Contents
- 1 The Christmas Invasion (2005)
- 2 The Runaway Bride (2006)
- 3 Voyage of the Damned (2007)
- 4 The Next Doctor (2008)
- 5 The End of Time – Part One (2009)
- 6 The End of Time – Part Two (2010)
- 7 Planet of the Dead (2009)
- 8 The Waters of Mars (2009)
- 9 A Christmas Carol (2010)
- 10 The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (2011)
- 11 The Snowmen (2012)
- 12 The Night of the Doctor (2013)
- 13 The Day of the Doctor (2013)
- 14 The Time of the Doctor (2013)
- 15 Last Christmas (2014)
- 16 The Husbands of River Song (2015)
- 17 The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016)
- 18 Twice Upon a Time (2017)
- 19 Resolution (2019)
- 20 Revolution of the Daleks (2021)
- 21 Eve of the Daleks (2022)
- 22 The Church on Ruby Road (2023)
Last updated on the 1 April 2024 by Evandrus
The Christmas Invasion (2005)
The first of our Doctor Who specials is “The Christmas Invasion” where the newly regenerated Tenth Doctor, played by David Tennant, must face off against an alien invasion led by the Sycorax while his companion Rose and her family try to save Earth, showcasing the Doctor’s wit and bravery in saving humanity once again.
Top cast: David Tennant, Billie Piper, Camille Coduri, Noel Clarke, Penelope Wilton, Daniel Evans, Adam Garcia and Sean Gilder.
The Runaway Bride (2006)
“The Runaway Bride” follows the Doctor as he encounters a bride named Donna Noble, who mysteriously appears in the TARDIS after her wedding. Together, they uncover a plot by the alien Racnoss to flood Earth with their offspring, leading to an action-packed adventure and an emotional goodbye for Donna.
Top cast: David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Sarah Parish, Don Gilet, Howard Attfield, Jacqueline King, Trevor Georges and Glen Wilson.
Voyage of the Damned (2007)
In “Voyage of the Damned,” the Doctor finds himself aboard a luxury spaceliner, Titanic, during Christmas but soon realises that it is on a collision course with Earth. He joins forces with other passengers to outwit hostile aliens and save both the ship and humanity from disaster in this thrilling special episode.
Top cast: David Tennant, Kylie Minogue, Geoffrey Palmer, Russell Tovey, George Costigan, Clive Swift, Gray O’Brien and Debbie Chazen.
The Next Doctor (2008)
“The Next Doctor” follows the Tenth Doctor as he encounters a man claiming to be his future incarnation, the next Doctor. Together, they investigate a sinister plot involving Cybermen and an enigmatic woman while uncovering the truth behind the imposter’s identity in this thrilling Christmas episode of Doctor Who specials.
Top cast: David Tennant, David Morrissey, Velile Tshabalala, Dervla Kirwan, Ruari Mears, Edmund Kente, Michael Bertenshaw, and Jason Morell.
The End of Time – Part One (2009)
The only two-parter in the Doctor Who specials is “The End of Time – Part One” follows the Tenth Doctor as he investigates a prophecy foretelling his impending death. Meanwhile, an ancient Time Lord enemy stirs, threatening to bring about the end of time itself. The Doctor races against time to uncover the truth and confront his fate in this epic two-part special.
Top cast: David Tennant, Bernard Cribbins, Timothy Dalton, Catherine Tate, Jacqueline King, Billie Piper, John Simm and June Whitfield.
The End of Time – Part Two (2010)
“The End of Time – Part Two” concludes the Tenth Doctor’s journey as he battles against the resurrected Time Lord, the Master. With Earth under threat and time itself in peril, the Doctor faces his ultimate fate while bid farewell to companions past and present in a poignant and epic finale.
Top cast: David Tennant, John Simm, Bernard Cribbins, Timothy Dalton, Catherine Tate, Jacqueline King, Billie Piper and Camille Coduri.
Planet of the Dead (2009)
“Planet of the Dead” follows the Tenth Doctor as he finds himself stranded on a desert planet with a group of London bus passengers after crossing through a wormhole. They must work together to escape deadly flying stingrays and uncover the truth behind an ancient alien artifact before it’s too late.
Top cast: David Tennant, Michelle Ryan, Lee Evans, Noma Dumezweni, Adam James, Glenn Doherty, Victoria Alcock, Reginald Tsiboe and Daniel Kaluuya.
The Waters of Mars (2009)
“The Waters of Mars” sees the Tenth Doctor landing on a human colony on Mars, where he faces an alien infection that turns water into a deadly force. As the situation spirals out of control, the Doctor grapples with his own morality and must make difficult choices to save himself and others.
Top cast: David Tennant, Lindsay Duncan, Peter O’Brien, Aleksander Mikic, Gemma Chan, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Chook Sibtain and Alan Ruscoe.
A Christmas Carol (2010)
“A Christmas Carol” sees the Doctor attempting to save a crashing spaceship by convincing the miserly Kazran Sardick to change his ways. Through timey-wimey manipulation and encounters with holographic manifestations, the Doctor aims to transform Kazran’s heart and rescue those on board before it’s too late – all in a Doctor Who specials Dickensian twist.
Top cast: Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Michael Gambon, Katherine Jenkins, Laurence Belcher, Leo Bill and Danny Horn.
The Doctor, the Widow
and the Wardrobe (2011)
“The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe” follows the Eleventh Doctor as he lands in 1940s England to bring joy to a grieving family for Christmas. When they stumble upon a magical forest with dangerous secrets, they must work together to save both their world and an alien race from destruction.
Top cast: Matt Smith, Claire Skinner, Maurice Cole, Holly Earl, Alexander Armstrong, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir and Paul Bazely.
The Snowmen (2012)
“The Snowmen” takes place in Victorian London where the Eleventh Doctor, grieving over recent losses, encounters Clara Oswald. Together, they face an army of snowmen controlled by an ancient and sinister force known as the Great Intelligence. The Doctor must overcome his pain to save Christmas and unravel Clara’s mystery.
Top cast: Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Richard E. Grant, Tom Ward, Catrin Stewart, Neve McIntosh, Dan Starkey and Ian McKellen.
The Night of the Doctor (2013)
The shortest of our Doctor Who specials is “The Night of the Doctor” is a mini-episode that reveals the previously unknown fate of the Eighth Doctor. It shows his regeneration into the War Doctor and highlights his involvement in the Time War, as he makes a crucial decision to join the fight against Daleks and save innocent lives.
Top cast: Paul McGann, John Hurt, Emma Campbell-Jones, Clare Higgins, Barnaby Edwards, Nicholas Briggs, Rob Cooper-Taylor, Ross Mullan.
The Day of the Doctor (2013)
“The Day of the Doctor” unites the Tenth, Eleventh, and War Doctors in a thrilling adventure. Faced with an impending destructive event called The Time War, they must join forces to save Gallifrey and make a difficult decision that will redefine their past actions and shape the future of the Time Lords.
Top cast: Matt Smith, David Tennant, John Hurt, Billie Piper, Jenna Coleman, Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver and Joanna Page.
The Time of the Doctor (2013)
“The Time of the Doctor” follows the Eleventh Doctor as he faces his final battle on a planet called Trenzalore. Defending the town of Christmas from numerous enemies, he confronts his impending regeneration and fulfills a prophecy while bidding farewell to old friends and welcoming a new era for the Doctor.
Top cast: Matt Smith, Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill, Orla Brady, Jack Hollington, Rob Jarvis and Tessa Peake-Jones.
Last Christmas (2014)
The final of the festive Doctor Who specials is “Last Christmas,” the Doctor and Clara find themselves trapped in a dream within a dream, as they battle against terrifying creatures called Dream Crabs. With the help of Santa Claus, they must face their fears and discover what is real before it’s too late.
Top cast: Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Nick Frost, Samuel Anderson, Natalie Gumede, Faye Marsay, Nathan McMullen and Michael Troughton.
The Husbands of River Song (2015)
“The Husbands of River Song” follows the Twelfth Doctor as he encounters his wife, River Song, on a remote planet. Unbeknownst to her, he is hiding his true identity. Together, they embark on a thrilling and humorous adventure involving precious gems, a headless robot and surprising revelations about their relationship.
Top cast: Peter Capaldi, Alex Kingston, Greg Davies, Matt Lucas, Phillip Rhys, Rowan Polonski, Robert Curtis and Chris Lew Kum Hoi.
The Return of Doctor Mysterio (2016)
“The Return of Doctor Mysterio” features the Twelfth Doctor teaming up with a superhero called The Ghost to save New York City from an alien threat. As they face danger and uncover a sinister plot, the Doctor also reconnects with his old friend, investigative journalist Lucy Fletcher.
Top cast: Peter Capaldi, Justin Chatwin, Charity Wakefield, Tomiwa Edun, Aleksandar Jovanovic, Logan Hoffman, Daniel Lorente and Sandra Teles.
Twice Upon a Time (2017)
The next of our Doctor Who specials is “Twice Upon a Time” brings together the Twelfth Doctor and the First Doctor in their final adventures before regeneration. Stranded at the South Pole, they encounter mysterious beings called Testimony and must confront their past choices while deciding whether to embrace change or cling to familiar identities.
Top cast: Peter Capaldi, David Bradley, Pearl Mackie, Mark Gatiss, Lily Travers, Jared Garfield, Jodie Whittaker and Jenna Coleman.
Resolution (2019)
“Resolution” follows the Doctor and her companions as they encounter a new threat in the form of a resurrected ancient Dalek. As the Dalek wreaks havoc, they must stop its destructive rampage and prevent it from calling for reinforcements. It’s a race against time to save humanity from extermination once again.
Top cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, Charlotte Ritchie, Nikesh Patel, Daniel Adegboyega and Laura Evelyn.
Revolution of the Daleks (2021)
“Revolution of the Daleks” follows the aftermath of “The Timeless Children.” The Doctor is imprisoned, and her companions must face a new Dalek threat. With Jack Harkness’s help, they fight to save humanity from Dalek domination while grappling with personal struggles and making difficult choices for the greater good.
Top cast: Jodie Whittaker, Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill, John Barrowman, Chris Noth, Harriet Walter, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett.
Eve of the Daleks (2022)
Shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve, Nick visits Sarah’s storage facility in Manchester. Meanwhile, the Doctor works to reset the TARDIS and fix the damage caused by the Flux, striving to eliminate any anomalies along the way.
Top cast: Jodie Whittaker, Mandip Gill, John Bishop, Aisling Bean, Adjani Salmon, Nicholas Briggs, Pauline McLynn and Jonny Dixon.
The Church on Ruby Road (2023)
Amidst the festive cheer of Christmas Eve, the Fifteenth Doctor’s festive caper takes a turn for the extraordinary when they encounter Ruby Sunday, a young woman harboring a mysterious past. Their paths converge in the enigmatic Ruby Road church, where they uncover a centuries-old secret involving stolen children and mischievous goblins. As the Doctor delves into the labyrinthine mystery, a thrilling adventure unfolds, leading them to confront their own identities and the enduring power of the holiday spirit.
Top cast: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Davina McCall, Lukas DiSparrow, Anita Dobson, Andy Francis, Michelle Greenidge, Bonnie Langford, Giuseppe Lentini, Jinkx Monsoon and Angela Wynter.
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