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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.
weeping angel
September 6th, 2015 - 3:11amomg omg omg im so exited!
collector
September 4th, 2015 - 11:07amI 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.
CJ
September 4th, 2015 - 2:59pmMaybe that be revealed in the Christmas special?
Anonymous
September 4th, 2015 - 1:55amOh man! I thought River died!
DoctorWhat
September 3rd, 2015 - 12:53amTHIS 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!! >.<
GallifreyanKnight
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:19pm*Groans*
I thought we were done with River Song by now… :/
MaxP
September 3rd, 2015 - 7:29amMy thoughts exactly….
12th Doctor Fan
September 3rd, 2015 - 3:53pmAgreed those annoying spoilers and hello sweetie, great not. I’ll watch for Peter alone.
the ergon
September 10th, 2015 - 10:02amshes 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 - 8:40pmYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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!
Anonymous
September 4th, 2015 - 1:34amRight
the astronaut of death
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:37pmRiver spong and capatain jack NEED to meet!
the astronaut of death
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:37pmSong
MrHaloWho
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:50pmspork
Doyouhearthem?
September 2nd, 2015 - 8:45pmhmm… have you ever met yourself?
CJ
September 2nd, 2015 - 5:29pmWould of been better if Captain Jack returned but I guess River Song is alright
Zygon63
September 2nd, 2015 - 5:54pmNo! I thought Captain Jack was annoying…
River Song is a fantastic character!
JellyBaby100
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:01pmThat sentence is just backwards.
NathanWho
September 2nd, 2015 - 5:25pmthis 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)
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:05pmBut what if this isn’t a goodbye
NathanWho
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:35pmhopefully it is as she has had a good rin
NathanWho
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:35pm*run
Anonymous
September 4th, 2015 - 1:59amIt had better be good-bye
Anonymous
September 8th, 2015 - 10:35amThat 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 - 5:16pmBring 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.
The paternoster gang
September 2nd, 2015 - 4:08pmWhen I saw this I was very suprised as I never thought she was coming back, but I am very pleased she is.
TheDaleksDeath
September 2nd, 2015 - 4:06pmRiver Song returning..? *shudders* Please kill me..now..
Nobody in particular
September 2nd, 2015 - 3:54pmThis 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
Miffo
September 2nd, 2015 - 3:39pmI 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 =)
Exterminator
September 2nd, 2015 - 5:00pmOh that’ll be good. Very timey wimey.
CJ
September 2nd, 2015 - 5:30pmI thought the 11th Doctor made her that Sonic Screwdriver?
Miffo
September 2nd, 2015 - 8:32pmNot that I remember @CJ =)
CJ
September 2nd, 2015 - 10:42pmNo 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 - 6:59amYou 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 - 3:19pmI agree with you
But another side of me wants me to see her to meet the 12th Doctor .
DOCTOR WHO ONE
September 2nd, 2015 - 3:12pmOh 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.
The Moffat Paradox
September 2nd, 2015 - 6:59pmThe 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 - 6:57amCan’t stand Missy either.
The Moffat Paradox
September 3rd, 2015 - 10:21amThe 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 - 3:09pmNo mention of Jenna Coleman…. Perhaps she’s leaving in the series 9 finale : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : )
Exterminator
September 2nd, 2015 - 2:18pmThere’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. 🙂
Exterminator
September 2nd, 2015 - 2:21pmI 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 - 1:29pmI really don’t want to see that argument coming from someone who’s supposed to be the Master…
Dalek the Supreme
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:46pmPart 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.
sheepinafez
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:23pmNO
the astronaut of death
September 2nd, 2015 - 12:30pmOK 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 .
Jamie
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:51amYay!
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:27amYreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessss!!!!
Yusuf
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:22amNo. Please dear sweet lord, anyone but her.
Doctor Stu
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:21amI love River because to me she’s the last little link Left to David Tennants era.
Paulus The Little Wood Gnome
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:16pmIn that case my friend it is time to move on.
Dalek Supreme
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:05amAm I the only one who doesn’t like River Song?
IntoDarkness
September 2nd, 2015 - 11:49amYou are not alone (not a reference to the face of boe)
The Moffat Paradox
September 2nd, 2015 - 12:23pmYou are not alone!
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 12:45pmYou are not alone!!!
Zygon63
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:35pmOK, there are four in the world that don’t like her then… Everyone else does! (including me)
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:53pmYou are a part of a vocal minority 😉
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 1:54pmSorry that was meant to be addressed to Dalek Supreme and the hater squad 🙂
12th Doctor Fan
September 2nd, 2015 - 2:26pmI 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 - 2:04amAbsolutely NOT! She is a bad idea for a character, and how do they think it’ll work with the 12th?
Anonymous
September 8th, 2015 - 10:39amYou are not alone (this IS a reference to the Face of Boe)
Zygon63
September 2nd, 2015 - 10:11amBrilliant! 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!
Anonymous
September 2nd, 2015 - 10:03amWonderful! 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.
Still Not Ginger
September 2nd, 2015 - 10:01amYAYYYY!!!
CJ
September 2nd, 2015 - 9:37amWhat!? WHAT!?