Doctor Who – The Church on Ruby Road spoiler review
Our verdict – with spoilers – of the 2023 Christmas special and how it sets up future episodes.
The next era of Doctor Who is officially under way, with the 2023 Christmas special marking beginnings of a very big adventure for the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson).
The Church on Ruby Road saw the newly regenerated bigenerated Doctor rescue a kidnapped baby from a horde of hungry goblins and travel back in time to prevent new friend Ruby from being erased from history.
The episode also set up a number of major mysteries that we can expect to see explored in the show's next season, set to air in 2024.
Who are Ruby's birth parents? Was the hooded figure who abandoned an infant Ruby her birth mother? And who exactly is Mrs Flood (Anita Dobson), Ruby's neighbour who seems to know rather more about space/time travel than she should?
In our video review, RadioTimes.com's Morgan Jeffery (Executive Editor) and James Hibbs (Drama Writer) give their verdict on the festive special, discussing its "fantastical" atmosphere, the performances of our new TARDIS duo and the episode's all-singing, all-dancing twist.
Plus, theories are shared as to the true identity of that hooded figure and Mrs Flood – could the Master play into all of this somehow?
Michelle Greenidge – who plays Ruby's adoptive mother Carla Sunday – has hinted that fans 'aren't ready' for the twists and turns to come in the next season.
"I don't think the audience are going to be ready," she said. "It is incredible. The story arc, the writing... you'll be gripped. I'm so ecstatic with how things have played out."
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Guest stars including Aneurin Barnard, Indira Varma, Lenny Rush and Jonathan Groff will join leads Gatwa and Gibson for the new episodes.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has also revealed that an upcoming story will feature the Beatles as characters.
Read more:
- Doctor Who's Millie Gibson says watching Ncuti Gatwa scene made her cry
- Doctor Who boss promises "big battle" at Abbey Road in Beatles episode
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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Authors
Morgan Jeffery is the Digital Editor for Radio Times, overseeing all editorial output across the brand's digital platforms. He was previously TV Editor at Digital Spy and has featured as a TV expert on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live and Sky Atlantic.
