Steven Moffat Shares Exciting Details for Doctor Who Christmas Special

Steven Moffat, the former showrunner of ‘Doctor Who,’ still plays a significant role in the series’ universe.

He recently discussed his involvement in this year’s Christmas Special titled ‘Joy to the World,’ in which ‘Bridgerton’ star Nicola Coughlan will appear.

The title, a typical Moffat play on words, hints at the character’s name, Joy, and sets the tone for the holiday episode.

In a revealing chat with a regional BBC station, Moffat unveiled some tidbits about the special, marking his 50th script for the show and possibly his last for a while.

He explained that he had no plans to return to ‘Doctor Who’ after his last episode ‘Boom,’ being occupied with various projects like the play ‘The Unfriend,’ the miniseries ‘Inside Man,’ and ‘The Devil’s Hour’—a series produced by his wife Sue Vertue’s company.

Moffat’s return was prompted by an email from Russell T. Davies, who found himself overwhelmed with the second series and unable to finish his Christmas script.

Moffat stepped in not to complete Davies’ work but to craft a new script from scratch. The episode he devised centers on a time-traveling hotel—a satirical take on the hospitality industry, which Moffat views as ripe for absurdity.

He teased the plot saying, “Imagine in the distant future, a hotel chain discovers time travel. Their first business move? Sell the unsold nights throughout their own historical timeline.” It’s a classic Moffat setup—mixing time travel with business antics.

So while the trailer below might give a few hints, the full excitement awaits on Christmas Day. Make sure to tune in and see how Moffat’s possibly final script for ‘Doctor Who’ unfolds.

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