Doctor Who's Christmas special won't be on Christmas Day this year. Instead, it will be on New Year's Day.

The popular BBC series is bucking tradition this time around and planning on kicking off 2019 in style with Jodie Whittaker's first full special as the Doctor.

Written by showrunner Chris Chibnall and directed by Wayne Yip, the hour-long episode will see the Doctor, Ryan (Tosin Cole), Yaz (Mandip Gill), and Graham (Bradley Walsh) arrive home – only to come across a new alien threat to planet Earth.

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BBC

"We're thrilled to be starting the New Year with a bang on BBC One, as Jodie Whittaker's Doctor and friends face a terrifying alien threat in an action-packed, hour-long special adventure for all the family," Chibnall said.

BBC's director of content Charlotte Moore added: "We're delighted the Doctor and her companions will be welcoming BBC One audiences into 2019 with this exciting new episode. The Doctor's fans are in for a special treat on the first day of the new year."

Before the New Year's special, we still have four more episodes of the regular series left.

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The BBC recently revealed snippets about the series finale, and it all sounds rather ominous indeed.

Titled 'The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos', episode 10's synopsis reads:

"On the planet of Ranskoor Av Kolos lies the remains of a brutal battlefield. But as the Doctor, Graham, Yaz and Ryan answer nine separate distress calls, they discover the planet holds far more secrets. Who is the mysterious commander with no memory? What lies beyond the mists? Who or what are the Ux?

"The answers will lead the Doctor and her friends towards a deadly reckoning."

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BBC

Of course, given that Graham, Yaz and Ryan are mentioned for the New Year's episode, it seems safe to assume that the trio survive the finale.

Doctor Who continues with episode 7 'Kerblam!' at the earlier time of 6.30pm on BBC One on Sunday (November 18).


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