It’s surprising how quickly the Doctor Who Christmas Special became something of an institution. Back in 2007 I remember my dad anticipating Voyage of the Damned – only the third of the revived series’ Specials – by reminding the rest of the family that watching Doctor Who on Christmas Day was “a tradition”.
In issue 530’s editorial I wrote about being pleased that the series was moving to Sundays, arguing that the Saturday night line-up and viewing habits have now changed beyond all recognition. Anybody who’s been reading Tom Spilsbury’s excellent Public Image columns won’t need me to tell them that Doctor Who is once again a massive ratings hit and that Sunday evenings are exactly where it needs to be. The show’s festive Specials have also done well, but unlike the old Saturday evening slot I don’t have any nostalgia for Doctor Who on Christmas Day. Why not? Mainly because it’s the only time of year when you’re obliged to share Doctor Who with people who aren’t really fans or, at worst, actively dislike it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing all the members of my family at Christmas – whether we spend it at my parents’ house or whether everyone comes to see us. But watching Doctor Who with a room full of people can be tricky. At least one person – and it won’t necessarily be me – will insist on watching the episode live, as it goes out. And several others will be utterly baffled by what they’re seeing. This is when the ‘audio commentary’ starts. A really important piece of dialogue will be drowned out by someone asking, “Who’s playing the Doctor these days?” (If that question is asked this year I suspect the response might take a bit longer than usual.) At one point during the last Christmas Special I was asked, “Why don’t they bring Tom Baker back?”