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Happy Holidays, Whovians!

Man, it feels like it’s been a while even though “The Wedding of River Song”, the last episode of the sixth season of Doctor Who aired in October. And it looks like it’s going to be a long time before the seventh season airs in both the United Kingdom and the United States — in late 2012, if we’re led to believe — and with less Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill). Things are a-changing in the Tardis.

In the meantime, Steven Moffat and company were kind enough to churn out another Christmas special — entitled “The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe” — to tidy us over until next Fall. And while the episode wasn’t as masterful as last year’s “A Christmas Carol” — It Starred Michael “Professor Dumbledore” Gambon For Goodness’ Sake! — it still packed an emotional wallop that was on par with many of...

Doctor Who, 2011 Christmas Special, “The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe”

Written by Steven Moffat

Directed by Farren Blackburn

Aired Christmas at 9pm (Et) on BBC America

This week, on Doctor Who: The Arwell family’s Christmas present from the Doctor goes predictably awry

Since its return in 2005, Doctor Who has established a tradition of its yearly Christmas specials. They’ve been varyingly successful over the years, with 2010’s excellent twist on A Christmas Carol the clear standout of the bunch. This year, showrunner Steven Moffat put a Whovian twist on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and, while certain elements work well, the episode’s lack of character development and unearned sentimentalism bring down its promising premise.

One of the biggest problems with the episode is its lack of focus or narrative throughlines. After a brief prologue establishing the family, both before and during the war, we shift to following the Doctor,...

One of the many good things about the revival of "Doctor Who" is that it has also revived the show's Christmas special -- and that for the past two years, we actually get to see it on Christmas in the United States as fans do in the U.K.

Sunday's special is called "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe," which takes its inspiration from C.S. Lewis and finds the Doctor (Matt Smith) -- or the Caretaker, as he's calling himself for the time being -- in World War II England, taking care of an abandoned old mansion.

Into that house come Madge Arwell (Claire Skinner) and her children Lily (Holly Earl) and Cyril (Maurice Cole), evacuated from London. The Doctor tries to make it the best Christmas he can for them -- but his gift leads the kids into a magical, and possibly dangerous, world.

Two clips from the...

Every since the return of Doctor Who in 2005, we have been given a bright, gaily wrapped Christmas present in the form of a special Doctor Who episode celebrating the holiday season. In 2005, there was “The Christmas Invasion”; in 2006, there was “The Runaway Bride”; in 2007, there was “Voyage of the Damned”; in 2008, there was “The Next Doctor”; in 2009 there was “The End of Time”; in 2010, there was “A Christmas Carol” and this year, it is “The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe.”

Just like last year’s whimsical look at the meaning of Christmas in “A Christmas Carol,” this year’s episode is another chance to travel back into our childhoods and revisit a time when life was simpler, more colorful and full of magic.

In 1938, after a young widow (Claire Skinner) comes to the aid of The Doctor (Matt Smith), he promises her a Christmas wish. Three years later, as...

The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe – Counting Down a Doctor Who Christmas!

In just a few short days it will be time to sit down with your family, a cup of hot cocoa and watch the Doctor Who Christmas special, “The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe”. As if the mere thought of a Doctor Who Christmas wasn’t enough to send jolts of electric excitement through your skin, then maybe this latest batch of promo images for the special will do the trick.

The images shed some light on what will be going down during the episode. As you can see, there are some bizarre tree-like people. I think it’s safe to assume they are the villains of the special and likely owners of the mysterious Christmas present that acts as a door to a strange Narnia-like forest. The tree people have what looks to be a...

The Doctor, The Widow & the Wardrobe – Doctor Who Christmas teaser!

What would Christmas be without Doctor Who? At long last, after months of waiting, we’ve received a promo video for the upcoming Christmas special, “The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe”. And I must say, it boasts of wonderful things to come. All you have to see is that little boy (Maurice Cole) climbing in to that mysterious blue box (no, it’s not the Tardis, it’s a giant Christmas gift) to feel a sense of wonder that only Doctor Who can give you. What say we dive in and pick this bad boy apart? Geronimo!

Right, so I’ve already mentioned the blue gift/box. What I left out is that the box leads to (or perhaps just happens to carry one inside of it) a forest in the dead of winter. If the title of the special wasn’t enough,...

Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, arrive in Dorset in1941.

There’s less than a month until the next Doctor Who Christmas special airs. Entitled “The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe”, the annual event will broadcast on Christmas Day.

The stand-alone story, written by showrunner Steven Moffat and directed by Farren Blackburn, riffs on the C.S. Lewis fantasy. The Doctor (Matt Smith) plays the role of caretaker of a big old house in Dorset, England in 1941.

Madge Arwell, played by Claire Skinner, is a widow. She and her two young children, Lily (Holly Earl) and Cyril (Maurice Cole), have been evacuated to the house from London and arrive to find a big blue box under the tree.

The mysterious box is a portal of sorts, not unlike Lewis’ wardrobe.

Other guest stars include comedian Bill Bailey and Arabella Weir who play what appear to be space marines.

The BBC has confirmed that this year's Doctor Who Christmas special will air on December 25. The sci-fi drama will retain its traditional Christmas Day slot for the seventh year running, airing at 7pm on BBC One. Written by showrunner Steven Moffat, 'The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe' will see Matt Smith reprise his role as the Doctor. Claire Skinner, Bill Bailey, Arabella Weir, Alexander Armstrong, Paul Bazely, Holly Earl and Maurice Cole will all play guest roles in the festive special, directed by Farren Blackburn. > Doctor Who Christmas (more)...

Doctor Who Christmas! The Widow & the Wardrobe Teasers

It feels like forever since I last got my Doctor Who fix, so finding these new promo images for the upcoming Christmas Special, “The Doctor, The Widow & the Wardrobe”, was just the hit I needed to keep me going for a few more weeks. The episode will feature a widow and her two children as they relocate to Dorset during World War II. It’s in Dorset that they meet the Doctor and have themselves an adventure unlike any other. Despite the danger that usually comes with the Doctor’s presence, I still count them as being incredibly lucky. I wish I could go on an adventure with the Doctor.

We should all send BBC Christmas cards for giving us these stellar images, featuring the Doctor (Matt Smith) plus the widow, Madge (Claire Skinner) and her children, Lily (Holly Earl) and Cyril...

The Doctor Who Christmas Special for 2011 is inspired by C.S. Lewis’ Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and titled ‘The Doctor, The Widow, and The Wardrobe’…

It’s Christmas Eve, 1938, when Madge Arwell comes to the aid of an injured Spaceman Angel as she cycles home, in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special, starring Matt Smith as the Doctor.

He promises to repay her kindness – all she has to do is make a wish.

Three years later, a devastated Madge escapes war-torn London with her two children for a dilapidated house in Dorset. She is crippled with grief at the news her husband has been lost over the channel, but determined to give Lily and Cyril the best Christmas ever.

The Arwells are surprised to be greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world. Here, Madge will learn how...

Filming is now complete on the 2011 Doctor Who Christmas Special in which the Doctor (Matt Smith) finds himself in war-torn England embarking on a magical and mysterious adventure with a young widow and her two children.

A stellar guest cast including Claire Skinner (Outnumbered), Bill Bailey (Black Books), Arabella Weir (The Fast Show) and Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong & Miller), join Matt Smith in the emotional festive special, packed full of Christmas thrills and chills.

Two lucky young actors join the cast for the Christmas Special:

Holly Earl (represented by A&J Management) plays 15 year old Lily Armstrong. 19 year old Holly has been working since the age of 4, including roles in Neil Labute's Possession, "Touching Evil" and the popular BBC Christmas movie The Greatest Store In the World, alongside her sister Elizabeth.

Maurice Cole (represented by Hamilton Hodell) plays her 11 year old brother, Cyril Armstrong. Maurice starred as Eli in the...