Doctor Who Christmas Special 2016: five things to know about The Return of Doctor Mysterio

Peter Capaldi is back as the Doctor for the first time in a year
Peter Capaldi's back in The Return of Doctor Mysterio
BBC
Ben Travis25 December 2016

It’s been a whole year since Doctor Who fans received a new episode of the classic long-running BBC sci-fi show.

In a year with no full series, fans have been left to hold out hope for this year’s Christmas special – titled The Return of Doctor Mysterio.

With some familiar faces returning, and an significant new one expected to make an appearance, here are five things you need to know.

1) It’s a superhero story

The Doctor has always been somewhat of a super hero – but the latest special is having a more literal go at the trope in the full tights-and-a-costume sense.

Enter The Ghost – a super-powered vigilante who flies around and says things like “duty calls!” as he zooms off. Of course, this being Doctor Who there’s going to be some kind of twist. Is he an alien? Is he even real?

2) It’s set in New York – but it wasn’t filmed there

The Doctor occasionally heads for adventures in the Big Apple (Daleks in Manhattan, The Angels Take Manhattan), and he’s back again for Doctor Mysterio. The episode was actually filmed in a backlot studio in Bulgaria, though.

“It looks like the Christopher Reeve version of Superman and we have to matte proper New York onto the skyline,” Steven Moffat told the Radio Times. “I think we’ll deliver a terrific New York.”

3) The Doctor has two companions

Jenna Coleman left her role as Clara Oswald at the end of Series 9 to join ITV’s smash hit Victoria – but The Doctor won’t be lonely this Christmas.

Christmas TV Highlights 2016 - in pictures

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He has two companions this time. Matt Lucas is returning as Nardole, who first appeared in last year’s Christmas special The Husbands of River Song, while Charity Wakefield stars as undercover reporter Lucy Fletcher.

4) It’s not very Christmassy

Think of this as a Doctor Who special that happens to be airing at Christmas, rather than a Christmas episode of Doctor Who.

LEGO Doctor Who

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“It’s got virtually no Christmas in it at all apart from the very first scene which has one solitary Christmas tree and the Doctor goes, 'Ho, ho, ho,' and that’s it,” Moffatt says. “We ignore Christmas for the rest of it.”

Bah humbug.

5) There might be an appearance from Bill

While The Return of Doctor Mysterio is set to be a standalone adventure, we wouldn’t be surprised to get a glimpse of new permanent companion Bill.

The character was unveiled when actor Pearl Mackie was cast as Jenna Coleman’s successor, and she’ll be joining Series 10 when it airs in 2017.

BBC One, 5.45pm

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