The Fifteenth Doctor meets his new companion in ‘The Church on Ruby Road’ on Christmas Day.
The Doctor Who Christmas Special was a staple of the show’s modern era. Fans and their families have gathered together from David Tennant’s dressing gown debut in ‘The Christmas Invasion’ to Peter Capaldi’s exit in ‘Twice Upon A Time’.
In Jodie Whittaker’s era, the show shifted to focus on New Year’s festivities. However, for 2023, Doctor Who returns to December 25th.
Ncuti Gatwa exploded onto our screens as the new Doctor at the end of the 60th Anniversary Specials. Now, it’s finally time to meet his companion Millie Gibson’s Ruby Sunday.
Their meeting has been a long time coming – Gibson was first revealed as the new companion during BBC Children in Need 2022!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe5zRIAumwg
The actor comes to Doctor Who off a three-year stint on that other British staple Coronation Street, where she played troubled teen Kelley Neelan.
‘The Church on Ruby Road’
The Church on Ruby Road sees the Doctor come face-to-face with the mythical and mysterious goblins as his life collides with Ruby Sunday, played by Millie Gibson.
Little is known about Ruby Sunday as she was abandoned on Christmas Eve as a baby. Now living with her mum, Carla and grandmother, Cherry her world is about to be turned upside when she encounters the Doctor and the two set off on their first adventure together…
Alongside Gatwa and Gibson, the special stars Michelle Greenidge as Ruby’s mum Carla, Angela Wynter as Ruby’s grandmother Cherry and Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood. Plus, television presenter Davina McCall appears as herself.
The BBC have also announced a further Doctor Who Christmas gift. ‘The Church on Ruby Road’ will be followed by a preview trailer for the show’s upcoming season.
The Christmas Special has been novelised for BBC Books by writer Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson. It’s out on 24th January, 2024, and available to pre-order now.
The Goblin Song
‘The Church on Ruby Road’ also contains Doctor Who‘s first musical number, a disturbingly entertaining track entitled The Goblin Song.
With music from returning composer Murray Gold, the song has made a star of Janis Goblin (vocalist Christina Rotondo). It’s available to download with proceeds going to BBC Children In Need.
Doctor Who’s 2023 Christmas Special airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK from 5.55pm on 25th December. It also lands internationally on Disney+ at the same time.
“Incidentally, a happy Christmas to all of you at home!”
With all that said, it’s time to wish you a Merry Christmas from all at CultBox Towers.
We leave you with a festive treat from our friends at Homemade Who. It’s an edit of the Capaldi era Christmas Special ‘Last Christmas’ to the track that bears it name…