Several official Doctor Who social media outlets, with the cryptic caption “Tomorrow. #DoctorWho”, have teased something coming on December 25, 2022.
Tomorrow. #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/HyFNZ9fc1l
— Doctor Who (@bbcdoctorwho) December 24, 2022
The very brief clip included in the December 24 post shows Neil Patrick Harris as his Doctor Who 60th anniversary special character in a marquee setting exclaiming “Worldwide premiere!” in a German accent.
His appearance and accent are reminiscent of the Toymaker from the fictional country of Vulgaria in the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Doctor Who lore has its own Toymaker, a villain portrayed by Michael Gough, introduced in the 1966 Season 3 serial The Celestial Toymaker.
In Doctor Who, The Toymaker is a powerful being who ensnares sentient beings in seemingly childish games rigged in his favour — with his captives’ freedom at stake. Neil Patrick Harris is rumoured to portray this very character in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.
The promised Christmas treat undoubtedly involves Neil Patrick Harris, possibly a longer clip of him from the 60th anniversary specials or a specially-shot short. It would be a treat for fans indeed if what is shared on Christmas day ends speculation on the identity of his character.
Fans can expect the special content to appear at 18:25 BT on official social media and on BBC One immediately after Strictly Come Dancing airs.
Doctor Who will return in November 2023 with three 60th anniversary specials starring David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor. In the following festive period, Ncuti Gatwa will star in his first full Doctor Who episode as the Fifteenth Doctor.