Tom Baker and another Doctor Who star have reunited for a new show as the BBC confirm the sci-fi series will not be back at Christmas and put it out to tender, leaving its future in question15:20, 12 Jun 2026Doctor Who icon Tom Baker has reunited with a former co-star for a brand new show, while the sci-fi series they met on faces an uncertain future.‌Tom, who played the Fourth Doctor on the BBC show, has taken on the role of Sherlock Homes for new audio drama Sir Sherlock: The Sickle and the Sea. He will be joined by John Leeson, who voiced the Fourth Doctor's trusty robot dog K9 and will now jump into the companion role again, as Dr Watson.‌The pair will be joined by Katy Ashworth as Sergeant Emily Lestrade. As the characters head to the Soviet Union on a clandestine mission, they soon find themselves caught up in a murder mystery when a body appears on a cargo ship that is completely dry, despite apparently drowning.‌Tom and John were pictured together in a behind the scenes photo. The two sat side by side in front of scripts and microphones in a recording studio and had glasses perched on the ends of their noses as they read.This is a third turn as Sherlock Holmes for Tom, as he played the legendary sleuth in a prior episode of Sir Sherlock, called The Red Letter Day, and in the BBC's 1982 adaptation of The Hound of he Baskervilles, which aired shortly after he finished his turn as the Doctor.‌Since Tom's turn as the Doctor in the 1970s, several other actors have taken on the role, including Peter Davison, his son-in-law David Tennant and Matt Smith. The most recent Doctor was Ncuti Gatwa, who fronted the show when it was being produced by Disney as well as the BBC.Ncuti left after two seasons, with his Doctor transforming into Billie Piper, who played companion Rose Tyler previously. But, Disney are no longer involved in the show, nor is the writer Russell T Davies.Russell returned to helm the show when it moved to Disney and had previously said he wrote a script for the Christmas special - something he has now said was not true, as the BBC scrapped the festive episode.‌In a statement, the BBC said that the decision was not taken lightly and that it will be disappointing for fans that the programme will not be back this Christmas. They also said that the whole series was being put out to tender.“After careful consideration the BBC, Russell T Davies and Bad Wolf have collectively decided not to go ahead with the previously announced Doctor Who Christmas episode," the statement began. “This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be disappointing for fans, but in order to set the show up for future series.‌“It was decided that rather than bridge the gap with a one-off special, we are choosing to push forward to invest in the long-term future of the show which ensures that when the Tardis lands once more, it does so in all its glory.”Russell shared his own post, where he denied having ever written a script. He said: "And so GOODBYE from me to Doctor Who but HELLO to a big new future for the show, as the BBC announces it’s putting the show out to tender."As a result, there won’t be a Christmas Special - we only cooked that up to guarantee a future when no one knew what would happen, but now we do know, there’s no need for it. You’ll have to wait a bit longer for new Doctor Who… but you’ll be waiting for MORE Doctor Who than a one-off. So it’s worth it!‌He then clarified: "For the record: there was no script, I never wrote it, and no actor was ever approached to play the next Doctor. You may disagree; fine, sit in that chair and wait to be proved right. You’ll wait a lonnng time."Now I’m as excited as anyone to see what comes next! Will they keep the theme tune? Will they lose the blue box? Will they bring back the Drahvin?! It’s all up for grabs, which is so Doctor Who, exciting and unpredictable and new! Here comes the future, vworp vworp."‌Following his recent statement, fans were confused and angered as he previously claimed to have penned a script. One fan told him: "You say that you never wrote a script for the Christmas special and you're right to assume we wouldn't believe that. But here's the unfortunate truth of the matter: you're a liar either way. You either lied about having the script written, or you're lying now."Many fans now feel dismayed that the truth about the special not actually happening was kept from them for many months. "To say you didn’t even write it when we’ve all been led to believe something was going to be waiting under the Christmas tree - I’m sorry, but that was not fair at all,” one lamented.Another long-term viewer branded him "smug" and moaned: “This sucks and you brushing it off as ‘stuff we had to say because it’s showbiz’ is cynical and disingenuous."Article continues belowLike this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.