When Will ‘Doctor Who’ Return? Update After Season 12 Finale

“Doctor Who” fans will be on the edge of their seats after tonight’s Season 12 finale, especially since the BBC America show will end on a cliffhanger. However, showrunner Chris Chibnall at least confirmed when Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor will return.

Unfortunately, it won’t be much sooner than usual. That’s right, “Doctor Who” won’t be back until the holiday special. The series will be on hiatus until at least Christmas or possibly New Year’s Day.

“We can’t leave the Doctor there! On that cliffhanger! Well, we did. But rest assured, the Doctor and her friends will be back for a one-off extended Special around Christmas and New Year. (I don’t know when they’re going to put it on yet, otherwise we’d tell you!),” Chibnall said in a statement.

He also gave a quick tease of what’s to come in the holiday episode. It sounds like it’ll be an intense one. [Spoilers for the Season 12 finale ahead.]

“There will be Daleks. There will be exterminations. Thrills, laughter, tears. You know. The usual. See you at the end of the year,” he wrote.

In addition to the fan-favorite villains, the main cast will also return. In addition to Whittaker as the Doctor, viewers can expect Tosin Cole as Ryan, Mandip Gill as Yaz and Bradley Walsh as Graham.

Despite ratings slipping, the BBC is not ready to ground the TARDIS yet. When asked about the possibility of ending the show, BBC drama chief Piers Wegner made it clear that cancellation isn’t in the cards.

“It’s an incredibly important show for young audiences, it’s still watched by families in a world where there are fewer shows that have the power to do that. It will always be an important show for us and we’re a very long way from wanting to rest it,” he said.

“Doctor Who” will return in late December or early January on BBC America.