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"The Time of the Doctor" is the third installment in a loose trilogy of episodes, following "The Name of the Doctor" and "The Day of the Doctor", which together serve as the Eleventh Doctor's swan song. The episode addresses numerous plot threads developed over the course of Smith's tenure, including the prophecy of the Silence and the Doctor's fate on the planet Trenzalore. "The Time of the Doctor" is also the 800th individual episode of Doctor Who, the ninth Christmas special since the show's 2005 revival, and Matt Smith's fourth and final Christmas Special as the Eleventh Doctor.
Plot
A synopsis released on the BBC website read: "Orbiting a quiet backwater planet, the massed forces of the universe's deadliest species gather, drawn to a mysterious message that echoes out to the stars. Among them, the Doctor. Rescuing Clara from a family Christmas dinner, the Time Lord and his companion must learn what this enigmatic signal means for his own fate and that of the universe."
As revealed in the first trailer, Tasha Lem, someone from the Doctor's past, stands with what looks like the Church and proclaims "The Siege of Trenzalore is now begun!" This refers to the prophecy, said by the character Dorium Maldovar, stating that on the fields of Trenzalore at the fall of the Eleventh, the Silence will fall when the oldest question in the universe, "Doctor who?", is asked.
Production
Matt Smith said filming would commence on the episode when he had finished work on the film How to Catch a Monster. He later revealed filming would start in September. The episode will be directed by Jamie Payne, who previously directed the episode "Hide". The read-through from the Christmas special took place on 4 September 2013.
In August 2013, Moffat stated in an interview that the Christmas episode would tie together the remaining story strands from the Eleventh Doctor era, some of which were introduced as far back as "The Eleventh Hour". Production on the episode was scheduled to start on 8 September. Owing to his work on the film How to Catch a Monster, which required him to have a buzz cut, Matt Smith had to wear a wig to mimic the Doctor's hairstyle. In August 2013, it was revealed that the Cybermen would feature in the Christmas episode, when one of the show's regular stunt artists, Darrelle "Daz" Parker, tweeted that she would be playing a Cyberman. This would make it the second time that the Cybermen have appeared in a regeneration story, following The Tenth Planet in 1966, and the second time the Cybermen have appeared in a Christmas special, after "The Next Doctor" in 2008.
On 23 November 2013, the teaser trailer released on BBC One after "The Day of the Doctor" revealed that the Daleks, Weeping Angels, and the Silence would also be appearing in the episode, Sontaran ships are visible on the poster and trailer, Silurian ships are also seen, although their role, like that of the Cybermen, is unknown. Although the Daleks and the Cybermen had previously met in "Doomsday" and "The Pandorica Opens", this marks the first time that the six species have appeared in an episode together. Revealed in the trailer is the Doctor's return to Trenzalore and the tagline "Silence Will Fall", which has been repeated through Matt Smith's run as the Doctor.
It has been revealed in the Doctor Who magazine that 'The Question' has not yet been asked, and that the events in 'The Name of the Doctor' did not tie up the First Question storyline.
Recasting the Doctor
On 1 June, the BBC announced that Smith would be departing the series after almost four years, with the Christmas special episode being the episode of transition between Smith's Doctor and the next regeneration. The announcement sparked media and fan speculation as to who the next Doctor might be. It was announced on 4 August 2013, during a special broadcast – Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor – that the thirteenth regeneration, twelfth incarnation of the Doctor is to be played by Peter Capaldi. Although it was originally announced that Capaldi would debut as the new Doctor at some point during the Christmas special, he actually debuted in a cameo appearance in "The Day of the Doctor", in which only his hand and the upper part of his face are visible.
Fake snow at Puzzlewood for filming.
Filming
Filming for the episode began on 8 September 2013. On 10 September, Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman were seen filming on location in Cardiff. The location was Lydstep Flats, which have been previously used in Series 1 and 2 as the Powell Estate where Rose Tyler lived with her mother Jackie. On 19 September 2013, scenes were being filmed in the evening at Puzzlewood with fake snow being scattered over certain areas. On 5 October 2013, Doctor Who producer Marcus Wilson revealed via Twitter that filming was complete.
Marketing
Trailers
A sneak preview for the episode was shown after the simulcast of "The Day of the Doctor", confirming the appearance of the Cybermen and revealing the inclusion of the Silence, Daleks, Sontaran and Weeping Angels, as well as confirming the Doctor's return to the planet Trenzalore. The title and a poster were released on 26 November. In the BBC Christmas 2013 trailer, there were clips also confirming the Daleks and the Cybermen. Through the online Doctor Who "Adventure Calendar", more images were released in December. On 11 December, the BBC released a 35 second trailer in which the Daleks pronounce "The Doctor is Regenerating!" there is also the Silence, Cybermen, members of the Church featured in "The Time of Angels"/"Flesh and Stone" and "A Good Man Goes to War", Clara and the Doctor featured in the clip. On 17 December 2013, BBC One released another Christmas trailer, featuring Clara calling the Doctor during a Cyberman attack on the TARDIS.
Broadcast
"The Time of the Doctor" will be broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on Christmas Day 2013. It will also air on 25 December in the United States on BBC America, in Canada on Space, in Germany on Fox and in Israel on yes Action. In Australia it will air 26 December on ABC1, and in New Zealand, it will screen on Prime Television during Boxing Day evening.
Home media
"The Time of the Doctor" is due to be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the United Kingdom on 20 January 2014, in Australia on 22 January 2014 and in the United States on 4 March 2014. It will be accompanied with a behind-the-scenes feature and two documentaries. The UK and Australian releases will additionally come with an extra DVD featuring the Eleventh Doctor's previous Christmas specials, "A Christmas Carol", "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" and "The Snowmen".
Official poster
