First look at the Doctor Who Christmas special “Joy to the World”

On July 26 at the San Diego Comic-Con Bridgerton Star Nicola Coughlan presented a clip from the likely opening scene of the 2024 film Doctor Who Christmas special Joy for the world.

Coughlan, Ncuti Gatwa's Christmas guest star, was thrilled with her role in the special.

“I am very happy to be part of Doctor Who for this year's Christmas special and I'm so excited for you to meet my character Joy.”

In the clip, the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, appears at random points in the story – offering a ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin latte to the confused people he meets – before finally offering the sandwich and drink to Joy and her unexpected Silurian visitor in their hotel room in 2024 London.

The Doctor travels to Manchester in 1940, in the midst of World War II, to Italy in 1962 on the Orient Express, to Nepal in 1953 during the British Mount Everest expedition, and finally to London in 2024 to meet Joy.

In Joy for the worldAfter splitting up with his best friend Ruby Sunday, the Doctor is lonely, bored and looking for adventure. His encounter with the ever-optimistic Joy proves to be enlightening and exactly what he needs.

Russell T. Davies described the Doctor and his adventures during the special broadcast.

“It's one of the craziest Christmas specials you'll ever see. It's epic. It goes to so many different places. And it's a great story about who the Doctor is when he's alone.”

Author Steven Moffat also described what to expect in the special broadcast.

“You like serious bits? Here are serious bits. You like funny bits? Here are funny bits. You like explosions? We have explosions. You like monsters? Monsters! Pretty people? Pretty people! Anything. Just throw it on the screen. It's Physician bloody Wo! Beat that, Accident.”

Actor Joel Fry was spotted filming scenes for the special with Nicola Coughlan in November 2023.

One wonders whether the Doctor will reunite with the people he offered toasties and lattes to in the past, or whether they are just part of the opening gag. As it stands now, we may have to wait until Christmas to find out.

Written by Steven Moffat and directed by Alex Pillai, Joy for the worldstarring Ncuti Gatwa, Nicola Coughlin and Joel Fry, is likely to air on Christmas Day 2024.