Site Menu

September 2nd, 2015 68 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

River Song to Return in 2015 Christmas Special

Alex Kingston returns to Cardiff to reclaim her role as Professor River Song for the highly anticipated 2015 Doctor Who Christmas special, part of BBC One’s essential seasonal viewing.

It’s Christmas Day in the future and the TARDIS is parked on a snowy village street, covered in icicles, awaiting its next adventure. Time traveller River Song meets her husband’s new incarnation, in the form of Peter Capaldi, for the first time this Christmas.

Day one of filming the 10th Doctor Who Christmas special starts this week and is written by Lead Writer and Executive Producer, Steven Moffat, executive produced by Brian Minchin, produced by Nikki Wilson and directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Doctor Who, Sherlock).

River Song made her first Doctor Who appearance in 2008 in ‘Silence in the Library’ and ‘Forest of the Dead’ and has appeared in 15 episodes to date.

Award-winning Alex Kingston comments on her reappearance: “To be honest, I did not know whether River would ever return to the show, but here she is, back with the Doctor for the Christmas special. Steven Moffat is on glittering form, giving us an episode filled with humor and surprise guest castings. I met Peter for the first time at Monday’s read through. We had a laugh, and I am now excited and ready to start filming with him and the Doctor Who team. Christmas in September?, why not!”

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer adds: “Another Christmas, another special for Doctor Who – and what could be more special than the return of Alex Kingston as Professor River Song? The last time the Doctor saw her, she was a ghost. The first time he met her, she died. So how can he be seeing her again? As ever, with the most complicated relationship in the universe, it’s a matter of time…”

The witty line-up of guest cast joining Alex for a magical adventure on the TARDIS will be announced over the coming months.


Adverts/Affiliates

68 comments

  • weeping angel

    September 6th, 2015 - 3:11am

    omg omg omg im so exited!

    Reply
  • collector

    September 4th, 2015 - 11:07am

    I didnt realise she had had 15 episodes already, ive just gone through them in my head. Wow! Hopefully a lot MORE to come in the future.

    We all know she wont be killed off anytime soon. Plus id like to know how she was still mentally linked to Clara in TNOTD.

    Reply
    • CJ

      September 4th, 2015 - 2:59pm

      Maybe that be revealed in the Christmas special?

  • Anonymous

    September 4th, 2015 - 1:55am

    Oh man! I thought River died!

    Reply
  • DoctorWhat

    September 3rd, 2015 - 12:53am

    THIS IS THE MOST BRILLIANT NEWS! She is one of the most awesome characters in the series. I love her with the 11th doctor most though however I’m sure it’ll be great and funny to see with her 12. *naughty smile* waiting for it!! >.<

    Reply
  • GallifreyanKnight

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:19pm

    *Groans*
    I thought we were done with River Song by now… :/

    Reply
    • MaxP

      September 3rd, 2015 - 7:29am

      My thoughts exactly….

    • 12th Doctor Fan

      September 3rd, 2015 - 3:53pm

      Agreed those annoying spoilers and hello sweetie, great not. I’ll watch for Peter alone.

    • the ergon

      September 10th, 2015 - 10:02am

      shes all right is river as long as she doesn,t use that annoying catchphrase ‘SPOILERS’. She tended to take over during the matt smith era. As long as there sporadic appearances i don,t mind.

  • collector

    September 2nd, 2015 - 8:40pm

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cant wait to hear those immortal and brilliant words “Hello sweetie”. Just a massive shame that Clara may not be in it.

    But you never know, spoilers!

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      September 4th, 2015 - 1:34am

      Right

  • the astronaut of death

    September 2nd, 2015 - 6:37pm

    River spong and capatain jack NEED to meet!

    Reply
    • the astronaut of death

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:37pm

      Song

    • MrHaloWho

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:50pm

      spork

    • Doyouhearthem?

      September 2nd, 2015 - 8:45pm

      hmm… have you ever met yourself?

  • CJ

    September 2nd, 2015 - 5:29pm

    Would of been better if Captain Jack returned but I guess River Song is alright

    Reply
    • Zygon63

      September 2nd, 2015 - 5:54pm

      No! I thought Captain Jack was annoying…
      River Song is a fantastic character!

    • JellyBaby100

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:01pm

      That sentence is just backwards.

  • NathanWho

    September 2nd, 2015 - 5:25pm

    this is good
    it has been bugging since river said to Matt ‘one day you turned up with a new suit and a new haircut and took me out for one last night.’
    she finally gets a deserved goodbye (again)

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:05pm

      But what if this isn’t a goodbye

    • NathanWho

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:35pm

      hopefully it is as she has had a good rin

    • NathanWho

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:35pm

      *run

    • Anonymous

      September 4th, 2015 - 1:59am

      It had better be good-bye

    • Anonymous

      September 8th, 2015 - 10:35am

      That was in one of the Mini Episodeson the DVD of series six (I think). You don’t see the Doctor with her, but he exits the Tardis and says something of the kind… And I think in another mini episode (or possibly the same one) River says how wonderful their last meeting was and the Doctor looks kinda sad.

  • drwhofan4ever

    September 2nd, 2015 - 5:16pm

    Bring on the Christmas special, even though she had a good ending in series 7 I can’t wait to see her again in the Christmas special. Her character is different to every other character and in a good way, I love river’s character just as much as I love Osgood’s.

    Reply
  • The paternoster gang

    September 2nd, 2015 - 4:08pm

    When I saw this I was very suprised as I never thought she was coming back, but I am very pleased she is.

    Reply
  • TheDaleksDeath

    September 2nd, 2015 - 4:06pm

    River Song returning..? *shudders* Please kill me..now..

    Reply
  • Nobody in particular

    September 2nd, 2015 - 3:54pm

    This makes me happy, but I really hope that she gets the spotlight and is the main companion for the episode, without Clara being present. This would give Twelve the chance to learn to trust people other than Clara again and River the chance to re-establish her relationship with him, whatever that might be now

    Reply
  • Miffo

    September 2nd, 2015 - 3:39pm

    I wonder if at the end of this episode the Doctor will give River his new sonic screwdriver and then she can go to the library where she meets the 10th Doctor =)

    Reply
    • Exterminator

      September 2nd, 2015 - 5:00pm

      Oh that’ll be good. Very timey wimey.

    • CJ

      September 2nd, 2015 - 5:30pm

      I thought the 11th Doctor made her that Sonic Screwdriver?

    • Miffo

      September 2nd, 2015 - 8:32pm

      Not that I remember @CJ =)

    • CJ

      September 2nd, 2015 - 10:42pm

      No I’m sure it was because before River went to the Library, The 11th Doctor took her to Darillium to see the Singing Towers or something and that is where he gave River the sonic screwdriver

    • Miffo

      September 3rd, 2015 - 6:59am

      You sure? I though the last time we saw her was when the weeping angels got Amy and Rory. I thought she said to the Doctor that she’d pop in from time to time, or something like that @CJ

      I don’t know though, you may be right =)

  • the astronaut of death

    September 2nd, 2015 - 3:19pm

    I agree with you

    But another side of me wants me to see her to meet the 12th Doctor .

    Reply
  • DOCTOR WHO ONE

    September 2nd, 2015 - 3:12pm

    Oh for the love of Rassilon NO !!. Doctor Who was getting nice a quite without her around getting on my nerves with her “spoilers” and her “hello sweetie”.

    No offense to Alex Kingston, but her character was a pain in my backside ever time she appeared.

    Reply
    • The Moffat Paradox

      September 2nd, 2015 - 6:59pm

      The best thing to happen with the River Song character was when the Nashta Verrada stripped her to the bone and there Moffat should have left it.Michelle Gomez as Missy is the REAL co star now!

    • DOCTOR WHO ONE

      September 3rd, 2015 - 6:57am

      Can’t stand Missy either.

    • The Moffat Paradox

      September 3rd, 2015 - 10:21am

      The drawback of being any kind of Whovian; as many if not more things to gripe about than be pleased with.

  • the astronaut of death

    September 2nd, 2015 - 3:09pm

    No mention of Jenna Coleman…. Perhaps she’s leaving in the series 9 finale : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )

    Reply
  • Exterminator

    September 2nd, 2015 - 2:18pm

    There’s so much potential with the River character and Capaldi not to mention the first meeting between River and Missy. That I definitely want to see. 🙂

    Reply
    • Exterminator

      September 2nd, 2015 - 2:21pm

      I can see it now, Missy saying ‘he’s my boyfriend!’ River replies ‘he’s MY husband!’

      Missy ‘I’m a time lady!’ River ‘I was conceived in the Tardis! I win!’ Lol

    • Exterminator

      September 2nd, 2015 - 2:24pm

      ‘And besides, didn’t you used to be a man?’ Lol

      I can’t wait. 🙂

    • Dalek the Supreme

      September 3rd, 2015 - 1:29pm

      I really don’t want to see that argument coming from someone who’s supposed to be the Master…

  • Dalek the Supreme

    September 2nd, 2015 - 1:46pm

    Part of me is hugely disappointed. While (for the most part) I like River Song as a character, I feel she had a good enough exit in The Name of the Doctor. On the other hand, another part of me may be amused by her reaction to the Twelfth Doctor.

    Reply
  • sheepinafez

    September 2nd, 2015 - 1:23pm

    NO

    Reply
  • the astronaut of death

    September 2nd, 2015 - 12:30pm

    OK I’m both disappointed and happy happy.

    I’m disappointed because River song had such a good exit in Name of the doctor and that would have been excellent for a final apperence.

    But I’m also happy to river song is going to meet the 12th Doctor I can’t wait to see how that all lays out .

    Reply
  • Jamie

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:51am

    Yay!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:27am

    Yreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessss!!!!

    Reply
  • Yusuf

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:22am

    No. Please dear sweet lord, anyone but her.

    Reply
  • Doctor Stu

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:21am

    I love River because to me she’s the last little link Left to David Tennants era.

    Reply
    • Paulus The Little Wood Gnome

      September 2nd, 2015 - 1:16pm

      In that case my friend it is time to move on.

  • Dalek Supreme

    September 2nd, 2015 - 11:05am

    Am I the only one who doesn’t like River Song?

    Reply
    • IntoDarkness

      September 2nd, 2015 - 11:49am

      You are not alone (not a reference to the face of boe)

    • The Moffat Paradox

      September 2nd, 2015 - 12:23pm

      You are not alone!

    • Anonymous

      September 2nd, 2015 - 12:45pm

      You are not alone!!!

    • Zygon63

      September 2nd, 2015 - 1:35pm

      OK, there are four in the world that don’t like her then… Everyone else does! (including me)

    • Anonymous

      September 2nd, 2015 - 1:53pm

      You are a part of a vocal minority 😉

    • Anonymous

      September 2nd, 2015 - 1:54pm

      Sorry that was meant to be addressed to Dalek Supreme and the hater squad 🙂

    • 12th Doctor Fan

      September 2nd, 2015 - 2:26pm

      I can’t stand river, if she ruins this I won’t be buying I ditched series six once was enough, I only hope 12 tells her shut it, every time she says hello sweetie or spoilers.

    • Anonymous

      September 4th, 2015 - 2:04am

      Absolutely NOT! She is a bad idea for a character, and how do they think it’ll work with the 12th?

    • Anonymous

      September 8th, 2015 - 10:39am

      You are not alone (this IS a reference to the Face of Boe)

  • Zygon63

    September 2nd, 2015 - 10:11am

    Brilliant! This is the best new series Doctor Who news this year!

    River is such a brilliant character, it’ll be great to see her with Capaldi’s Doctor – they’ll work really well together. She will soon have appeared alongside four Doctors!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    September 2nd, 2015 - 10:03am

    Wonderful! River gets a hard time from all the haters but she is such an interesting character and I actually love the headaches I get trying to work out her timeline. SM is the only person with the imagination and guts to write in such a complicated character/plot line.

    Just a thought….this is the 10th year since the show’s relaunch….the BBC are now working closer with Big Finish, allowing them to use post 2005 characters…River is going to be in an 8th Doctor Audia drama next year….I wonder if the Xmas special is a multi doctor story with 8 and 12…and River which then leads onto the Audio Drama.

    Reply
  • Still Not Ginger

    September 2nd, 2015 - 10:01am

    YAYYYY!!!

    Reply
  • CJ

    September 2nd, 2015 - 9:37am

    What!? WHAT!?

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

By clicking submit you agree to our terms and conditions (below), we reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate messages.

Comment rules

The Doctor Who site welcomes constuctive comments related to the news article in question. Links posted in comments may not be displayed. We reserve the right to delete or edit any post entirely at our discretion. If you leave unacceptable comments your IP address will be banned and reported

Click here to read full comments terms and conditions

Twitter

Facebook