TV news: Ncuti Gatwa teases Doctor Who Christmas Special - ‘It’s a big one’
Britain’s longest-serving hero, Doctor Who is returning soon to television screens in the latest Christmas Special, Joy to The World.
The story finds Ncuti Gatwa’s Doctor thrust into a festive adventure after saying goodbye to companion Ruby Sunday.
Film News Blitz’s David Bason reports what the Doctor has to say about the upcoming Christmas Special.
A year on from his exciting full-episode debut, Gatwa’s Doctor is in an altogether different place this Christmas.
When audiences last saw the 15th Doctor, he’d said goodbye to companion Ruby in an emotional summer season finale.
Fast forward to Christmas and a story penned by former Showrunner Steven Moffat will get the Doctor back up and running.
“We find the Doctor at the start of this episode alone,” Gatwa told the BBC.
“He’s lost his companion and he’s on the hunt for some milk!
“He’s landed in a very exciting hotel, and then the adventure ensues.
“He’s obviously still dealing with losing Ruby, who is back at home with her family, and he’s trying to fill that void with an adventure, and it is a big one!”
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What is Joy to The World about?
Nicola Coughlan stars as Joy in the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special and it sounds like a typical Moffat-madness adventure.
Per the official synopsis, the story begins “When Joy opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel.
“She discovers danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. But a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, just in time for Christmas.
“Where has the Doctor been? What is going on in Joy’s hotel room?
“An old enemy of the Doctor’s is lurking in the wings and all of human history hangs in the balance. Can the Doctor save Christmas, everywhere, all at once?”
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Doctor Who at Christmas will be ‘joyous’
Russell T Davies made a point of bringing back the Doctor Who Christmas Special when he returned to the BBC hit as Showrunner in 2024.
As a result, Gatwa has already got one festive episode of Who under his belt with the second just days away.
But what makes Doctor Who at Christmas so special?
“It feels very nice to be back with a Christmas special,” said Gatwa.
“It’s got such a joyous, lovely, warm Christmassy feel.
“There is so much heart in this story which touches on loss, love and humour, which is exactly what you want for a Christmas Day adventure with the Doctor.
“I can’t wait for the audience to see it, it’s very joyous.”
Joy to The World is out on Christmas Day (Wednesday, December 25) on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 17:10 GMT.
The special will air on Disney+ outside of the UK and Ireland.
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