Doctor Who: 2011 Christmas Special - First Info

The BBC have released the first official information about the cast and story of the Doctor Who 2011 Christmas special:

Information about the Christmas Special is starting to emerge and judging from the details below, it's going to be the best one yet with an incredible cast and intriguing storyline...

We'll be bringing you more on the story as it emerges, but for now, here's that press release in full...

Starring Matt Smith, Claire Skinner, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir and Alexander Armstrong.

Cardiff, 21 September 2011: Production has started on the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas special in which the Doctor (Matt Smith) finds himself in war-torn England embarking on a magical and mysterious adventure with a young widow and her two children. 

A stellar guest cast including Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Arabella Weir (The Fast Show) and Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller), join Matt Smith in the emotional festive special, packed full of Christmas thrills and chills.

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, commented: "The Doctor at Christmas - nothing is more fun to write. Maybe because it's so his kind of day - everything's bright and shiny, everybody's having a laugh, and nobody minds if you wear a really stupid hat. Of all the Doctors, Matt Smith's is the one that was born for this time of year - so it's the best news possible that he's heading back down the chimney." 

The special, set during World War II, sees Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset, where the caretaker is a mysterious young man in bow tie, and a big blue parcel is waiting for them under the tree. They are about to enter a magical new world and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his debts...

Claire Skinner said: "I am thrilled to be in Doctor Who playing Madge who is a bit of super-mum. It's a magical part." 

 

This marks Matt Smith's second outing as the Doctor at Christmas time and will follow hot on the heels of the successful 2011 series, currently airing on BBC One until October.

The Christmas special was commissioned by Ben Stephenson, controller, BBC Drama and Danny Cohen, controller BBC One. Steven Moffat is lead writer and executive producer with Piers Wenger and Caroline Skinner, also executive producing.

Filming on the Christmas special will continue until mid October 2011. 

The Christmas special is due for broadcast on Christmas Day 2011 on BBC One and BBC One HD.