Doctor Who - Christmas 2014 Title Revealed/Series 9 News & Rumours

With the eighth series currently finished up and Christmas only a month away (exactly), some news about Doctor Who has surfaced.

First of all, the title for the Christmas episode has been confirmed as Last Christmas. A synopsis from the BBC has been released ...

It’s Christmas in the North Pole when the Doctor and Clara return to BBC AMERICA in an all-new Christmas special. Last year’s special featured the emotional regeneration that marked the start of Peter Capaldi’s run as the Twelfth Doctor. This year the Time Lord and his companion are in for an all-new adventure as stars Capaldi and Jenna Coleman are joined by Nick Frost (The Worlds End, Shaun of the Dead) as Santa Claus! Previously announced guest stars include Michael Troughton (Breathless, The New Statesman), son of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, Natalie Gumede (Coronation Street, Strictly Come Dancing), Faye Marsay (Pride, The White Queen), and Nathan McMullen (Misfits, Casualty). Written by Emmy® Award winner Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Coupling) and directed by Paul Wilmshurst (Strike Back, Combat Kids), the 2014 Christmas Special will air on BBC1 and BBC America.

Now whether or not this mean a final Christmas for the Doctor and Clara remains to be seen, but it's certainly a possibility, isn't it? A brief scene between the Doctor, Clara and Frost's Santa was released during the recent Children In Need on BBC1.

Also, did you recently enjoy Michelle Gomez's version of the Master in the two part finale, Dark Water/Death In Heaven? Well, it seems that according to the actress's recent interview with DWM that she might be reprising the role for Series 9. When asked if her character would return, Gomez answered,  “‘Yes’ is my answer. I’ll be back. Can I say that? Am I allowed? If not… well, I guess we’ll have to see how she’s received…". It's also been confirmed (though it was never in any doubt) that Peter Capaldi will be back for the ninth series but Jenna Coleman has yet to sign up. Which certainly adds some credence that Clara could be leaving properly at Christmas then, right?

Meanwhile with the ninth series set to enter production, one writer seemingly confirmed (other than Steven Moffat naturally) has been Catherine Tregenna, thanks to a recent update to her online TV. Tregenna, whose credits include The Fixer and Law & Order: UK, also penned the Torchwood episodes Out Of Time, Captain Jack Harkness, Meat and Adam. With so much discussion as to the lack of female writers under Moffat's era, it's nice that the upcoming series will at least feature one and Tregenna's previous work definitely proves that she's a great fit for the show as well.

Christmas 2014/Series 9 News: http://www.spoilertv.com/search/label/Doctor%20Who

Doctor Who's eighth series is currently available on DVD. Last Christmas will air on BBC1 and BBCAmerica on Christmas Day. Series 9 begins filming in January 2015.