Who's the new Doctor Who and other TARDIS trivia
From Daleks to dinosaurs, Doctor Who has had Britain's children and adults alike hiding behind the sofa for over 60 years.
Ncuti Gatwa's second series has brought about a whole new era for the Whoniverse, putting an end to some questions and raising a whole bunch of new ones. Who's playing the Doctor next? When is the show returning? Is there a Christmas special? And what can we watch in the meantime?
Well, here at BBC Bitesize, we've put together some fun facts about the show, as well as a festive quiz to help you choose what to watch whilst the show's off the air!
1. Who is the next Doctor Who?
Well, it's… complicated.
At the end of the 2025 finale, The Reality War, Ncuti Gatwa sent shockwaves through the Whoniverse, appeared to regenerate into ex-Who star Billie Piper.
Billie originally played the Doctor's companion, Rose, in the first two series of the 2005 revival.
Her actual role is still up in the air, with showrunner Russell T. Davies saying, "It's an honour and a hoot to welcome [Billie] back to the Tardis, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told."
Adding to the who-opla was Piper's credit at the end of the episode, which read: "And introducing Billie Piper" but featured no mention of who she'd be playing.
2. When is the Doctor Who Christmas special?
Doctor Who will return to our screens in 2026, with a new Christmas special written by showrunner Russell T. Davies.
This will mean the 2025 festive period will pass without a visit from TV's most famous traveller, but fear not Whovians, you won't be totally without Whoniverse content this Christmas.
This December, Doctor Who spin-off 'The War Between The Land and The Sea' will launch in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.
But, in the meantime, there's still plenty of festive fun to be had in the Whoniverse on BBC iPlayer! Take our quiz below to find your perfect Doctor Who Christmas special to watch over the festive period.
3. Quiz: What Doctor Who Christmas special should you watch?
4. What was the first episode of Doctor Who?
The first episode of Doctor Who came out on 23 November 1963. It was called 'An Unearthly Child', and featured the introduction of the First Doctor, his granddaughter Susan, and the show's first ever companions, Ian and Barbara.
Far from a surefire smash, the show's first episode was overshadowed by the assassination of then US President John F. Kennedy. Thankfully, Doctor Who was re-aired on the following Wednesday - this time to an audience of six million people!
5. Who created Doctor Who?
The original concept for Doctor Who was created by Sidney Newman, Donald Wilson and C.E. Webber. They developed the show's premise, its main character, and its iconic time machine, the TARDIS.
Verity Lambert - BBC Television's only female producer at the time, then brought the show to life - with director Warris Hussein and story-editor David Whittaker. That original version of the show ran from 1963-1989, with a TV movie in 1996.
The show was then revived in 2005, following a lengthy hiatus, by writer Russell T. Davies.
6. Who are the most famous Doctor Who villains?
They say a hero is only as good as their villains, and Doctor Who has some great ones!
The show's most famous foes are the Daleks, who debuted in 1963. With their iconic catchphrase and unforgettable design, the creatures became instant fan favourites, facing off against almost every Doctor in the show's history.
Other memorable enemies include the Cybermen, Weeping Angels and The Master - a friend turned foe who debuted in 1971.
7. Celebrity cameos in Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a show that has always taken audiences out of this world, but who are the starriest stars to star in the show? (Try saying that quickly!)
Actors like Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan and Felicity Jones all made early career appearances on the show. And celebrities like Jinkx Monsoon, Claudia Winkleman and Peter Kay have all had their place in time and space.
Most famously, perhaps, was Kylie Minogue, who appeared in 2007 Christmas Special 'Voyage of The Damned'. Kylie's role as Astrid Peth made hearts around the world go padam padam, making 'Voyage of The Damned' the most viewed episode since 1979.
8. Which actors have played The Doctor?
Doctor Who has run for more than 60 years, with a who's who of actors taking on the title role. The Doctor's ability to 'regenerate' was first introduced in the 60s, when William Hartnell changed into Patrick Troughton.
Since then, we've seen Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker, David Tennant (again) and Ncuti Gatwa take on the role.
Actors Jo Martin and John Hurt have also played special, numberless incarnations across various episodes.
9. What you need to know about Doctor Who
- TARDIS - Stands for Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space. The Doctor's not-so-trusty time machine which takes the form of a blue police box.
- Sonic screwdriver - The Doctor's favourite tool. Completely harmless, but very good at opening doors.
- Time Lords - An alien race that adopted The Doctor.
- Regeneration - A Time Lord's ability to completely change their appearance when injured or dying.
- Exterminate! - The iconic catchphrase of The Doctor's most famous enemy - The Daleks.
- Gallifrey - The Doctor's home and the planet of the Time Lords.
This article was published in November 2025
Where can I learn more about Doctor Who?
Where to watch Doctor Who
All 41 seasons of Doctor Who are now available to watch on BBC iPlayer: