Joy to the World: Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan joins Ncuti Gatwa in the Doctor Who Christmas special

The 2024 Christmas special for Doctor Who, titled Joy to the World, is finally making its way to OTT in India. Disney and the BBC have collaborated to bring a holiday special for Doctor Who fans. The 56-minute-long special film will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on December 25, 2024. It features Ncuti Gatwa in the titular role, who is joined by Nicola Coughlan.

Festive adventure unfolds in Joy to the World

The protagonist of Joy to the World follows her as she checks into a hotel in London in 2024. Uncovering a hidden passageway to the Time Hotel, she encounters peril, prehistoric beasts, and the Doctor. Just in time for the holiday season, though, a murderous plot is taking place all across the world.

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Gatwa's portrayal of the Doctor returns, as anticipated. The possibility of Coughlan's appearance in Doctor Who has been circulating for a while, thanks to her phenomenal success as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton on Netflix. Along with Steph de Whalley, other cast members include Jonathan Aris (Melnak), Joel Fry (Trev), Peter Benedict (Basil), Julia Watson (Hilda), and Niamh Marie Smith (Sylvia).

Doctor Who, under its revived Disney-BBC agreement and with Russell T. Davies returning as showrunner, will air a Christmas special before the second season. There has been no renewal of the contract for a third season.

Legacy of Christmas specials in the Doctor Who franchise

Before the introduction of Gatwa in a third Christmas special—The Church on Ruby Road, which divided critics—last year, three specials aired with fan favourites David Tennant and Catherine Tate, signaling the return of Davies and commemorating their 60th anniversary.

Alex Sanjiv Pillai of Bridgerton fame directed the film Joy to the World, which Steven Moffat executive produced. Davies runs and executive produces the show. Other executive producers include Joel Collins, Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

Global crisis tests the Doctor's resolve

However, a murderous plot is unfolding globally just in time for the holidays, with no sign of the Doctor. What is the current occupancy of Joy's hotel room? Everything that has ever happened in human history is on the brink of catastrophe as an old adversary of the Doctor prepares to strike. Does the Doctor have what it takes to preserve Christmas on a global scale?

Well, Doctor Who fans have to wait for a few more days to find out!

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