Rachel Talalay has rapidly established herself firmly amongst the cream of Doctor Who directors, and it seems fitting that she should be back to helm the Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time. In doing so, she’ll oversee the departure of Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat, and the introduction of Jodie Whittaker to the show.

Chatting to Den Of Geek US, though, she admitted that when she was asked to take the job on, she wasn’t sure.

“It seems like it would be a no-brainer, but it wasn’t” she admitted. “Now I’m going to get personal”.

“The doubt was because of the time commitment and my family. I have children and continuing meant another 3+ months away from home, ‘mothering-by-Skype’”.

“I sometimes Facetime them on set so they can say hey to the people they know, see new locations, feel involved while thousands of miles away. And they will speak to me from school and walk me around the class or the doctor’s office. Here, modern technology is a life-saver, but it’s not the same as a hug”.

“We had a family pow-wow. I read out the emails Steven and Peter wrote me when they knew I was equivocating — flattering, persuasive and also hilarious. Part of the notes had to do with the importance of this episode to both them. And so it became a no-brainer”.

Talalay is in post-production on the episode now, and is back in Canada directing material for The CW next.