'Doctor Who' 2023 Christmas Special Title Revealed

We now know what the Fifteenth Doctor’s first adventure is called

Mike / SplashNews.com

The title of Doctor Who’s first actual Christmas special since 2017 has been revealed, and in quite an unexpected way.

It was Disney+ that revealed that this year's Christmas special is titled “The Church on Ruby Road”. They did so on a graphic serving as a guide to what to watch for the upcoming holiday season, under their “Season’s Streamings” branding. Other new arrivals include original film Dashing Through the Snow, and Disney Channel Original Movie The Naughty Nine. It’s definitely a little odd that the reveal came so casually, but at least the series’s new international home is doing its part in promoting the show again. Its full labeling is as a Doctor Who “Holiday Special”, which, fine, initial reports consistently used “festive special” even after the show’s return to Christmas specials had been settled, probably for similar inclusive sensibilities.

“The Church On Ruby Road” is set to be the first adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, as he meets his new companion, Ruby Sunday. Played by Millie Gibson, the episode, given its title will certainly make sense of the name. The title reveal comes eleven days short of a year since the casting and the character’s name was announced. As previously reported, the special will also feature Gemma Arrowsmith, known for sketch comedy series Gemma Arrowsmith Sketched Out, and Mary Malone, known for The Prince and an episode of Vera. As always has been since their introduction with 2005’s “The Christmas Invasion”, Christmas specials air directly on Christmas Day every year when they happen, which was every year. And so it returns. After 2017’s “Twice Upon a Time”, the Thirteenth Doctor era starring Jodie Whittaker and run by Chris Chibnall implemented New Year’s Day specials instead, airing January 1 when they happen. These episodes were “Resolution”, “Revolution of the Daleks”, and “Eve of the Daleks”. In 2020, series 12 kicked off with “Spyfall” for which part 1 doubled as that year’s New Year’s Day special. 2023 did not have one, as no episodes have aired since the BBC centenary special “The Power of the Doctor” in October 2022.

That special ended with Whittaker regenerating into the Fourteenth Doctor, played by Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant, leading to the three specials commemorating Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary: “The Star Beast”, “Wild Blue Yonder” and “The Giggle”, airing weekly starting November 25 until December 9. The BBC, still its domestic home, did release a new poster Monday, featuring elements from all three, including returning companion Donna Temple-Noble played by Catherine Tate, her daughter Rose played by Yasmin Finney, the Toymaker played by Neil Patrick Harris, the Wrarth Warriors, and Beep the Meep, voiced by Miriam Margolyes.

The Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday’s adventures will continue with an eight-episode 14th series (that may or may not have the count reset as a “season 1”) in what’s expected to be spring 2024, followed by another Christmas special, and series 15 is already filming. Russell T. Davies returns as showrunner and Murray Gold returns as composer.