Looks like we all got an early Christmas present today…
It hasn’t been long since we finally got news of the air date for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, but now fans have received another for the diary, courtesy of Disney Plus.
The official Disney Plus account on Twitter, which has recently been rebranded as X, posted a list of dates for festive new releases, including “Doctor Who Holiday Special: The Church on Ruby Road”.
From the 60th anniversary onwards, new episodes of Doctor Who will be debuting on Disney Plus internationally, while in the UK they will continue to arrive on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
This post seems to confirm not only the special’s air date, which is set for 25th December, Christmas Day (at least in the US), but also the special’s title, which hints towards a certain upcoming companion.
Making a watchlist, c̶h̶e̶c̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶i̶t̶ streaming everything twice! 🎁 What are you crossing off the #SeasonsStreamings list first? pic.twitter.com/fDnmVDIgMj
— Disney+ (@DisneyPlus) November 6, 2023
While Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor is expected to debut during the 60th anniversary specials, this is likely the first time fans will meet Millie Gibson’s companion, Ruby Sunday.
Other than this newly released title and air date, we still know little about the special, with the BBC yet to confirm transmission times in the UK.
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We also got a glimpse of at least one of the Doctor’s costumes in the special, with Gatwa seen filming in a traditional tartan kilt, a black leather jacket, black socks and brown boots.
If the special does indeed air in the UK on Christmas Day, it will be the first Doctor Who episode to arrive on the big day itself since 2017’s Twice Upon a Time.
Since then, each of Doctor Who’s festive specials have arrived on New Year’s Day, with Resolution, Revolution of the Daleks and Eve of the Daleks all airing on 1st January.
Spyfall Part 1, the first episode of season 12, also aired on New Year’s Day.
Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Classic episodes are available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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