December 04, 2024
‘Joy to the World’ writer Steven Moffat shares his thoughts with Doctor Who Magazine on the Christmas special…
The upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special, Joy to the World, will see the Doctor team up with the titular Joy, played by Bridgerton and Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan. The episode, penned by former showrunner, Steven Moffat, will premiere on Christmas Day on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and on and Disney+ where available.
Doctor Who Magazine caught up with Steven ahead of the premiere to talk about the special and how he reacted to Nicola Coughlan’s portrayal of Joy – scroll down for an exclusive extract…
The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale as of Thursday, 5th December. You can order here.
Steven Moffat on Nicola Coughlan’s role in Joy to the World:
“Nicola is wonderful. I had seen her in Derry Girls, but she seems to have become an even bigger name since we made this episode, which was over a year ago. She was already a big guest star for us to land, but even more so a year later.
“There’s a reference in the script to Joy’s ‘tremendous, charming smile, but underneath it she’s very sad’. The Doctor says, ‘Your smile is like a lid on a boiling pot’, and I think Nicola is great for that.
“Joy’s first entry into the story – as you’ll know from the pre-titles scene that was released a while back – is when she steps out of the taxi into a close-up, and it’s such a star entrance! That was kind of a ‘nothing’ moment in the script, but when you see it on screen, you think, ‘Whoah! The star has arrived!’”
Read the full feature in issue 611 of Doctor Who Magazine.
Inside this issue:
- The writer of this year’s Christmas Special, STEVEN MOFFAT, gives us a preview of what awaits on Christmas Day…
- PHIL COLLINSON and the team behind the colourisation of Second Doctor finale The War Games discuss the new edit of this landmark story.
- We catch up with JANET FIELDING (Fourth/Fifth Doctor companion Tegan) and INGRID OLIVER (Osgood) at the Bath Children’s Literature festival.
- Join the guests at Cardiff’s Arcadia convention including Fugitive Doctor JO MARTIN.
- It’s 50 years since Doctor Who and the Daleks came to the West End in Seven Keys to Doomsday. We talk to Benedict Martin – the son of stage Doctor, Trevor Martin.
- ANNEKE WILLS reflects on playing the First/Second Doctor’s companion Polly – and her fab fashions!
- All you need to know about the Eleventh Doctor’s final story – The Time of the Doctor.
- A look back at 1984’s The Box of Delights starring Patrick Troughton.
- The continuing adventures of the Doctor and Ruby in the comic strip!
PLUS!
- RUSSELL T DAVIES’ traditional Twelve Days of Christmas!
- Christmas as seen on TV, on audio and in Doctor Who Magazine itself!
- The annual DWM Christmas quiz!
Regular features:
- Gallifrey Guardian – including full details of this year’s festive viewing.
- Shelf Life – featuring reviews of the latest books and audio releases – and the new sonic screwdriver.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
- Prizes to be won including The Collection Season 2 on Blu-ray!
The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is on sale as of Thursday, 5th December. You can order here.
