'Doctor Who' Christmas Special Air Time and More!

BBC One has just released their Christmas schedule line up, which means one very important thing; Whovians now know when to shrug their familial holiday duties and turn on the telly!

This year's special, "Last Christmas," will be airing Christmas day on BBC One at 6:15PM across the pond and BBC America at 9/8C stateside. Come to think of it, with rumors of Jenna Coleman's impending exit, the title "Last Christmas" seems a little foreboding.

Fans of the show received a sneak peak at the special during the season finale, "Death in Heaven," when Nick Frost showed up in the TARDIS dressed as Santa Claus. Who, by the way, is perfect for this role in every single way. Frost will be returning as Saint Nick to join Clara and the Doctor for their (alleged) last adventure. Trapped on an Arctic base (i.e the North Pole), the trio set out to help a group of scientists that are under a deadly, alien attack. Making an appearance in the episode will be Patrick Troughton's son, Michael Troughton, as Professor Albert.

Showrunner Steven Moffat promises that he hasn't lost his mind, but freely admits that this is the craziest episode he has written. In an interview with Radio Times, he says "It's The Thing meets Miracle on 34th Street – the movie we've all been waiting for. It's certainly the strangest bloody thing I've ever written." He doesn't want fans to write the episode off, however, saying "I sense that the very people who think they might hate this, won't hate it at all. Of all the Christmas specials I've done, it's the one most like the paradigm Doctor Who episode."

If you haven't watched the trailer for the episode yet, consider this my early gift to you. While you're at it, see if you can spot Dan Starkey out of his Sontaran garb!



-Nowal Massari

New Paranormal Period Drama, 'The Living and The Dead' Coming to BBC America and BBC One

BBC America and BBC One have announced that they've greenlit a new six-episode 60-minute period drama called "The Living And The Dead." The drama will be co-written by BBC "Life On Mars" creators Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham, who will also be executive producers alongside Faith Penhale, and Katie McAleese. It is co-produced by BBC Wales Drama Production and BBC America in association with Monastic Productions for BBC One.

Details and setting from the press release:

Somerset, England, 1888. A land and a community on the edge of monumental change, on the great hinge between ancient traditional ways and an industrial, scientific future. A land of ghosts and myths, poltergeists and demons - if there was ever a time for those ghosts to rise out of the ground, this would be that time. At the heart of this small community is Nathan Appleby, a reluctant gentleman farmer who is obsessed with proving the existence of the afterlife.

In the new original drama, this complex and compelling man will investigate hauntings, paranormal happenings, and ghostly visitations, encouraged by the Society for Psychical Research. But as these terrifying investigations become ever more frequent and ever more scary, Nathan starts to see and hear disturbing things that he simply cannot have imagined. Will Nathan’s interest in the occult begin to threaten his family, his livelihood and even his sanity?

The cast of the new series has not yet been announced but according to Pharoah and Graham, “We are as excited about this show as anything since 'Life On Mars' and 'Ashes To Ashes.'" They promise scares and lots of emotional punch as well, “We want it to be moving, tender, sensual — and very, very scary.” No news on a release date but it is reported that the show will be distributed worldwide by BBC Worldwide. The release states that, "It will shoot in the West Country of England next year and casting will be announced in due course."

We'll keep you posted on when you'll be able to catch this latest scripted ghosty show from BBC.

-Larissa Mrykalo

'Doctor Who' Returning in August

Courtesy Doctor Who Official Twitter

Hear that sound in the distance? Could it be? After an eight month hiatus, the TARDIS is returning!

The official Twitter account for "Doctor Who" announced earlier this morning that the popular series will be hitting BBC One in August, along with a teaser photo that features the silhouette of new Doctor, Peter Capaldi, inside of the TARDIS.

A short while later, they also linked followers to the first teaser "trailer" for the upcoming series eight. Check it out below and stay tuned for all the latest info!

-Nowal Massari