Doctor Who legend Tom Baker has reunited with former co-star John Leeson for a brand-new audio drama, while the future of the BBC sci-fi series they once starred in remains uncertain. Tom, who played the Fourth Doctor, now takes on the role of Sherlock Holmes in Sir Sherlock: The Sickle and the Sea. John Leeson, who voiced the beloved robot dog K9, joins him as Dr. Watson. Katy Ashworth also stars as Sergeant Emily Lestrade. The story follows the characters on a secret mission to the Soviet Union, where they become entangled in a murder mystery after a body is found on a seemingly dry cargo ship, despite appearing to have drowned.
Behind the Scenes Reunion
A behind-the-scenes photo shows Tom and John sitting side by side in a recording studio, scripts and microphones before them, glasses perched on their noses. This marks Tom’s third portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, having previously played the detective in an earlier episode of Sir Sherlock titled The Red Letter Day and in the BBC’s 1982 adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, shortly after his tenure as the Doctor ended.
Doctor Who’s Uncertain Future
Since Tom’s iconic run in the 1970s, many actors have taken on the role of the Doctor, including Peter Davison, David Tennant, Matt Smith, and most recently Ncuti Gatwa. Gatwa fronted the show during its collaboration with Disney, but left after two seasons, with his Doctor transforming into Billie Piper, who originally played companion Rose Tyler. However, Disney is no longer involved, nor is showrunner Russell T Davies. The BBC has confirmed that the planned Christmas special has been scrapped and the entire series is being put out to tender.
BBC Statement and Russell T Davies’ Response
In a statement, the BBC explained: “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. 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.”
Russell T Davies also addressed the situation on social media, denying he ever wrote a script for the special. He said: “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.” He added: “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!”
Fan Backlash
Fans have expressed confusion and anger over the cancellation, with many feeling misled. One fan told Davies: “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.” Another lamented: “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.” A long-term viewer branded Davies “smug” and accused him of being “cynical and disingenuous.”
