List of Doctor Who Christmas and New Year's specials explained

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The show has had a large influence in the media and across society since its inception in 1963. Regular episodes were occasionally broadcast during the Christmas period during its original run from 1963 to 1989, but only made significant mention of the holiday in "The Feast of Steven" (1965). Beginning with the programme's revival in 2005, yearly special Christmas episodes were produced in addition to a regular series until 2017. From 2018–2022 (with the exception of 2020) the show temporarily transitioned to New Year's Day specials instead. Beginning in 2023, the programme returned to producing Christmas specials.

The holiday episodes have proven to be a success with viewers, by bringing in larger viewing figures than regular episodes of the programme. The 2008 special, "Voyage of the Damned", is the most-viewed Doctor Who episode since 1979. "A Christmas Carol" is often considered by critics to be the best Christmas episode.

In 2015, a DVD and Blu-ray boxset was release containing 10 of the Christmas specials. Doctor Who, along with other television series in the Whoniverse, have occasionally broadcast episodes on other holidays.

Doctor Who revolves around an alien Time Lord called the Doctor who travels with a companion in a time and space machine called the TARDIS. Instead of dying, the Doctor regenerates by changing every cell in their body and taking on a new appearance. Throughout their adventures the Doctor and their companion frequently stop other aliens from committing acts of violence.

Episodes

Classic era

During the first run of the programme (1963–1989), special episodes were not a frequent occurrence. During the third season, the twelve-part serial The Daleks' Master Plan was broadcast weekly beginning in November 1965 and ending in January 1966, with its seventh and eighth episodes scheduled for Christmas and New Year's Day, respectively. The former, "The Feast of Steven", was scripted as a comic interlude in the style of a pantomime, in the middle of an otherwise epic adventure.[1] In its final scene, as the Doctor and his companions celebrate Christmas with a toast, the First Doctor (William Hartnell) turns to the camera and breaks the fourth wall by saying "Incidentally, a happy Christmas to all of you at home." The following episode, "Volcano", returns to the main narrative of The Daleks' Master Plan, although its ending briefly features a contemporary New Year's Eve.[2] The first episodes of Day of the Daleks (1972) and The Face of Evil (1977) were first shown on New Year's Day, but make no reference to the holiday season.[3] [4] The classic run had no subsequent holiday episodes.

Revived era

When Doctor Who was revived in 2005, with Russell T Davies acting as showrunner, the first proper Christmas special, "The Christmas Invasion", was broadcast in 2005.[5] This became a yearly tradition for the programme with additional holiday specials being produced annually.[6] A special episode aired on New Year's Day in 2010 in addition to the typical Christmas episode in 2009.[7] The trend of episodes airing on Christmas Day continued under Davies' successor Steven Moffat,[8] culminating in his final episode as showrunner, "Twice Upon a Time" (2017).[9] After Chris Chibnall assumed the role of showrunner of the series in 2018, Doctor Who moved to producing yearly New Year's specials instead.[10] The three holiday specials made during Chibnall's tenure, airing in 2019, 2021, and 2022, all featured the Daleks and formed a loose three-part story arc.[11] In lieu of a special episode in 2020, the first episode of the twelfth series, "Spyfall, Part 1", was broadcast on New Year's Day outside of the programme's normal timeslot.[12] When Davies returned to Doctor Who, one of the first things he requested was the return of the Christmas special.[13] A special was not produced for the 2022 holiday season, but a new trailer for the programme's 60th anniversary was released in its absence.[14] Christmas specials then returned with "The Church on Ruby Road" in 2023.[15] Moffat also returned to write the 2024 special, "Joy to the World".[16]

Reception and impact

Doctor Who holiday specials have consistently brought in higher viewing figures than other episodes of the programme.[17] "Voyage of the Damned" was seen by 11.7 million people, making it the most-viewed episode of Doctor Who since its revival in 2005, as well as the most-viewed Doctor Who episode overall since 1979.[18] [19] [20] "A Christmas Carol" is frequently considered by critics to be the best holiday special,[21] while others have named the best to be "The Runaway Bride",[22] "Last Christmas",[23] [24] or "The Husbands of River Song".[25] [26] Richard Riley, a Biostatistics professor at the University of Birmingham conducted a study and claimed that there was a connection between Doctor Who Christmas specials and lower death rates across England and Wales.[27] The study compared mortality rates across the UK from 2005–2017 to those from years before the specials began.[28] Riley said that as many as seven fewer deaths per 10,000 people occur when the specials were consistently broadcast.[29] A further editorial by the professor admitted that while there were "impeccable mathematical models [...] a single television broadcast cannot affect an entire country's mortality rates."[30]

Home media release

The Christmas specials between "The Christmas Invasion" (2005) and "Last Christmas" (2014), inclusive, were released as a DVD and Blu-ray boxset titled Doctor Who – The 10 Christmas Specials on 9 November 2015.[31]

Other holidays and elsewhere in the Whoniverse

The Doctor Who episodes "Planet of the Dead" and "Legend of the Sea Devils" were scheduled to broadcast on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, respectively, in years that lacked a full series. Many series of the revived era either launched or aired a new episode during Easter weekend.[32] Additionally, the first episode of the thirteenth series, "The Halloween Apocalypse", was shown on Halloween day.[33] In 2007, the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood aired the final two episodes of its first series, "Captain Jack Harkness" and "End of Days", on New Year's Day.[34] That same day, the first episode of another spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures was broadcast.[35] The penultimate episode of Torchwoods second series aired on Good Friday.[36]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Doctor Who: The Classic Series — The Daleks' Master Plan . Cornell . Paul . Paul Cornell . Day . Martin . Martin Day (writer) . Topping . Keith . Keith Topping . Howe . David J. . David J. Howe . Walker . Stephen James . Stephen James Walker . . . 17 September 2015 . 17 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190917231621/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/daleksmasterplan/detail.shtml . deviated .
  2. Web site: Blair . Andrew . 2 December 2020 . Doctor Who: The Weird Anomaly of the 1965 'Christmas Special' . 17 April 2024 . . en-US . 10 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210910221815/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-the-weird-anomaly-of-the-1965-christmas-special/ . live .
  3. Web site: Day of the Daleks. Mulkern. Patrick. 20 November 2009. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/uim6v. 9 August 2024. live.
  4. Web site: The Face of Evil. Mulkern. Patrick. 29 August 2010. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 3 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240803115227/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-face-of-evil/. live.
  5. Web site: Dr Who saves the Earth (and joins the protests against the war in Iraq). Byrne. Ciar. 13 December 2005. 5 June 2024. The Independent. 9 May 2022. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/dr-who-saves-the-earth-and-joins-the-protests-against-the-war-in-iraq-519278.html. live.
  6. Web site: Why Doctor Who should bring back the Christmas special. Calvert. Hamish. 24 December 2021. 5 June 2024. Digital Spy. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605200949/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a38436504/doctor-who-christmas-special/. live.
  7. Web site: The End of Time. Mulkern. Patrick. 15 October 2013. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 2 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231202222208/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-end-of-time/. live.
  8. Web site: Every Steven Moffat Doctor Who episode ranked from worst to best. Griffin. Louise. 17 May 2024. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605200949/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-steven-moffat-episodes-ranked/. live.
  9. Web site: Doctor Who: Every Christmas Special, Ranked By IMDb. Delgado. Gabriela. 2 October 2021. 5 June 2024. Comic Book Resources. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606081227/https://www.cbr.com/doctor-who-every-christmas-special-ranked-imdb/. live.
  10. Web site: Every 'Doctor Who' Christmas Special, Ranked by Their Amount of Holiday Spirit. Guimarães. Elisa. 22 December 2021. 5 June 2024. Collider. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606081227/https://collider.com/best-doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked/. live.
  11. Web site: The Daleks return on New Year's Day – again – in new Doctor Who special trailer. Jeffery. Morgan. 5 December 2021. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605200949/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-new-years-day-special-trailer-newsupdate/. live.
  12. Web site: Doctor Who Series 12: New Year's Day premiere officially announced. Laford. Andrea. 2 December 2019. 5 June 2024. CultBox. 5 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240605200950/https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-new-years-day-premiere-officially-announced. live.
  13. The Church on Ruby Road. Doctor Who: Unleashed. Doctor Who: Unleashed. 25 December 2023. 5 June 2024. BBC Three/BBC iPlayer. 8 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240508210945/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001tv5z/doctor-who-unleashed-the-church-on-ruby-road. live.
  14. Web site: Doctor Who debuts thrilling new 60th anniversary trailer. Jeffery. Morgan. 25 December 2022. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606081230/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-60th-trailer-christmas-day-newsupdate/. live.
  15. Web site: Disney Plus reveals Doctor Who 2023 Christmas special release date and title. Hibbs. James. 6 November 2023. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 13 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240513203303/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-2023-christmas-confirmed-newsupdate/. live.
  16. Web site: Steven Moffat confirms he wrote Doctor Who Christmas 2024 special: 'Is that my final moment?'. Cormack. Morgan. 14 May 2024. 5 May 2024. Radio Times. 14 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240514112421/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/steven-moffat-doctor-who-christmas-2024-special-confirmed-newsupdate/. live.
  17. Web site: Doctor Who: Day of the Doctor is most popular non-festive episode since 2005. Plunkett. John. 25 November 2013. 9 August 2024. The Guardian. 10 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240810041306/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/nov/25/doctor-who-day-of-doctor-tv-ratings. live.
  18. Web site: Top 10 most-watched 'Doctor Who' episodes since 2005. 24 March 2016. 6 June 2024. CultBox. 16 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200216203614/https://cultbox.co.uk/features/trivia/top-10-most-watched-doctor-who-episodes-since-2005. live.
  19. Web site: ‘EastEnders’ pips ‘Doctor Who’ on Christmas. 27 December 2007. The Hollywood Reporter. Reuters/Associated Press. 6 August 2024. 6 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240806043308/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/eastenders-pips-doctor-who-christmas-157761/. live.
  20. Web site: Line of Duty: Penultimate episode achieves record ratings. 26 April 2021. 6 June 2021. BBC News. 8 March 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308002418/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56889021. live.
  21. Attributed to multiple sources:
  22. Web site: McMillian . Graeme . 19 December 2023 . Every Doctor Who holiday special – ranked! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.thepopverse.com/doctor-who-holiday-episodes-specials-ranked . 6 June 2024 . 6 June 2024 . Popverse.
  23. Web site: The Return of 'Doctor Who': Every Christmas Special, Ranked. McEwan. Cameron K. 22 December 2016. 6 June 2024. The Observer. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://observer.com/2016/12/doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked/. live.
  24. Web site: Every Doctor Who Holiday Special, Ranked. Phillips. Maya. 1 January 2020. 6 June 2024. Vulture. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.vulture.com/article/best-doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked.html. live.
  25. Web site: 'Doctor Who' Christmas specials ranked, and where to watch them. Puchko. Kristy. 25 December 2023. 6 June 2024. Mashable. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://mashable.com/article/doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked. live.
  26. Web site: Doctor Who: Ranking the Christmas and New Year Specials. Blair. Andrew. 27 December 2023. 6 June 2024. Den of Geek. 10 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240810041300/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-ranking-christmas-new-year-specials/. live.
  27. Web site: Doctor Who festive specials linked to lower death rates. 18 December 2023. 5 June 2024. University of Birmingham. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/doctor-who-festive-specials-linked-to-lower-death-rates. live.
  28. Web site: Doctor Who Christmas specials linked to lower death rates. Knapton. Sarah. 18 December 2023. 6 June 2024. The Daily Telegraph. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080935/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/18/doctor-who-christmas-specials-lower-death-rates-bbc/. live.
  29. Web site: Doctor Who Christmas episodes linked to lower UK death rates, festive study finds. 19 December 2023. 6 June 2024. The Jerusalem Post. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-778594. live.
  30. Web site: Doctor Who Christmas Specials Linked to Lower Death Rates in The UK. Nield. David. 5 January 2024. 6 June 2024. ScienceAlert. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.sciencealert.com/doctor-who-christmas-specials-linked-to-lower-death-rates-in-the-uk. live.
  31. Web site: Doctor Who – The 10 Christmas Specials (Limited Edition) [Blu-ray]]. 9 November 2015. 4 June 2024. Amazon. 22 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160822073328/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Christmas-Specials-Limited/dp/B015UA6G4S. live.
  32. Web site: Doctor Who is perfect for Easter – so why haven't there been more spring specials?. Fullerton. Huw. 17 April 2022. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080936/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-easter-special-comment/. live.
  33. Web site: Doctor Who reveals Halloween theme for series 13 premiere episode. Harp. Justin. 20 October 2021. 5 June 2024. Digital Spy. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080948/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a38016327/doctor-who-flux-halloween-episode/. live.
  34. Web site: Captain Jack Harkness & End of Days. 5 June 2007. BBC Three. 29 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929152552/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074g76. live.
  35. Web site: How we made The Sarah Jane Adventures: 'We were like a family, and it was beautiful'. Moreland. Alex. 1 January 2022. 5 June 2024. Radio Times. 5 December 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231205195556/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/rt-rewind-sarah-jane-adventures/. live.
  36. Web site: Torso of steel, shilling a feel. Wilkes. Neil. 18 March 2008. 5 June 2024. Digital Spy. 6 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240606080949/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a91841/torso-of-steel-shilling-a-feel/. live.

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