How to watch the Doctor Who Christmas special online

Missing your annual dose of Time Lord festivities? The Doctor Who Christmas Special is back in its traditional Christmas Day slot for 2024, with Joy to the World set to bring holiday cheer to Whovians worldwide. Featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor alongside Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday, this festive adventure promises to be a memorable addition to the series’ Christmas legacy.

The special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, while international viewers can catch it on Disney+. While the exact broadcast time hasn’t been announced yet, the BBC’s traditional Christmas Day scheduling pattern will likely be followed.

We’ll only recommend official ways to watch the special, ensuring you get the best possible quality and support the show’s future. The episode is available through legitimate platforms worldwide, so there’s no need to risk unreliable unofficial sources.

If you’re traveling during the holiday season, don’t worry – we’ll show you how to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to watch UK TV from abroad.

How to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special from abroad

Luckily, accessing region-locked services is very easy with the right VPN. Read on for a quick, five-step guide to streaming Doctor Who abroad.

Here’s how to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special online from anywhere:

1. Start by choosing a suitable VPN. We recommend NordVPN but Surfshark and ExpressVPN are two fantastic alternatives.
2. Next, download the app, making sure to install it on any device you plan to stream on. Usually, you’ll be permitted five simultaneous connections, but this number varies.
3. Decide which of the official Doctor Who broadcasters you’d like to access.
4. Connect to one of your VPN’s servers in the required country. You’d use a British server to unblock BBC iPlayer, for instance.
5. Finally, try watching something. Your video should load right away, but if it doesn’t, clear your cookies and try again. If problems persist, switch servers or contact your VPN’s support team for more in-depth advice.

The 2024 Doctor Who Xmas special will be broadcast live, so we recommend ensuring your VPN works properly ahead of time. By spending a few minutes testing things in advance, you can avoid missing the start of the episode due to last-minute technical trouble. Many major VPNs offer around-the-clock support via live chat in case you need help troubleshooting.

How to watch the Doctor Who Xmas special for free on UK TV

The BBC produces Doctor Who, so it should be no surprise that the holiday special will be available exclusively on BBC iPlayer. The new episode will be shown live and available on demand shortly after airing. As such, there’s no need to worry about missing it if you have other plans on Christmas Day.

This service is free to use, although you must create an account before you can watch anything. Doing so only takes a minute, though, and while you’ll be asked for a UK postcode, any will work. Currently, all 13 newer seasons, alongside the 60th-anniversary specials, are available on-demand in case you’d like to catch up ahead of the special episode.

Perhaps the holiday special has you nostalgic for the old days of the series? If so, you’ll find 26 seasons of classic Doctor Who on Britbox. Normally, you’d have to pay £5.99 per month to watch, but there’s a 30-day free trial included. As such, you can sign up, watch your fill, and cancel to avoid being charged.

BBC iPlayer and Britbox are both geo-restricted. However, with a VPN, you’ll be able to access them normally from abroad. NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee that allows you to try it completely risk-free. If you’re not impressed, just cancel for a full refund.

Where else can I stream the Doctor Who Christmas Special online?

Disney+ is now the exclusive international home for Doctor Who, including the 2024 Christmas Special Joy to the World. The special will stream simultaneously with the UK broadcast on Christmas Day. You’ll need a Disney+ subscription to watch in your region, with pricing varying by country.

All recent Doctor Who content, including the 60th Anniversary Specials and what Disney+ calls Season 1 (technically Season 15), is available exclusively on Disney+.

For vintage Who fans, Britbox hosts all 26 seasons of classic Doctor Who (1963-1989). Britbox offers a seven-day free trial in most regions.

Traveling During the Holidays? If you’re away from home, you can still access your usual streaming service using a VPN. Simply connect to a server in your home country before logging into Disney+ or your preferred platform.

Important: The only exceptions to Disney+ distribution are the UK (where it airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer) and Ireland (where it’s available on BBC iPlayer). For all other international territories, Disney+ is your go-to destination for the Christmas special.

What’s the plot about?

The special centers around a futuristic hotel chain that uses time travel to sell unsold nights in historic hotels. The story follows the Doctor and a hotel guest named Joy as they navigate through various periods, with an underlying threat involving the Villengard attempting to grow a star on Earth.

Who’s starring in the special?

The main cast includes:

• Ncuti Gatwa, as the Fifteenth Doctor
• Nicola Coughlan as Joy
• Jonathan Aris as Melnak the Silurian
• Peter Benedict as Basil
• Additional cast members including Julia Watson, Niamh Marie Smith, and Phil Baxter

Who wrote the Christmas special?

Former showrunner Steven Moffat wrote the episode, marking his 50th script for Doctor Who. He took on the project when current showrunner Russell T Davies needed support with the Christmas special.

Will there be any monsters?

Yes! The special will feature a new Silurian character, and based on the preview clip, we’ll also see dinosaurs. The Villengard, known weapons manufacturers, will serve as the episode’s antagonists.

Is this a standalone episode?

Yes, like most Doctor Who Christmas specials, “Joy to the World” is designed for families to enjoy without requiring extensive knowledge of previous episodes.

Is there a trailer available?

Yes, the BBC released a preview clip during the Children in Need telethon on November 15. The clip shows the Doctor and Joy facing off against a dinosaur while discussing Villengard’s dangerous plan to grow a star on Earth.