Doctor just the medicine for fans

It’s back to the future as Christmas tradition continues with the Time Lord returning for nostalgic adventure, writes Seanna Cronin

THE Doctor Who Christmas special has become a traditional festive viewing staple for fans around the world.

This year viewers are in for a “nostalgic” adventure set in wintry New York City.

With brain-swapping aliens poised to attack, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and Nardole (Matt Lucas) link up with investigative reporter Lucy (Charity Wakefield) and a mysterious, masked figure known only as The Ghost (Justin Chatwin).

“It’s nostalgic in the sense that it’s going to be a superhero story from the days when superheroes were ironic and witty and clever,” Capaldi says in the film’s production notes.

“It’s also set in New York and we have a fabulous American cast and some spectacular flying scenes.

“When I first read the script I thought ‘this is wonderful’ because it captures the delightful, light comedy touch that existed in the early Superman movies with Christopher Reeves. Superheroes nowadays tend to be a grim lot but in those days there was optimism and a deliberate naivety that the character of Superman had.”

The hour-long special, written by Steven Moffat and directed by Ed Bazalgette (Poldark), will air on the ABC on Boxing Day.

“I wanted to do a superhero story. I wanted to reflect some of the elements of the Clark Kent/Lois Lane/ Superman love triangle that has always fascinated me. I just wanted to do a good superhero in Doctor Who,” Moffat says.