas has been cancelled. Well, to be clear, not all of Christmas, the day will still take place, even if Doctor Who's not on it. "Quite honestly, I'm not altogether sure why they bother doing that, but yes, Christmas, and that's a black mark." Moffat, who served as showrunner from 2010 to 2017 and has continued to write episodes in the modern era, made clear that he was disappointed by the absence of a festive instalment. "I don't like the fact there's not gonna be a Christmas special," he said. "There should always be a Christmas special. There's not going to be that, but the show will return – very, very definitely." Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor in Doctor Who. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon The comments come after the BBC confirmed that Doctor Who would be put out to competitive tender, following the end of Russell T Davies's second stint as showrunner. The move means the broadcaster is seeking a production company to make the next era of the series, with the BBC previously stressing that the process is about securing the long-term future of the franchise. Read more: Russell T Davies says Doctor Who has not been cancelled – and tender process will secure show's future for "many years" Moffat was keen to distinguish the current pause from the show's long wilderness years, after Doctor Who was taken off air in 1989 and remained absent as a regular series until Davies revived it in 2005. "This is not like... those of us who are old remember it was 16 years of, 'Well, we'll maybe tell you something next week,' – it's not that situation, right? "So, out to tender is not out to grass. Out to tender means actively seeking a future for Doctor Who." He continued: "It may take a little bit longer. Oh, so what? How much Doctor Who do you need? I mean, on your iPhones right now is every episode ever made, except for the ones we accidentally lost! So watch those for a while." Doctor Who's most recent season ended with a shock regeneration twist, as Ncuti Gatwa's Fifteenth Doctor appeared to take on the face of Billie Piper's Rose Tyler, leaving fans with plenty of questions about what comes next. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Dive into our Doctor Who story guide: reviews of every episode since 1963, plus cast & crew listings, production trivia, and exclusive material from the Radio Times archive. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.