It’s “Joy to the World” for Doctor Who fans this Christmas as Disney and the BBC unveil a trailer for the latest holiday special.
Featuring Ncuti Gatwa and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, Joy to the World follows the title character checking into a London hotel in 2024. She opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel — discovering danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor. But a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, just in time for Christmas.
Gatwa of course returns as the Doctor. Coughlan, who is known globally for her role as Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s Bridgerton, has been trailed to be appearing in Doctor Who for some time. Others to feature include Steph de Whalley as Anita, Jonathan Aris as Melnak, Joel Fry as Trev, Peter Benedict as Basil, Julia Watson as Hilda and Niamh Marie Smithas Sylvia.
The Christmas special will precede the second season of episodes of Doctor Who under its regenerated Disney-BBC deal with Russell T Davies back at the helm. That deal is yet to be re-upped beyond its second season.
Late last year, to signal the return of Davies and commemorate its 60th anniversary, three specials aired featuring fan favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate before Gatwa was introduced in a third Xmas special – The Church on Ruby Road, which divided critics.
Joy to the World is executive produced and written by Steven Moffat and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai (Bridgerton). Davies is showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers are Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.