The Snowmen confirmed for 5:15pm on Christmas Day

Wednesday, 5 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have now confirmed the line-up for Christmas Day on BBC One, with the hour long Doctor Who Christmas Special The Snowmen to broadcast from 5:15pm - the earliest the show has been scheduled since its return in 2005 (and also the time when original series premiere An Unearthly Child was scheduled back in 1963).

The afternoon will see the film Shrek Forever After following The Queen's Speech at 3:10pm; the animated film Room on the Broom then follows at 4:35pm, with the News and Weather at 5:00pm. After Doctor Who, Strictly Come Dancing kicks off at 6:15pm, with a festive Call The Midwife at 7:30pm, an hour long Eastenders at 8:45pm, and evening prime-time finishing with The Royle Family at 9:45pm.

ITV1's schedule sees Doctor Who pitted against You've Been Framed (5:00pm), Emmerdale (5:30pm), and Paul O'Grady's For The Love Of Dogs (6:00pm). Meanwhile, Downton Abbey will go head-to-head with Eastenders at 8:45pm.

Publicity Images:

The BBC have released a variety of publicity images to promote The Snowmen, featuring characters and scenes from the episode. Portrait images are also available, depicting several of the main cast: as well as Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman they include Tom Ward as Captain Latimer, Joseph Darcey-Alden as Digby, Ellie Darcey-Alden as Francesca, Liz White as Alice, and Richard E Grant as Dr Simeon.

FILTER: - Series Specials - Broadcasting - Series 7/33

The Snowmen invade New Zealand Boxing Day

Monday, 3 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

New Zealand channel Prime have announced that it will broadcast the Doctor Who Christmas Special The Snowmen on 26th December 2012, less than twenty-four hours after its premiere in the United Kingdom.

Reported via their Facebook page, this news also marks the closest transmission of a new episode of Doctor Who in the country to its UK transmission since the series returned in 2005.

In summary, transmission of The Snowmen is now confirmed for these dates:

United Kingdom : Tuesday   25th December, time tbc     BBC One
United States  : Tuesday   25th December, 9:00pm ET    BBC America
Canada         : Tuesday   25th December, 9:00pm ET    SPACE
Australia      : Wednesday 26th December, 7:30pm       ABC1
New Zealand    : Wednesday 26th December, time tbc     Prime

(with thanks to Paul Scoones)

FILTER: - Series Specials - New Zealand

Radio Times Doctor Who Cover (Christmas 2012)

Saturday, 1 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

In the annual tradition, the next edition of the Radio Times (8th-14th December 2012) celebrates the Doctor's latest Christmas adventure with a front cover.

This issue features a three page article on the forthcoming episode. Talking about his new costume, Matt Smith said:

I've got a whole new Christmassy outfit and the best hat! A bit Artful Dodger meets the Doctor. There's a lot of purple this year, which is nice. I've always wanted something purple but they were always reluctant. It's taken three years to get a jaunty hat and a purple coat!

Talking about his role, guest star Tom Ward mentioned:

My character is an archetypal Victorian gentleman, a repressed, Establishment-type chap who is distant from his children and can't communicate with women. I couldn't resist him as he's so well written - besides a part in a Doctor Who Christmas Special was just too good an opportunity to pass up!

Not to be missed out, Jenna-Louise Coleman also commented about Clara and how she relates to her prior appearance in Asylum of the Daleks:

The connection is that it's me playing both. I'm not Oswin: I'm a different person who looks and sounds like Oswin.

You can read the full interviews in the new issue of the Radio Times, out today (1st December).

The next issue (15-21 Dec) is published on 6th December, with the 'legendary double issue' of the Radio Times for the Christmas period (22 Dec - 4 Jan) following on 12th December.

The Covers of Christmas Past

Doctor Who at the Radio Times

FILTER: - Series Specials - Radio Times

The Snowmen Promotional Image Released

Tuesday, 27 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

The BBC today released a special promotional image for the forthcoming Christmas episode The Snowmen. As with episodes earlier this year, it has been done in the style of a film poster to reflect what showrunner Steven Moffat has called Series 7's "blockbuster" approach of "big movie-style stories".

A similar poster was released by BBC America.

In addition, the BBC has released a screengrab featuring the subject of the episode's title.

The BBC is yet to confirm when on Christmas Day The Snowmen will air in the UK. It will be shown in the USA and Canada at 9pm ET on Christmas Day by, respectively, BBC America and SPACE, while ABC1 will be broadcasting it in Australia on Boxing Day (known as Proclamation Day in South Australia) at 7.30pm.

FILTER: - Series Specials - Series 7/33

SPACE confirms The Snowmen for Christmas Day

Tuesday, 20 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Canadian channel SPACE have confirmed that, like BBC America in the United States, they will be broadcasting the Christmas Special The Snowmen on Christmas Day at 9:00pm ET.

Tuesday, Dec.25 – Wednesday, Dec. 26 : DOCTOR WHO MARATHON

Holy sonic screwdrivers! On Christmas Day, viewers get to relive Season 7 of DOCTOR WHO, followed by SPACE’s favourite time-traveling tradition – the premiere of the 2012 DOCTOR WHO Christmas special, The Snowmen. This year’s holiday escapade introduces a new companion, a new look for the Doctor, and a new monster.

Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor, and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as his new companion Clara, The Snowmen follows their adventures as they embark on a mission to save Christmas from the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant, The Iron Lady, Dracula) and his army of icy snowmen. Then, the marathon to end all marathons continues with a TARDIS full of Time Lord-themed holiday specials.

4 p.m. ET – DOCTOR WHO Season 7 Marathon
9 p.m. ET – THE SNOWMEN *SPACE Premiere*
10:30 p.m. ET – BEST OF CHRISTMAS SPECIALS
11:30 p.m. ET – THE CHRISTMAS INVASION

Australian broadcaster ABC announced at the weekend that they would be showing it locally on Boxing Day at 7:30pm; the BBC have yet to confirm time of broadcast in the UK, though in previous years it has been scheduled between 6:00-7:00pm.

FILTER: - Canada - Series Specials - Series 7/33

Boxing Day debut for The Snowmen in Australia

Sunday, 18 November 2012 - Reported by Adam Kirk

The Snowmen, will make its Australian debut on Boxing Day, Wednesday 26 December 2012 at 7.30pm on ABC1.

The previous two Christmas specials, A Christmas Carol and The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, also debuted in Australia on Boxing Day.

Media Links: TV Tonight

FILTER: - Series Specials - Broadcasting - Series 7/33 - Australia

The Snowmen: BBC America Press Release

Saturday, 17 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC America have published a press release for this year's Christmas Special, which will be broadcast on the channel on Christmas Day at 9:00pm ET/PT.

BBC AMERICA’S DOCTOR WHO ANNOUNCES DETAILS FOR ALL-NEW CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Announced today, the title of this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special is The Snowmen. A new companion, a new look for the Doctor, plus a new monster will all be introduced in this movie-scale episode. Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as new companion Clara, The Snowmen follows their adventures as they embark on a mission to save Christmas from the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant, The Iron Lady, Dracula) and his army of icy snowmen. This year’s Doctor Who Christmas special premieres Tuesday, December 25, 9:00pm ET/PT on BBC AMERICA.

A sneak peek was released earlier today, during the broadcast of the BBC Children in Need special, revealing a new costume for the Doctor. Additionally, a special prequel was released showing the impact of the loss of the Ponds, with old friends Vastra, Strax and Jenny trying to persuade the Doctor not to give up his adventures.

Steven Moffat, Lead Writer and Executive Producer, said: "The Doctor at Christmas is one of my favorite things - but this year it's different. He's lost Amy and Rory to the Weeping Angels, and he's not in a good place: in fact, he's Scrooge. He's withdrawn from the world and no longer cares what happens to it. So when all of humanity hangs in the balance, can anyone persuade a tired and heartbroken Doctor that it's time to return to the good fight. Enter Jenna-Louise Coleman..."

Matt Smith, who plays the Doctor, commented: "For this year’s Christmas special we have the wonderfully villainous Richard E Grant as Doctor Simeon. As well as lizards, Victorian assassins and deranged warriors from the future, who all return to convince the Doctor that he should board the TARDIS again and save the world. Add to that Jenna-Louise Coleman and so begins the Christmas Special 2012. I hope everyone enjoys it!"

The BBC Cymru Wales produced series will return to BBC AMERICA on December 25 and an additional eight epic episodes will premiere in the spring.

Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant). Photo: BBC Worldwide

The BBC have also published a press release for the Special, though unlike the United States the time of transmission has yet to be confirmed.

FILTER: - USA - Series Specials - Press - Series 7/33

The Snowmen: new publicity photo

Saturday, 17 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The BBC have released a new promotional image for this year's Christmas Special, featuring Matt Smith as the Doctor and Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara:

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman in the Christmas Special. Photo: BBC

A photo of the Doctor in front of the TARDIS was released during the week as part of the publicity for Children in Need, and during this evening's charity show the special's first full trailer was broadcast, introducing Coleman's character and revealing the title as The Snowmen.

FILTER: - Series Specials - Series 7/33

Christmas Special: title revealed

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Matt Smith and Jenna-Louse Coleman introduced on Children in Need. Photo: Press Association

The title of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special has been revealed on Children in Need to be:

The Snowmen

A trailer for the episode was broadcast tonight, which also introduced the Doctor's new friend-to-be, Clara (as played by Jenna-Louise Coleman). In addition, a special minisode was broadcast earlier in the evening to introduce the episode - The Great Detective featured the Doctor's old friends Vastra, Jenny and Strax in their attempts to coax him out of retirement ...

Watch The Great Detective ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer )

Watch the trailer for The Snowmen ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer )

Watch the teaser trailer for The Snowmen ( YouTube / BBC iPlayer)

FILTER: - Charities - Series Specials - Series 7/33

Christmas Special Title To Be Revealed Tonight

Friday, 16 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

Matt Smith as the Doctor, Children in Need 2012. Photo: BBC

The title of this year's Doctor Who Christmas special will be revealed tonight during the Children In Need telethon on BBC One.

As previously reported, the fund-raiser will be showing a bespoke storyline as a prequel to the special, as well as giving viewers a sneak preview of the special itself.

Now, in addition, the official site said today that the story title would be revealed and a glimpse would be given of what the Doctor will be facing in the Christmas episode.

The Children In Need broadcast begins at 7.30pm, with the prequel scheduled to air between then and 8pm and the trailer set to go out at some point between 8.30pm and 9pm, although these timings may change.