Doctor Who's latest Christmas Special originally had a whole scene that didn't make the final cut, writer Steven Moffat has explained.
It's not unusual for episodes to be trimmed and polished before they make the air. According to Moffat, who penned the script for the fifteenth festive special 'Joy to the World', Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor had a longer sequence resorting to his wits to access the upper floors of the Time Hotel.
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"There was a whole extra sequence where the Doctor gets a room service tray, because you can't access the upper floors without a proper pass," he told Doctor Who Magazine.
"And the Doctor says, 'Oh, give me a tray! The one fault in all security is convenience.' And he pushes the tray against the lift panel, and the lift opens. 'You can always factor in human laziness!'"
The special is set at the Time Hotel, where guests can holiday anywhere in time. It also stars Bridgerton's Nicola Coughlan as one-off companion Joy Almondo, who helps the Doctor investigate the mystery of a man handcuffed to a briefcase which controls whoever's holding it.
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Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunner Russell T Davies and screenwriter Moffat previously teased a possible spin-off set at the Time Hotel.
"A spin-off! You could do a spin-off for that, Steven?" suggested Davies.
Moffat replied: "That's a show, isn't it? I mean, that's Mr Benn for a new generation, in a nod to the BBC children's show from the 70s.
"You could absolutely bring back the Time Hotel. I can't imagine the Doctor being able to resist going there!"
Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
