Kokomo Tribune Entertainment NOW
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/437084
TV Media Weekly
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December 20 - 26, 2014
rumors swirling around, instead
encouraging people to tune in to
the show to see what transpires.
"This is speculation, so we won't
be commenting," the spokesper-
son told RadioTimes.com. "Viewers
will have to watch the Christmas
episode to find out!"
Capaldi, on the other hand, has
confirmed his return as the Twelfth
Doctor, and the manic Missy (Mi-
chelle Gomez, "The Acid House,"
1998, "The Wedding Video,"
2012) also looks like she'll be in
the mix for series 9 after the stun-
ning reveal in the series 8 finale.
Talk of series 9 is already heat-
ing up, and with filming slated to
get underway in January, some
other details have already
emerged. For the first time since
2008, and for only the fourth time
in "Doctor Who's" 50-year history
on the small screen, a woman will
be writing an episode for the sci-fi
drama. British TV news and review
website "Cultbox" first reported
that Catherine Tregenna, who has
written four episodes for the
"Doctor Who" spinoff series
"Torchwood," will be penning at
least one episode for series 9.
The holiday season is always a
joyous time, and for fans of cult
classic "Doctor Who," that state-
ment rings doubly true. After a se-
ries 8 that saw the "Whoni-
verse's" popularity skyrocket on
BBC America — with its first epi-
sode becoming the highest-rated
season premiere ever on the net-
work — "Whovian" withdrawal is
starting to set in. Thankfully, relief
is on the horizon as the other-
worldly program gears up for its
annual holiday special, titled "Last
Christmas," airing Christmas Day
on BBC America.
By Meagan Sylvester
TV Media
F
ans of the popular British
television show "Doctor
Who" have most likely
been suffering from some
program withdrawal after series 8
concluded in November. Thankful-
ly, they'll be getting some relief as
the out-of-this-world program
gears up for its annual holiday
special, airing Christmas Day on
BBC America.
This year, the cherry-nosed, jolly
old elf from the North Pole pays a
visit to the good Doctor, but some
critics are raising concerns over
the show's portrayal of Father
Christmas. Early previews of the
Christmas-themed episode sug-
gest a sneering divide between
the time-traveling doctor (Peter
Capaldi, "The Thick of It") and
Saint Nicholas (Nick Frost, "Shaun
of the Dead," 2004, "Spaced"),
but showrunner Steve Moffat af-
firms that the special will portray
Santa Claus just as he is: a true
hero of the holidays.
"No, no, don't worry any par-
ents who were worried about
that," Moffat said about the up-
coming episode, "Last Christ-
mas," at the series 8 DVD launch
in November. "Santa is presented,
as he is in real life, as a great
Christmas hero.
"He actually is the real Santa,"
Moffat continued, talking about
the casting of Frost as the sleigh-
riding gift-giver. "He's been faking
it up until now. For the first time,
he's allowing the natural color of
his beard to show through. You
could figure it out, you know, Nick
Frost, Nicholas Frost — you see?"
As for Frost himself, the English
actor and comedian couldn't be
happier to ride the TARDIS. "I'm so
thrilled to have been asked to
guest in the 'Doctor Who' Christ-
mas special, I'm such a fan of the
show," he said in a news release.
"The read-through was very diffi-
cult for me; I wanted to keep stuff-
ing my fingers into my ears and
scream 'No spoilers!' Every day on
set, I've had to silence my internal
fanboy squeals."
The special itself promises to be
intriguing. In a teaser clip that un-
doubtedly raises more questions
than answers, Clara Oswald (Jen-
na Coleman, "Emmerdale") —
the Doctor's longtime companion
— comes face to face with the
man in the big red suit, while it
appears the Doctor and Santa
have been acquainted in a previ-
ous time or realm.
Producers have been diligent so
far in keeping plot details under
wraps, but the festive episode will
place the Doctor and his compan-
ion in a race against time when
they find themselves trapped in-
side an Arctic base as green, slimy
creatures attack them from all
sides. Of course, this is where San-
ta steps in, as the duo calls on the
big man for some help.
"Doctor Who" episode titles
have often been used as a way to
allude to what goes on in any giv-
en episode, and the Christmas
special is no different. "Last
Christmas" is especially cryptic
since newspapers, entertainment
websites and fan blogs have long
been speculating that Coleman
will depart the hit sci-fi program
after this holiday chapter.
The actress has remained rather
mum on the subject ahead of se-
ries 9, but U.K. tabloid newspaper
"Daily Mirror" reported at the end
of November that Oswald will re-
turn for at least the first half of the
new series when it airs next fall. A
BBC spokesperson, however,
wouldn't confirm or deny the new
Nick Frost and Peter Capaldi as seen in the "Doctor Who"
Christmas special
Otherworldly Christmas
The good Doctor returns for annual holiday special
2
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