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{{you may|Christmas Special (short story)|n1=the Short Trips short story}}
{{First pic|Christmas Invasion promo.jpg|A promotional image for {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} (2005).}}
The '''[[Christmas]] Special''' has been a yearly tradition of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' since [[2005 (releases)|2005]]'s ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]''. Every [[25 December (releases)|25th December]] since the series was revived by [[BBC Wales]], a special has aired on [[BBC One]]. Many Christmas Specials have introduced important plot points (e.g., new [[companion]] or new incarnation of [[the Doctor]]) and are vital to series continuity. They are often the most-watched episodes of the programme in the respective years in which they air. ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]'', ''[[Voyage of the Damned (TV story)|Voyage of the Damned]]'' and ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' are amongst the best-rated episodes of all time.  
{{you may|Christmas Special (ST short story)|n1=the Short Trips short story|Christmas Special (WEB short story)|n2=the online short story}}
The '''[[Christmas]] Special''' was a yearly tradition for [[BBC Wales]]/[[BBC Studios]] ''[[Doctor Who]]'', beginning with [[2005 (releases)|2005]]'s ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'' through to [[2017 (releases)|2017]]'s ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]'' and continuing again from [[2023 (releases)|2023]]'s ''[[The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)|The Church on Ruby Road]]''. On [[25 December (releases)|25 December]], nearly every year since the series was revived, a new special would air on [[BBC One]].


While the Christmas episode is a recurring tradition since the show's return in 2005, it uniquely doesn't apply to all the Doctors since the relaunch. The [[Ninth Doctor]]'s original 13-episode run did not allow for a Christmas Special. However, his era did include the ''[[The Unquiet Dead]]'', the third episode of the [[Series 1 (Doctor Who)]], which is set on Christmas Day and even features [[Charles Dickens]]. And though largely a phenomenon of [[BBC Wales]] ''Doctor Who'', there were two minor precedents in the original era of the programme.
Many Christmas Specials have introduced important plot points (e.g., new [[companion]] or a new incarnation of [[the Doctor]]) and were vital to series continuity. They were often the most-watched episodes of the programme in the respective years in which they aired. ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]'', ''[[Voyage of the Damned (TV story)|Voyage of the Damned]]'' and ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' were amongst the best-rated episodes of all time.<ref>https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2018/12/31/whats-the-most-watched-doctor-who-christmas-special/</ref>


The very first episode to premiere on Christmas Day was "[[The Feast of Steven]]", very nominally the seventh part of the [[1965 (releases)|1965]]-[[1966 (releases)|1966]] serial ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan]]''. It had almost nothing to do with the plot of that 12-parter, and was consciously written as a "Christmas sidestep" from the Dalek adventure. Indeed, it ended with a [[fourth wall]]-breaking "Happy Christmas"
Instead of 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021 Christmas Specials, the start of [[2019 (releases)|2019]], [[2020 (releases)|2020]], [[2021 (releases)|2021]], and [[2022 (releases)|2022]] had episodes air on [[New Year's Day]]. With the exception of 2020's ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'' (part one), these episodes did not air during the regular run, and were [[New Year special]]s. The December 2022/2023 season did not have either kind of special, with ''The Church on Ruby Road'' coming more than a year and 11 months after 2022's ''[[Eve of the Daleks (TV story)|Eve of the Daleks]]''. Both Christmas and New Year Specials have collectively been referred to in more recent years as [[Festive Special]]s.


Another example was [[A Girl's Best Friend|''A Girl's Best Friend'']], the pilot for [[K9 and Company|''K9 and Company'']]. Though technically, therefore, not a "''Doctor Who'' Christmas Special", it is now generally regarded as a part of "classic series lore". Its Christmas theme was not especially obvious until its ending scenes, where [[Sarah Jane]] is able to relax following her adventure, and [[K9 Mark III|K9]] actually sings "[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]".
== List of Christmas specials ==
* [[1965 (releases)|1965]] - "[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)#The Feast of Steven (7)|The Feast of Steven]]" ([[Season 3 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 3]])
* [[2005 (releases)|2005]] - {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} ([[series 2 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 2]])
* [[2006 (releases)|2006]] - {{cs|The Runaway Bride (TV story)}} ([[series 3 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 3]])
* [[2007 (releases)|2007]] - {{cs|Voyage of the Damned (TV story)}} ([[series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]])
* [[2008 (releases)|2008]] - {{cs|The Next Doctor (TV story)}} ([[series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]])
* [[2009 (releases)|2009]] - {{cs|The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time: Part One}} ([[series 4 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 4]])
* [[2010 (releases)|2010]] - {{cs|A Christmas Carol (TV story)}} ([[series 6 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 6]])
* [[2011 (releases)|2011]] - {{cs|The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (TV story)}} ([[series 7 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 7]])
* [[2012 (releases)|2012]] - {{cs|The Snowmen (TV story)}} ([[series 7 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 7]])
* [[2013 (releases)|2013]] - {{cs|The Time of the Doctor (TV story)}} ([[2013 specials]])
* [[2014 (releases)|2014]] - {{cs|Last Christmas (TV story)}} ([[Series 9 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 9]])
* [[2015 (releases)|2015]] - {{cs|The Husbands of River Song (TV story)}} ([[series 9 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 9]])
* [[2016 (releases)|2016]] - {{cs|The Return of Doctor Mysterio (TV story)}} ([[series 10 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 10]])
* [[2017 (releases)|2017]] - {{cs|Twice Upon a Time (TV story)}} ([[Series 10 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 10]])
* [[2023 (releases)|2023]] - {{cs|The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)}} ([[Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)|season 1]])
* [[2024 (releases)|2024]] - {{cs|Joy to the World (TV story)}} ([[Season 2 (Doctor Who 2023)|season 2]])


== List of ''Doctor Who'' Christmas specials ==
== Other candidates ==
*[[1965 (releases)|1965]] - ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Feast of Steven]]'' ([[Season 3]])
Though largely a phenomenon of [[BBC Wales]] and [[BBC Studios]] ''Doctor Who'', there were two minor precedents for the Christmas Special in the original era of the programme.
* [[2005 (releases)|2005]] - ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'' ([[Series 2 (Doctor Who)|Series 2]])
 
* [[2006 (releases)|2006]] - ''[[The Runaway Bride (TV story)|The Runaway Bride]]'' ([[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|Series 3]])
The very first episode to premiere on Christmas Day was "[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)#The Feast of Steven (7)|The Feast of Steven]]", very nominally the seventh part of the [[1965 (releases)|1965]]-[[1966 (releases)|1966]] serial ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan (TV story)|The Daleks' Master Plan]]''. It had almost nothing to do with the plot of that 12-parter, and was consciously written as a "Christmas sidestep" from the Dalek adventure. Indeed, it ended with a [[fourth wall]]-breaking "Happy Christmas" from the [[First Doctor]] to the audience.
* [[2007 (releases)|2007]] - ''[[Voyage of the Damned (TV story)|Voyage of the Damned]]'' ([[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]])
 
* [[2008 (releases)|2008]] - ''[[The Next Doctor (TV story)|The Next Doctor]]'' ([[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]])
Another example was ''[[A Girl's Best Friend (TV story)|A Girl's Best Friend]]'', the pilot for ''[[K9 and Company]]''. Though technically, therefore, not a "''Doctor Who'' Christmas Special", it is now generally regarded as a part of "classic series lore". Its Christmas theme was not especially obvious until its ending scenes, where [[Sarah Jane]] is able to relax following her adventure, and [[K9 Mark III|K9]] actually sings "[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]".
* [[2009 (releases)|2009]] - ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time: Part One]]'' ([[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]])
 
* [[2010 (releases)|2010]] - ''[[A Christmas Carol (TV story)|A Christmas Carol]]'' ([[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|Series 6]])
In the BBC's [[1981 BBC Christmas ident|Christmas message]] of [[1981 (releases)|1981]], a small segment featured ''[[Doctor Who]]'' characters.
* [[2011 (releases)|2011]] - ''[[The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe]]'' ([[Series 7 (Doctor Who)|Series 7]])
 
* [[2012 (releases)|2012]] - ''[[The Snowmen (TV story)|The Snowmen]]'' ([[Series 7 (Doctor Who)|Series 7]])
Additionally, the BBC produced a short sketch in [[1978 (releases)|1978]] called ''[[Merry Christmas Doctor Who (TV story)|Merry Christmas Doctor Who]]''. Not initially intended for public release, it was eventually included on the DVD of ''[[The Armageddon Factor (TV story)|The Armageddon Factor]]''.
* [[2013 (releases)|2013]] - ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'' ([[Series 7 (Doctor Who)|Series 7]])
 
* [[2014 (releases)|2014]] - ''[[Last Christmas (TV story)|Last Christmas]]'' ([[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|Series 9]])
The [[Series 1 (Doctor Who 2005)|series 1]] episode ''[[The Unquiet Dead (TV story)|The Unquiet Dead]]'' was referred to by [[Russell T Davies]] as "the forgotten Christmas Special", though it aired as part of the regular series, and in April as opposed to Christmastime.<ref>https://twitter.com/emily_rosina/status/1335321286759813120?s=21</ref>
* [[2015]] - ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'' ([[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|Series 9]])
 
A Christmas special of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'', ''[[Miracle on Bannerman Road (unproduced TV story)|Miracle on Bannerman Road]]'', was planned to precede the [[Series 5 (SJA)|fifth series]]. It was cancelled for various reasons.
 
== Non-televised examples ==
=== Comics ===
[[December (releases)|December]] [[1965 (releases)|1965]] saw the publication of two comic strips released just two days apart in separate publications, either of which could nominally be considered the first ever Christmas story in the franchise's history, dependant on what factors one considers: an [[Untitled (TV21 48 comic story)|untitled instalment]] of ''[[TV Century 21]]''{{'}}s ''[[Cosmic Capers]]'' series, and ''[[TV Comic]]''{{'}}s ''[[A Christmas Story (comic story)|A Christmas Story]]''. While the former is the first ''Doctor Who''-related story of any kind to have a Christmas theme, the latter is the first that this wiki currently considers a [[Tardis:Valid sources|valid source]].
 
[[12D 16|Issue 16]] of [[Titan Publishing Group|Titan]]'s ongoing ''[[Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor]]'' comic series, which contained the Christmas-set story, ''[[Relative Dimensions (comic story)|Relative Dimensions]]'', was explicitly promoted by its first two covers as a "[[2015 (releases)|2015]] Holiday Special".
 
Also from Titan, [[2019 (releases)|2019]] saw the release of a two-issue miniseries to bridge the gap between the first and second years of ''[[Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor]]'', explicitly titled ''[[Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special]]'', containing the Christmas-themed [[Holiday Special (comic story)|story of the same name]], with early solicitations for the series outright claiming that the series was being made to make up for the lack of a televised Christmas Special that year.
 
''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' occasionally publishes single-part comic strips in their December issues that are either outright Christmas-themed or, at least, festive in nature, usually in the event that a December issue happens to fall between the end of one multi-part strip and the start of another. Such stories to fall under this category include; ''[[The Professor, the Queen and the Bookshop (comic story)|The Professor, the Queen and the Bookshop]]'' ([[2010 (releases)|2010]]), ''[[Imaginary Enemies (comic story)|Imaginary Enemies]]'' ([[2012 (releases)|2012]]), ''[[Be Forgot (comic story)|Be Forgot]]'' ([[2016 (releases)|2016]]), ''[[It's Behind You! (comic story)|It's Behind You!]]'' ([[2021 (releases)|2021]]), and an [[Untitled (DWM 598 comic story)|untitled strip]] ([[2023 (releases)|2023]]).
 
==== ''Doctor Who Adventures'' ====
''[[Doctor Who Adventures]]'' also published at least one Christmas-themed comic strip - though occasionally, two strips would appear - every year during its original run under [[Immediate Media Company|Immediate Media]]. These strips included;
* [[2006 (releases)|2006]] - ''[[A Date to Remember (comic story)|A Date to Remember]]''/''[[A Date to Remember (comic story)|Snow Flakes]]''
* [[2007 (releases)|2007]] - ''[[A Klytode Christmas (comic story)|A Klytode Christmas]]''
* [[2008 (releases)|2008]] - ''[[Frosty the Snowdemon (comic story)|Frosty the Snowdemon]]''
* [[2009 (releases)|2009]] - ''[[The Goats of Christmas Past (comic story)|The Goats of Christmas Past]]'' and ''[[A Merry Little Christmas (comic story)|A Merry Little Christmas]]''
* [[2010 (releases)|2010]] - ''[[Red Christmas (comic story)|Red Christmas]]''
* [[2011 (releases)|2011]] - ''[[Wait Until Morning (comic story)|Wait Until Morning]]''
* [[2012 (releases)|2012]] - ''[[On the Cards (comic story)|On the Cards]]'' and ''[[Decky the Halls (comic story)|Decky the Halls]]''
* [[2013 (releases)|2013]] - ''[[The Holly and the Ivy (comic story)|The Holly and the Ivy]]''
* [[2014 (releases)|2014]] - ''[[Gift Snatched! (comic story)|Gift Snatched!]]''
 
=== Video games ===
The mobile game ''[[Lost in Time (video game)|Lost in Time]]'' released a special event called ''[[Lost in Time (video game)/Events#Coal for Skaro|Coal for Skaro]]'' on [[21 December (releases)|21 December]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]], in which [[Santa Claus]] has the [[Twelfth Doctor]] and [[Bill Potts]] deliver [[coal]] for [[Christmas]] to the [[Dalek]]s, [[Cybermen]] and [[Sontaran]]s.
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{Christmas specials}}
{{Christmas specials}}
[[cy:Episôd Nadolig]]
[[es:Especial navideño]]
[[es:Especial navideño]]
[[he:ספיישל חג המולד]]
[[pt:Especiais de Natal]]
[[pt:Especiais de Natal]]
[[Category:Christmas specials| ]]
 
[[Category:Terminology]]
[[Category:Terminology]]

Latest revision as of 18:47, 3 November 2024

Careful . . . spoilers!

This page absolutely does contain spoilers either about the behind-the-scenes or narrative elements of stories which have not yet been published or broadcast. Please see our spoiler policy for our rules governing articles about such subjects.

RealWorld.png
A promotional image for The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"] (2005).
You may be looking for the Short Trips short story or the online short story.

The Christmas Special was a yearly tradition for BBC Wales/BBC Studios Doctor Who, beginning with 2005's The Christmas Invasion through to 2017's Twice Upon a Time and continuing again from 2023's The Church on Ruby Road. On 25 December, nearly every year since the series was revived, a new special would air on BBC One.

Many Christmas Specials have introduced important plot points (e.g., new companion or a new incarnation of the Doctor) and were vital to series continuity. They were often the most-watched episodes of the programme in the respective years in which they aired. The Next Doctor, Voyage of the Damned and The End of Time were amongst the best-rated episodes of all time.[1]

Instead of 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021 Christmas Specials, the start of 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 had episodes air on New Year's Day. With the exception of 2020's Spyfall (part one), these episodes did not air during the regular run, and were New Year specials. The December 2022/2023 season did not have either kind of special, with The Church on Ruby Road coming more than a year and 11 months after 2022's Eve of the Daleks. Both Christmas and New Year Specials have collectively been referred to in more recent years as Festive Specials.

List of Christmas specials[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other candidates[[edit] | [edit source]]

Though largely a phenomenon of BBC Wales and BBC Studios Doctor Who, there were two minor precedents for the Christmas Special in the original era of the programme.

The very first episode to premiere on Christmas Day was "The Feast of Steven", very nominally the seventh part of the 1965-1966 serial The Daleks' Master Plan. It had almost nothing to do with the plot of that 12-parter, and was consciously written as a "Christmas sidestep" from the Dalek adventure. Indeed, it ended with a fourth wall-breaking "Happy Christmas" from the First Doctor to the audience.

Another example was A Girl's Best Friend, the pilot for K9 and Company. Though technically, therefore, not a "Doctor Who Christmas Special", it is now generally regarded as a part of "classic series lore". Its Christmas theme was not especially obvious until its ending scenes, where Sarah Jane is able to relax following her adventure, and K9 actually sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".

In the BBC's Christmas message of 1981, a small segment featured Doctor Who characters.

Additionally, the BBC produced a short sketch in 1978 called Merry Christmas Doctor Who. Not initially intended for public release, it was eventually included on the DVD of The Armageddon Factor.

The series 1 episode The Unquiet Dead was referred to by Russell T Davies as "the forgotten Christmas Special", though it aired as part of the regular series, and in April as opposed to Christmastime.[2]

A Christmas special of The Sarah Jane Adventures, Miracle on Bannerman Road, was planned to precede the fifth series. It was cancelled for various reasons.

Non-televised examples[[edit] | [edit source]]

Comics[[edit] | [edit source]]

December 1965 saw the publication of two comic strips released just two days apart in separate publications, either of which could nominally be considered the first ever Christmas story in the franchise's history, dependant on what factors one considers: an untitled instalment of TV Century 21's Cosmic Capers series, and TV Comic's A Christmas Story. While the former is the first Doctor Who-related story of any kind to have a Christmas theme, the latter is the first that this wiki currently considers a valid source.

Issue 16 of Titan's ongoing Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor comic series, which contained the Christmas-set story, Relative Dimensions, was explicitly promoted by its first two covers as a "2015 Holiday Special".

Also from Titan, 2019 saw the release of a two-issue miniseries to bridge the gap between the first and second years of Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor, explicitly titled Doctor Who: The Thirteenth Doctor Holiday Special, containing the Christmas-themed story of the same name, with early solicitations for the series outright claiming that the series was being made to make up for the lack of a televised Christmas Special that year.

Doctor Who Magazine occasionally publishes single-part comic strips in their December issues that are either outright Christmas-themed or, at least, festive in nature, usually in the event that a December issue happens to fall between the end of one multi-part strip and the start of another. Such stories to fall under this category include; The Professor, the Queen and the Bookshop (2010), Imaginary Enemies (2012), Be Forgot (2016), It's Behind You! (2021), and an untitled strip (2023).

Doctor Who Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who Adventures also published at least one Christmas-themed comic strip - though occasionally, two strips would appear - every year during its original run under Immediate Media. These strips included;

Video games[[edit] | [edit source]]

The mobile game Lost in Time released a special event called Coal for Skaro on 21 December 2023, in which Santa Claus has the Twelfth Doctor and Bill Potts deliver coal for Christmas to the Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans.

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2018/12/31/whats-the-most-watched-doctor-who-christmas-special/
  2. ↑ https://twitter.com/emily_rosina/status/1335321286759813120?s=21
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