The BBC has confirmed that Joy to the World, this year’s Doctor Who festive special, will indeed air on Christmas Day.

The news was announced on Facebook when the official Doctor Who page boasted a short wait until the next episode, stating:

“Watch JOY TO THE WORLD this Christmas Day on BBC One and BBC iPlayer simultaneously in the UK and on Disney+ where available”

This was accompanied by a photo of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor presenting a tray of food, something we’ve previously seen in a clip from the San Diego Comic Con. A subsequent clip, in which we learn that one of the villains of the piece of Villengard (mentioned all the way back in The Empty Child/ The Doctor Dances and seen in Twice Upon a Time) and see temporary companion, Joy (Nicola Coughlan) coming face to snout with a Tyrannosaurus rex, was shown for this year’s Children in Need appeal.

(Do dinosaurs have snouts? What’s the technical term?)

Joy to the World is written by former showrunner, Steven Moffat, and marks the first time a Christmas special hasn’t been written by the current showrunner.

Of course, it’s not a great shock that Doctor Who is airing on Christmas Day — just as The Church on Ruby Road did last year — but it’s good to have confirmation, and goes to show that the series is still seen as a big success by the BBC.

The special is directed by Alex Pillai, and will be broadcast on 25th December 2024. A time and duration (expected to be an hour) will be confirmed closer to the date.