The BBC’s official Doctor Who website has released a synopsis for the sci-fi spectacular’s New Year’s Day instalment, which was confirmed earlier this week to have replaced the usual Christmas special.
Putting a timey-wimey spin on the seasonal scheduling shift, the Beeb stated this:
“With 2018 marking a brand-new era for Doctor Who it is only right that 2019 kicks off in spectacular style. So, to mark the occasion, in this year’s festive episode the TARDIS will travel through the time vortex from its traditional timeslot on Christmas Day and will land in style on New Year’s Day.”
And then, later in the article, we got the full synopsis:
“As the New Year begins, a terrifying evil is stirring from across the centuries of Earth’s history. As the Doctor, Ryan, Graham and Yaz return home, will they be able to overcome the threat to planet Earth?”
The Beeb’s announcement also confirms that showrunner Chris Chibnall has written the New Year’s Day episode, with Wayne Yip (who previously shot The Lie Of The Land and Empress Of Mars during the Peter Capaldi era) returning to direct. Unsurprisingly, Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, Bradley Walsh and Mandip Gill are all listed among the cast.
Chibnall offered this statement, confirming that the episode will run for a full hour:
“We’re thrilled to be starting the New Year with a bang on BBC One, as Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor and friends face a terrifying alien threat in an action packed, hour long special adventure for all the family.”
What we don’t have yet is a name for this alien threat, any pictures from the episode, or even a whiff of a trailer. But as we inch closer to the New Year’s Day broadcast, we’ll be sure to bring you all the latest updates.