Christmas is right around the corner, which means the final episode for both Peter Capaldi's Twelfth Doctor, and for long-time showrunner Steven Moffat.
Both will be handing over the reins of their respective jobs with 'Twice Upon a Time', the episode that will see the Doctor regenerate into Jodie Whittaker's take on the character. The special also marks the start of incoming showrunner Chris Chibnall's time in charge of the series. The enormity of the handover – to Doctor Who fans, anyway – is such that the hour effectively launches a whole new era of the long-running series, one that, at long last, sees a woman set to take the keys to the TARDIS as the show's lead.
Related: Doctor Who Christmas Special Animated Poster Welcomes Bill Back
The run up to the Christmas Special has been going on for weeks now, and though there has yet to be a glimpse of the Thirteenth Doctor, there's been quite a lot released about the Twelfth's adventure with not only David Bradley as the First Doctor, but also details regarding Bill Potts' arrival. The return of the Doctor's most recent companion hasn't been treated as a secret, but this trailer is the best look at Bill's role so far. And for those eager to see more, you can check out the gallery of images below:
[vn_gallery name="Doctor Who Christmas Special Images" id="1132866"]
The hubbub surrounding Whittaker's arrival is considerable, but Doctor Who also wants to celebrate Capaldi's run on the show by offering a retrospective on the actor's run that will air just after 'Twice Upon a Time'. BBC America released the following with regard to the farewell special:
"Immediately following Twice Upon A Time, BBC AMERICA will premiere the all-new special Doctor Who: Farewell to Peter Capaldi. Narrated by actor Colin McFarlane (The Dark Knight, Doctor Who), the episode, featuring archive footage and interviews, looks back at Peter Capaldi's era as the Twelfth Doctor – from his very first script read through to his very last. It also features Steven Moffat reflecting upon his time as a writer and then later as Executive Producer, revealing some of his best and worst moments from his tenure, as well as his favorite episodes."
The build-up to the Christmas event will also be a celebration of everything Doctor Who, as the network also announced that it will be running a massive Doctor Who marathon that could give The Simpsons a run for their money. The marathon begins Tuesday, December 19, as "BBC AMERICA will air a 7-day, 24-hour full takeover marathon featuring Doctor Who episodes with David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Peter Capaldi."
So, if you have some sick days from work you need to use up before the end of the year, this might be as good a reason as any to cash those in.
Next: Doctor Who: Check Out an Extended Sneak Peek at the Christmas Special [Updated]
The Doctor Who Christmas Special airs Christmas Day on BBC and BBC America.
Source: BBC America