Doctor Who is reportedly "increasingly unlikely" to air over the festive period this year for the first time since the show's revival.

A seasonal special episode has either aired on Christmas Day or New Year's Day every year since 2005 but as yet no episode has been filmed for Christmas 2025.

Ncuti Gatwa's second full series as The Doctor will be released from next month, while five-part spinoff The War Between The Land and The Sea is also in the bag and will go out either later this year or in early 2026.

Production on the show is currently in limbo, however, with the BBC's funding partner Disney+ not expected to make a commitment to more episodes until after the upcoming series has been released.

Given the timeframes involved in making an episode - including for the extensive special effects added in post-production - the prospect of a festive special in 2025 appears to be a long shot.

"There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding Doctor Who at the moment and it looks like the beloved Christmas special won't be happening," a source told The Sun.

"It seems the ep just wasn't commissioned. People had no doubt be hoping that next series would be in the bag and that would include the festive edition.

"But things are very much hanging in the balance and bosses don't even know if Ncuti will be returning – let alone if there is time to bash out a new episode for Christmas Day."

The new series premieres on Saturday, April 12 on iPlayer in the UK and Ireland and on Disney+ in the rest of the world.