Doctor Who Christmas Special Gets a Dino Twist: Nicola Coughlan Joins Ncuti Gatwa for the Ultimate Adventure!
Ncuti Gatwa and “Bridgerton” star Nicola Coughlan face off against dinosaurs — and multiple versions of the Doctor — in the trailer for this year’s “Doctor Who” Christmas special.
Titled “Joy to the World,” the special sees new character Joy, played by Coughlan, check into a London hotel during the holiday season. However, she accidentally “opens a secret doorway to the Time Hotel — discovering danger, dinosaurs and the Doctor,” the episode’s synopsis reads. “But a deadly plan is unfolding across the Earth, just in time for Christmas. What is going on in Joy’s hotel room? An old enemy of the Doctor’s is lurking in the wings and all of human history hangs in the balance. Can the Doctor save Christmas, everywhere, all at once?”
In addition to Gatwa and Coughlan, the special — which premieres on Disney+ Dec. 25 at 9:10 a.m. PT as well as on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the U.K. — stars Steph de Whalley as Anita, Jonathan Aris as Melnak, Joel Fry as Trev, Peter Benedict as Basil, Julia Watson as Hilda and Niamh Marie Smith as Sylvia.
Coughlan had been long-rumored to be joining the “Doctor Who” universe, which Davies confirmed ahead of last year’s Christmas special. She also starred alongside Gatwa in last year’s “Barbie,” leaving fans begging for more on-screen moments from the duo — and now they’ve got their wish.
“Joy to the World” was written and executive produced by “Doctor Who” mainstay Steven Moffat and directed by Alex Sanjiv Pillai (“Riverdale,” “Bridgerton”). Russell T Davies serves as showrunner and executive producer and additional executive producers include Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.
The second season of the Gatwa-led “Doctor Who” will premiere in 2025 on Disney+ and on BBC iPlayer in the U.K.
Watch the trailer for this year’s “Doctor Who” Christmas special below.
