Look Who is back? And it’s worth the wait

How have fans of Doctor Who (Sunday, BBC One, 5.45pm) survived 2016?

It’s certainly been a difficult year. While many people have bemoaned the high number of celebrity deaths and others have grown concerned about political upheavals across the globe, Whovians have struggled without seeing a new adventure featuring their favourite Time Lord.

They were, of course, treated to an animated version of The Power of the Daleks, a long-lost 1966 adventure featuring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, but it wasn’t new.

Plus, BBC3 spin-offshow Class has had a promising start to its run. Nevertheless, there is nothing like a proper Doctor Who series...

It definitely came as a blow when show runner Steven M off at announced there wouldn’t be a full series in 2016, and that instead, fans would have to wait until Christmas to catch up with Peter Capaldi’s escapades in the Tardis.

But, as they say, absence makes t he heart grow fonder, and as Moffat has had an extra 12 months to work on this single episode, we’re expecting big things from it.

Not that the BBC is letting fans know too much about it - as with previous episodes, special or otherwise, it’s only giving away the barest essentials, just to give fans a tantalising taste of what’s to come.

What we do already know, however, is that new companion Bill, played by Pearl Mackie, won’t be in it - she will make her debut in next year’s series, which will be the 10th since Doctor Who returned to our screens in 2005.

It’s also the last Christmas special that Moffat will oversee - he bows out as show runner after the series airs, and will be replaced by Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall.

“It feels odd to be talking about leaving when I’m working on season 10, but the fact is my timey-wimey is running out,” says Moffat. “While Chris is doing his last run of Broadchurch, I’ll be finishing up on the best job in the universe and keeping the TARDIS warm for him.

“It took a lot of gin and tonic to talk him into this, but Iam beyond delighted that one of the true stars of British Television drama will be taking the Time Lord even further into the future. At the start of season 11, Chris Chibnall will become the new showrunner of Doctor Who. And I will be thrown in a skip.”

With Sherlock still running and no doubt other ideas circling through his inventive mind, we doubt that the rubbish heap is somewhere Moffat is heading!

As for this episode, it will see Capaldi’s Time Lord travel to New York, where he comes face to face with a mysterious superhero called The Ghost.

“Working with the amazing people at Doctor Who has been one of the most fun and rewarding projects I’ve ever had the pleasure of being involved with,” claims Orphan Black star Justin Chatwin, who plays him.

Charity Wakefield also stars as an investigative reporter (shades of Sarah Jane Smith?) and Matt Lucas returns as Nardole.