The Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special, Joy to the World, will air on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and Disney+ at 17:10 GMT on December 25, according to the BBC.

The announced cast list:

Ncuti Gatwa: The Doctor
Nicola Coughlan: Joy Almondo
Jonathan Aris: Melnak (Silurian Hotel Manager)
Joel Fry: Trev Simpkins (Time Hotel security)
Peter Benedict: Basil Flockhart
Julia Watson: Hilda Flockhart
Niamh Marie Smith: Sylvia Trench (Orient Express passenger)
Phil Baxter: Edmund Hillary
Samuel Sherpa-Moore: Tenzing Norgay
Steph de Whalley: Anita Benn (hotel clerk)
Ruchi Rai: Receptionist
Joshua Leese: Mr Single
Ell Potter: Server
Liam Prince-Donnelly: Barman
Fiona Marr: Angela Grace
Fiona Scott: ?

Could Mrs. Flood (Anita Dobson) make a surprise appearance? When last we saw her in Empire of Death, she was on a rooftop, dressed in an extravagant white fur coat and carrying a suitcase while promising “absolute terror” in the Doctor’s future.

Composite Joy to the World synopsis based on what is known so far:

The Time Hotel is the destination of choice for guests in the 41st century. The luxury establishment allows its patrons to visit notable moments in history. The Doctor investigates, time-hopping through history via several of the Time Hotel’s portals — offering room service. Joy checks into a London hotel in 2024, only to discover that her quiet stay is anything but ordinary. The adjoining door to her room turns out to be a secret portal to the Time Hotel from which a Silurian enters, carrying a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist containing a Star Seed. The Doctor follows soon after offering a ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin latte. An old enemy of the Doctor is lurking in the wings and Joy is in terrible danger. The sinister arms manufacturer Villengard wants to activate the Star Seed as an unlimited energy source but activating it is potentially catastrophic to everyone at every time on Earth. All of human history hangs in the balance. Destinations, danger, dinosaurs and a deadly plan unfold. Can the Doctor and Joy save Christmas, everywhere, all at once?

Written by Steven Moffat and directed by Alex Pillai, Joy to the World, starring Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlan, Jonathan Aris and Joel Fry, will transmit on Christmas Day, 25 December, from 17:10 to 18:10 GMT, 2024 on BBC One in the UK and Ireland and Disney+ everywhere else where available.