Otherworldly Christmas The good Doctor returns for annual holiday special

By Meagan Sylvester TV Media

F ans of the popular British television show “Doctor Who” have most likely been suffering from some program withdrawal after series 8 concluded in November. Thankfully, they’ll be getting some relief as the out-of-thisworld program gears up for its annual holiday special, airing Christmas Day on BBC America.

This year, the cherry-nosed, jolly old elf from the North Pole pays a visit to the good Doctor, but some critics are raising concerns over the show’s portrayal of Father Christmas. Early previews of the Christmas-themed episode suggest a sneering divide between the time-traveling doctor (Peter Capaldi, “The Thick of It”) and Saint Nicholas (Nick Frost, “Shaun of the Dead,” 2004, “Spaced”), but showrunner Steve Moffat affirms that the special will portray Santa Claus just as he is: a true hero of the holidays.

“No, no, don’t worry any parents who were worried about that,” Moffat said about the upcoming episode, “Last Christmas,” at the series 8 DVD launch in November. “Santa is presented, as he is in real life, as a great Christmas hero.

“He actually is the real Santa,” Moffat continued, talking about the casting of Frost as the sleighriding gift-giver. “He’s been faking it up until now. For the first time, he’s allowing the natural color of his beard to show through. You could figure it out, you know, Nick Frost, Nicholas Frost — you see?”

As for Frost himself, the English actor and comedian couldn’t be happier to ride the TARDIS. “I’m so thrilled to have been asked to guest in the ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas special, I’m such a fan of the show,” he said in a news release.

“The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream ‘No spoilers!’ Every day on set, I’ve had to silence my internal fanboy squeals.”

The special itself promises to be intriguing. In a teaser clip that undoubtedly raises more questions than answers, Clara Oswald (Jen- na Coleman, “Emmerdale”) — Santa have been acquainted in a have often been used as a way to allude to what goes on in any given episode, and the Christmas special is no different. “Last Christmas” is especially cryptic since newspapers, entertainment websites and fan blogs have long been speculating that Coleman will depart the hit sci-fi program after this holiday chapter.

The actress has remained rather mum on the subject ahead of series 9, but U.K. tabloid newspaper “Daily Mirror” reported at the end of November that Oswald will return for at least the first half of the new series when it airs next fall. A BBC spokesperson, however, wouldn’t confirm or deny the new rumors swirling around, instead encouraging people to tune in to the show to see what transpires.

“This is speculation, so we won’t be commenting,” the spokesperson mix for series 9 after the stunning reveal in the series 8 finale.

Talk of series 9 is already heating up, and with filming slated to get underway in January, some other details have already emerged. For the first time since 2008, and for only the fourth time in “Doctor Who’s” 50year history on the small screen, a woman will be writing an episode for the sci-fi drama. British TV news and review website “Cultbox” first reported that Catherine Tregenna, who has written four episodes for the “Doctor Who” spinoff series “Torchwood,” will be penning at least one episode for series 9. The holiday season is always a joyous time, and for fans of cult classic “Doctor Who,” that statement rings doubly true. After a series 8 that saw the “Whoniverse’s” popularity skyrocket on BBC America — with its first episode becoming the highest-rated season premiere ever on the network — “Whovian” withdrawal is starting to set in. Thankfully, relief is on the horizon as the otherworldly program gears up for its annual holiday special, titled “Last s,” airing Christmas Day on BBC America.

ACROSS

1 Actor Alan

5 Four-wheeler, e.g.

8 “__’Rent Strokes” (1978 to 1986 sitcom)

12 What a vegetarian won’t have

13 Type of small deer

14 Computer company

15 “Finally” by CeCe __

17 Jazz pianist Mr. Allison

18 Narrator of 1969 Christmas TV special “Frosty the Snowman”: 2 wds.

20 Conger, for one 21 Calendar’s duration

22 Friend

24 “The Lion King” (1994) character

28 Fashion brand, Perry

31 Someone pretentious 32 Fragment 33 __ bread

34 Inserted-thing with a letter [abbr.]

37 Jeanne d’Arc, e.g.

39 Opening Christmas Day 2014: Fantasy movie musical starring Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp which offers a twist on fairytales: 3 wds.

44 Mr. Schreiber

45 Ms. Bracco of TNT’s “Rizzoli & Isles”

47 Besides that

48 Elvis Presley song: “__ Night”

49 Suffix with ‘Hip’ (Trendy person)

50 Very, in Vienna

51 Suffix with ‘Jacob’

52 “Or so __ say.” (Apparently)

DOWN

1 Escalate, __ up

2 Actor, __ _. Cobb

3 Bestselling author Ms. Steel

4 Bit of folk classic “Turn! Turn! Turn!”: “And _ __ to every purpose under heaven.”

5 Like singer Mr. Garfunkel

6 Officer Gunther __, “Car 54, Where Are You?” character

7 Place, as for a concert or sports event

8 Ms. Phillips, host of Food Network’s “Southern at Heart”

9 Hollywood legend

10 Celebration

11 Able to do as one pleases

16 Lettered t-shirt size choices

19 Carpentry tool

22 Oomph

23 “Heroes” actress Ms. Larter

25 “The __ Vieira Show”

26 Purchase

27 Fruit drink

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