Development continued as
showrunner for the three specials, but exited the programme once production was complete. On 29 July 2021, the
British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) announced that
Chris Chibnall, who serves as
executive producer and
showrunner of
Doctor Who, would depart the series alongside Whittaker after a run of specials in 2022. Chibnall stated their departures were part of a "three series and out deal" he made with Whittaker prior to the
eleventh series. Whittaker furthered this sentiment, stating "We knew that we wanted to ride this wave side by side, and pass on the baton together." The first two specials were produced as part of the eight episodes ordered for the
thirteenth series. The BBC's Chief Content Officer,
Charlotte Moore, later commissioned a third special which would be
feature-length to coincide with the centenary of the BBC and serve as Whittaker's
regeneration episode. It was also the 300th
Doctor Who story since the programme's inception in 1963. Ahead of the final special airing, it was reported that executive producer Matt Strevens and
Nikki Wilson, a
co-executive producer, would also depart once production on the centenary special was complete. Strevens originally joined the series alongside Chibnall. Wilson had been a part of the show since "
The Sontaran Stratagem" (2008), and also worked on its spin-off show,
The Sarah Jane Adventures. Composer
Segun Akinola later announced that he would not return after the final special.
Writing Chibnall continues as the head writer for the
traditional New Year's special "Eve of the Daleks", which features the
Daleks in a loose trilogy that connects their appearances in the past New Year's specials, "
Resolution" (2019) and "
Revolution of the Daleks" (2021). The second special features the return of the
Sea Devils in their first appearance since
Warriors of the Deep (1984). This episode included pirate-themed elements which Chibnall wanted to include after plans for a similar story fell through during production of the thirteenth series. One of Road's major contributions to this special was the addition of the historical figure
Zheng Yi Sao, also known as Madam Ching. The third and final special, "The Power of the Doctor", sees the Daleks, the
Cybermen, and
The Master. It is the first episode to feature all three in the same story. Reportedly, Chibnall had planned to include the Master in the next regeneration story since the
twelfth series and had reached out to
Sacha Dhawan, who portrayed the Master, for suggestions on how to incorporate the character. Dhawan said he wanted to explore the theme of the Master's disguises, which was used as a major plot thread of the episode. Returning showrunner
Russell T Davies penned the episode's final moments. The three episodes explored an overarching plot of a potential
same sex romance between the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz. Chibnall and Strevens revealed that this narrative was not originally in the plans for the story arc of the characters, but that they chose to incorporate it into the programme after viewers began
shipping them and began referring to the two as "
Thasmin". Road also contributed to this storyline in her episode, stating that it "felt really special" to write and mentioning that she is
queer herself. The writing team ultimately opted for the two characters not to kiss on screen, with Chibnall explaining that it felt more emotional than if they had. After the episode aired Chibnall also said that if he "had to make a decision about Yaz and the Thirteenth Doctor again, he would make it differently". The specials also furthered other threads, such as that around "the timeless child", which began in previous series', and the impact of the Doctor's impending regeneration.
Filming Filming for the first two specials occurred in the same production run as the thirteenth series, also known as
Flux. The majority of soundstage filming took place at
Roath Lock Studios (pictured) in
Cardiff, Wales. Production on all episodes was affected by the
impact of COVID-19 on television leading to virtual meetings, budgetary concerns, and travel constraints. Annetta Laufer directed "Eve of the Daleks" which was filmed in
Bristol in June 2021 with
cinematographer Robin Whenary. Laufer was hired after a producer was impressed with some of her previous work. Laufer and Whenary used
cinematic techniques while recording the episode. Haolu Wang made her television directorial debut with this episode while Mark Waters was the episode's cinematographer.
Principal photography wrapped on this special by 25 July. "The Power of the Doctor" filmed in
Cardiff in September and October with director
Jamie Magnus Stone. Some filming occurred at Hodge House, Grange Gardens, and
the Gate Arts Centre. The main cast concluded filming their scenes by 13 October, but
additional photography continued the following day. Whittaker stated that filming her regeneration scene "was singularly the most emotional day on set" and that "it was a wonderfully-celebratory-slash-grief-ridden day". The three specials were in
picture lock by February 2022 while
post-production and
visual effects work continued later into the year. The final moments of "The Power of the Doctor" were filmed on 13 May 2022, also on a green screen, with
Rachel Talalay directing, as Stone was unavailable. Production blocks were arranged as follows: ==Release==