On 26 July at San Diego Comic-Con, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan introduced a clip from what is likely to be the opening scene from the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World.

Coughlan, Ncuti Gatwa’s Christmas guest star, enthused about her character in the special.

“I am thrilled to be joining Doctor Who for the Christmas special this year, and I am so excited for you to meet my character, Joy.”

In the clip Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor appears in random points through history — offering a ham and cheese toastie and pumpkin spice latte to the bewildered people he meets — before eventually offering the sandwich and drink to Joy and her unexpected Silurian visitor in her hotel room in London, 2024.

The Doctor travels to 1940 Manchester in the throes of Word War II, 1962 Italy on the Orient Express, 1953 Nepal during the British Mount Everest expedition and finally to 2024 London to meet Joy.

In Joy to the World, after parting with his best pal Ruby Sunday, the Doctor is lonely, bored and looking for adventure. His encounter with with ever-optimistic Joy turns out to be enlightening and exactly what he needs.

Russell T Davies described the Doctor and his adventures during the special.

“It’s one of the maddest Christmas specials you’ll ever see. It’s Epic. It goes to so many different places. And it’s a great story of who the Doctor is when he’s alone.”

Writer Steven Moffat also described what is in store for the special.

“You like serious bits? Here’s serious bits. You like funny bits? Here’s funny bits. You like explosions? We’ve got explosions. You like monsters? Monsters! Pretty people? Pretty people! Everything. Just fling it at the screen. It’s Doctor bloody Who! Beat that, Casualty.”

Actor Joel Fry was spotted filming scenes for the special with Nicola Coughlan in November 2023.

One wonders if the Doctor will reunite with the people to whom he offered the toastie and latte in the past or if they are merely part of the opening gag. As it stands now, we may need to wait until Christmas to find out.

Written by Steven Moffat and directed by Alex Pillai, Joy to the World, starring Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan and Joel Fry will likely transmit Christmas Day 2024.