Excitement is building for the upcoming 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special, and fans will be thrilled to hear that an exclusive teaser of the episode will be revealed during Children in Need. Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the Doctor, will introduce the footage, which will offer a sneak peek into the episode titled Joy to the World, written by Steven Moffat.
In addition to the teaser, Children in Need will also launch a special auction that promises fans an “out of this world treat.” The Christmas special will feature Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan from Derry Girls as the character Joy. Coughlan describes Joy as a determined woman whose life takes a dramatic turn when she crosses paths with the Doctor.
During the San Diego Comic-Con, a teaser trailer was unveiled, giving fans a glimpse of the Doctor navigating through time and space with a ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin latte in hand before meeting Joy in London in 2024. The trailer also revealed the cast, including Peter Benedict as Basil, Julia Watson as Hilda, and the return of the Silurians, with Jonathan Aris playing a Silurian named Melnak.
Showrunner Russell T Davies teased that the upcoming Christmas special will be one of the most epic and adventurous yet, taking viewers to various locations and exploring the Doctor’s character when he is on his own. Following the Christmas special, Doctor Who will make its return in the spring with Ncuti Gatwa reprising his role as the Fifteenth Doctor and Varada Sethu joining as a new companion.
For fans eagerly awaiting the teaser and more details about the Christmas special, mark your calendars for the Children in Need event on Friday, November 15th, 2024, airing on BBC One and iPlayer. Doctor Who will also make its comeback on BBC One and BBC iPlayer during the holiday season. Don’t forget to check out our Sci-Fi coverage and TV Guide for more information on what’s coming up on your screens. And for exclusive interviews with your favorite TV stars, tune in to The Radio Times Podcast.