Doctor Who "Out to Tender": Capaldi Teases Return, Moffat Addresses Christmas Special Cut

Doctor Who's future is in flux, with the iconic series "out to tender" and its traditional Christmas Special cancelled. Amidst the shake-up, former star Peter Capaldi isn't ruling out a return as the Twelfth Doctor.

Capaldi, who played the Doctor from 2014-2017, addressed the BBC's move to put Doctor Who's production out for bids. He reassured fans the show is "not going anywhere," even if it "disappear[s] for a while in time and space." More intriguingly, when asked about reprising his role, Capaldi offered a classic Doctor Who non-committal: "You can never say never. You never know what happens in the future." Fans have been waiting for any hint of a multi-Doctor story, and this opens the door.

Ex-showrunner Steven Moffat, a driving force behind the modern era, also weighed in. He confirmed the Christmas Special's cancellation — a "black mark" in his book — but emphatically stated Doctor Who is "very, very definitely" returning. Moffat clarified that "out to tender" is not a death knell like the 1989 hiatus. Instead, it means the BBC is "actively seeking a future for Doctor Who." It might take time, but the show isn't being put "out to grass."