Doctor Who Christmas special: Release date, air time and cast for The Church on Ruby Road

Doctor Who has celebrated its 60th anniversary specials, and David Tennant has officially passed the torch to the next actor to play the iconic Time Lord: Ncuti Gatwa.

Gatwa may made his debut in the final special, The Giggle, as part of a surprise bi-regeneration, but his first official outing as the Fifteenth Doctor will be in the show's Christmas special.

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Here is everything you need to know about the forthcoming episode.

When is the Doctor Who Christmas special on TV?

The Doctor Who festive special is titled The Church on Ruby Road and it will be airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 5.55pm.

Who stars in the cast for the Doctor Who Christmas special?

As mentioned, Gatwa will be taking control of the TARDIS as The Doctor, and he will be joined by Millie Gibson, who is playing new companion Ruby Sunday.

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The Church on Ruby Road will also star presenter Davina McCall, who is playing herself, and others joining Gatwa and Gibson include Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood, Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, and Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry.

Speaking of the special at an event for the 60th anniversary specials, showrunner Russell T Davies shared his excitement for Gatwa's first outing as The Doctor: "That Christmas episode, it's gorgeous. It's absolutely gorgeous."

What is the Doctor Who Christmas special about?

The Church on Ruby Road will see the Fifteenth Doctor meet his new companion Ruby for the first time, seemingly at a night club, and they will then embark on their first adventure together.

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The episode will see The Doctor and Ruby encounter pirate goblins, and while more details of this encounter have not been fully revealed it is known that the episode will include a musical element.

Ruby was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby and was taken in by her mum Carla and her grandmother Cherry, but her world will be turned upside down when she meets The Doctor.

After the Christmas special, Doctor Who will return for a new season in 2024 for a new season.

Is there a trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas special?

A trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas special was shown following the release of The Giggle, on 9 December, and it teased Gibson's debut in the role.

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It also showed the Doctor and Ruby meeting a group of pirate goblins and their amusing encounter, which will be full of song and dance numbers.

Watch the trailer below:

The Doctor Who The Doctor Who Christmas special will air on Christmas Day at 5.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.