So the cat is, if not quite out of the bag, at the very least poking a paw through the zip with the news, unconfirmed by the BBC, that Doctor Who looks likely to have a 2018 Christmas special after all.
In one of those probably unintentional revelations that the programme is subject to from time to time, an entry on the online CV of editor, Edel McDonnell indicated he will be working the episode, to be directed by Wayne Yip.
But who, I hear you cry, is this Wayne Yip of whom you speak? He’s best known to Doctor Who fans for helming The Lie of the Land and Empress of Mars in the most recent run, as well as the episodes Detained and The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did for the short-lived spin-off series, Class. Another connection with the world of Doctor Who came with the Billie Piper-starring Secret Diary of a Call Girl.

A look at Yip’s list of credits shows a considerable pedigree in genre TV, with numerous episodes of Channel 4’s superheroes-with-ASBOs show, Misfits and offbeat thriller, Utopia, as well as the little-remembered BBC3 fantasy, Tatau.
In the USA, he’s been responsible for bringing episodes of AMC’s comic book-inspired Preacher to the screen, along with the recently cancelled Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency.
Yip also has a background in music videos and short films, with Diego’s Story (2009) winning numerous awards. His Happy Birthday Grandad won the BAFTA ’60 Seconds of Fame’ competition in 2007.
It’s important to stress again that the news regarding the Christmas special is unconfirmed at this point, but we’ll keep you posted on any further updates.
Doctor Who will return on BBC One and BBC America in the autumn.