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September 21st, 2011 55 comments

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Christmas Special: The Stars! The Story!

Christmas Special: The Stars! The Story!

From The Official Site

Information about the Christmas Special is starting to emerge and judging from the details below, it’s going to be the best one yet with an incredible cast and intriguing storyline…

We’ll be bringing you more on the story as it emerges, but for now, here’s that press release in full…

Doctor Who Christmas Special
StarringMatt Smith, Claire Skinner, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir and Alexander Armstrong

1 x 60′ drama produced by BBC Wales for BBC One

Cardiff, 21 September 2011: Production has started on the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas Special in which the Doctor (Matt Smith) finds himself in war-torn England embarking on a magical and mysterious adventure with a young widow and her two children.

A stellar guest cast including Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Arabella Weir (The Fast Show) and Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller), join Matt Smith in the emotional festive special, packed full of Christmas thrills and chills.

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, commented: “The Doctor at Christmas – nothing is more fun to write. Maybe because it’s so his kind of day – everything’s bright and shiny, everybody’s having a laugh, and nobody minds if you wear a really stupid hat. Of all the Doctors, Matt Smith’s is the one that was born for this time of year – so it’s the best news possible that he’s heading back down the chimney.”

The special, set during World War II, sees Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset, where the caretaker is a mysterious young man in bow tie, and a big blue parcel is waiting for them under the tree. They are about to enter a magical new world and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his debts…

Claire Skinner said: “I am thrilled to be in Doctor Who playing Madge who is a bit of super-mum. It’s a magical part.”

This marks Matt Smith’s second outing as the Doctor at Christmas time and will follow hot on the heels of the successful 2011 series, currently airing on BBC One until October.

The Christmas special was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama and Danny Cohen, Controller BBC One. Steven Moffat is Lead Writer and Executive Producer with Piers Wenger and Caroline Skinner, also executive producing.

Filming on the Christmas special will continue until mid October 2011.


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55 comments

  • cosmic hobo

    October 10th, 2011 - 5:56pm

    Being an adult who has watched the show since 1963 I like stories that contain Claire Skinner

    Reply
  • torchwoodfan101

    September 24th, 2011 - 7:33pm

    Isn’t the lady in the picture from outnumbered?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      September 26th, 2011 - 7:06pm

      Yes it is, claire skinner

    • dwfan101

      October 7th, 2011 - 9:41pm

      Thank you. (New name)

  • Tom

    September 22nd, 2011 - 1:28pm

    Is Mr Smith back?

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      September 22nd, 2011 - 10:56pm

      Yes, Mr Smith is back as are Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.

    • Cal

      September 24th, 2011 - 3:23pm

      It’s not Mr Smith. It’s a character played by Alexander Armstrong. 🙂

  • Doctor J

    September 22nd, 2011 - 1:15am

    I’ve been looking on DW TV and it said that this years xmas special is going to be a Narnia like episode and it said an icy baddie will be in it. In my mind Ice Warriors im not certain but like I said in my mind.

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      September 22nd, 2011 - 10:58pm

      It’s not the Ice Warriors. There is a book that is about to be released featuring the Ice Warriors in a “Christmas” setting, the first thing the writer did was check if the Ice Warriors were in the Special so they are not unfotunately but at least it has it’s positives. The art department absolutely despise the Ice Warrior’s design so the second they come back they shall be absolutely ruined.

    • Doctor J

      September 25th, 2011 - 5:51pm

      When I saw the details on Doctor Who TV it said and icy baddie I thought and I was not certain just a thought Ice Warriors but like you said about the book featuring Ice Warriors in a Christmas setting so now I understand.

  • tardistik

    September 21st, 2011 - 7:14pm

    so this means that karen and arthur aren’t in it – maybe we’ve lost the ponds forever!
    or maybe they’ve just had a break from the TARDIS

    Reply
    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 8:23pm

      the second

    • Anonymous

      September 22nd, 2011 - 7:25pm

      They are in it, they just have not put them in the official cast list, both Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill have confirmed involvement and have been spotted on set although it’s not clear in what capacity they appear.

  • TARDIS DUDE

    September 21st, 2011 - 5:36pm

    Looks rubbish. Last year was as well. Dr who needs a new head writer. Moffat is to cleaver. Sorry about spelling. If moffat isn’t carefull dr who will get axed. He really needs to dum down his stories. And make them less camp. He said last year he made dr who darker but to me he made to silly and to cleaver. Please can we have darker dr who storys please. And don’t get me started about him resting the daleks. Sorry but reading that made me mad. I feel he’s taking child friendy to far.

    Reply
    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 5:55pm

      so you want people to say (sarcastic)yay daleks didn’t see that coming they need a rest look at the classic seasons when they came back everyone was like wow now its oh the daleks are back by the way

    • TARDIS DUDE

      September 21st, 2011 - 6:23pm

      I understand where ur comeing from but they just got a new look. I want to see what these daleks got what the old daleks don’t. I think show what the new can do then give them a rest. But not five years like classic. Plus it dosen’s always work. Look at day of the daleks and destiney of the daleks. They were boring. Having said that i do like them but when u have classics like geniss of the daleks they do look rubbish. But i say give the daleks a prober send off. Sorry about spellings. I know this contruedicks what i said early but i feel the daleks are resting befour they were tied. Sorry about the word above i tried to spell it as best i could.

    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 6:52pm

      yeah they were boring they are back for the finally doctor who tv saw a trailer witch had daleks in it but u guys cant see it cause its like a special but if you see them in a dalek ep would you like to give them a rest not 5 years maybe 2 or three cause they do need a little rest to plan to invade and look more sinister do you agree on that

    • TARDIS DUDE

      September 21st, 2011 - 7:01pm

      Yeah i do but i feel they need at least one proper dalek befour a rest. Just to see wat the new daleks can do. Then give them a and bring them back with even more new gagets may be five new daleks.

    • I Love Cybermen

      September 21st, 2011 - 7:22pm

      Love the daleks but they DO need a rest. Why? So that they’re scary and a real threat!- If they ALWAYS appear, they’d become the norm and it would never be a surprise/exciting moment when they return.

    • TARDIS DUDE

      September 21st, 2011 - 7:32pm

      I just feel where were lots of unanswerd questions at the end of vicorty

    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 8:23pm

      what like

    • American Doctor Who Fan

      September 22nd, 2011 - 12:59am

      I think last years Christmas special was one of the best ever episodes in the revived series. Steven Moffat writes amazing stories and his seasons have been my favorites in the revived series.

    • Seb

      September 22nd, 2011 - 9:14pm

      To be honest, I began to hate the way RTD wrote the more episodes I watched, and the only ones I REALLY liked were the Moffat ones. Moffat’s seasons so far have been fantastic, and I love the cleverness, it’s so creative and sci-fi. Also the daleks need to build up their army, building factories and the like, I mean, after City and Victory they have literally nothing, just five daleks and a spaceship. But I would like to see the new daleks face up against the old, like in Doctor Who Experience.

    • TARDIS DUDE

      September 23rd, 2011 - 7:01pm

      I don’t like moffat but i must admit it he has made some great eps. May be i was wrong about the daleks. They do need a break. I was in a bad mood when i wrote my frist coment. I was moaning about every thing but i still think this x mas ep sounds rubbish

    • jackoreado

      September 23rd, 2011 - 7:33pm

      i think steven isnt a very good writer his storys seem to drag and have to much detail i cant really see any child watching an episode all the way through he adds way to much concept js

  • Commander Strax

    September 21st, 2011 - 5:17pm

    Looks great!

    Reply
  • sheepinafez

    September 21st, 2011 - 4:38pm

    this sounds great i love outnumberd

    Reply
    • tardistik

      September 21st, 2011 - 7:12pm

      me too

  • crazy guy

    September 21st, 2011 - 4:02pm

    i wonder if this series 6 will be the last for Karen Gillian and Arthur darvill because it dosent say anything about them in the plot synopsis and there not in the script to screen thing. i hope not!!!

    Reply
    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 4:19pm

      their back go to dr who tv there is filming pics of xmas and Karen said she is back s7

  • Tardis Manic

    September 21st, 2011 - 3:55pm

    Arabella Weir looks so much like sarah jane and alexander armstrong is mr smith in the sarah jane adventures. let’s hope that they haven’t replaced elisabeth sladen.-there will only be on sarah jane.

    Reply
  • drwhocbreviews

    September 21st, 2011 - 3:48pm

    no amy and rory then :S but the cast sounds great and hope the plot works well!!!!

    Reply
    • TARDIS

      September 21st, 2011 - 3:53pm

      their back go to dr who tv there is filming pics

  • Tom Ford

    September 21st, 2011 - 3:25pm

    Doctor who + Bill Bailey = Win + Boss!!!!

    Reply
  • Andrew Hall

    September 21st, 2011 - 3:05pm

    Hated last years special on so many levels, and as for the space sharks – duh! Didnt seem like Doctor Who to me, hoping this years is better, but its not getting me excited!

    Reply
    • DR-AWEOME

      September 21st, 2011 - 5:18pm

      *agrees*

  • Harold Saxon

    September 21st, 2011 - 12:28pm

    i liked last years xmas special,it was fun,i like it better when they set themon earth though. Next Doctor was one of my faves.

    Reply
  • Harold Saxon

    September 21st, 2011 - 12:25pm

    Sounds interestng plot and good guest stars,should be awesome!

    Reply
  • DOCTORWHOSBIGGESTFAN

    September 21st, 2011 - 8:28am

    The stars look really good and the plot sounds really exciting!

    Reply
  • Cyberdevil

    September 21st, 2011 - 8:21am

    WOW they have got a good line-up

    Reply
  • Dark Side of the Moon

    September 20th, 2011 - 9:37pm

    Forget the stars…lets hope they finally make a half decent Special.

    Reply
  • Cyberdevil

    September 20th, 2011 - 6:14pm

    There’sa new trailer on the SJA site for the new series

    Reply
  • dalek eternal

    September 20th, 2011 - 5:42pm

    apparently the dr was in llanelli filming for the christmas special but i dont now which dr it was

    Reply
    • DOCTOR WHO 10

      September 20th, 2011 - 5:47pm

      Ooh, the plot thickens.
      (My new catch phrase)

  • DOCTOR WHO 10

    September 20th, 2011 - 5:35pm

    Apparently a classic Doctor is returning.Just a rumour mind you but interesting all the same.

    Reply
    • Adam

      September 21st, 2011 - 7:29am

      Hopefully the 10th

    • sheepinafez

      September 21st, 2011 - 4:37pm

      hopefully the 6th

    • Anonymous

      September 21st, 2011 - 4:46pm

      hopefully the 7th

    • BrainofMorbius

      October 25th, 2011 - 3:22am

      5th, 7th, 8th 9th and 10th could possibly do it, 4th and 6th are too old and fat now, and of course, 1, 2 and 3 are no longer with us

    • Anonymous

      April 29th, 2013 - 8:53pm

      Old and fat.. the best phrase a whovian could ever speak of!

  • DALEKSHIP101

    September 20th, 2011 - 4:46pm

    is there any more information about the christmas special ❓

    Reply
  • SpiderDalek94

    September 20th, 2011 - 4:14pm

    They have changed the time

    Timescales can be rewritten… Info about #DoctorWho Christmas Special now released here at 8ish tomorrow morning. Sorry for slight delay!

    Reply
    • booboo

      September 20th, 2011 - 4:20pm

      just altered it

  • the TARDIS

    September 20th, 2011 - 3:41pm

    yay first comment
    looking forward to this special-the christmiassiest ever, apparently.;

    Reply
    • Twelth Cyber Legion

      September 21st, 2011 - 6:55am

      Steven Moffat said that last year as well and that wasnt even that good

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