Fans react to the Doctor Who Christmas special, Twice Upon A Time
Jenna Coleman was heralded as she returned to Doctor Who on Christmas Day.
The actress’s Clara Oswald, assistant to both the Eleventh and Twelfth Time Lord, appeared in a memory during the festive episode.
She told Peter Capaldi’s Doctor: “Hello you stupid old man … don’t go forgetting me again, because, quite frankly, that was offensive,” moments before he was regenerated.
The emotional episode also featured appearances from Mark Gatiss, Pearl Mackie, Matt Lucas and David Bradley as the First Doctor.
Viewers were delighted to see Coleman’s Clara return – with one fan saying she had ‘saved Christmas’…
Doctor Who was worth watching just to see Jenna Coleman as Clara again for a few seconds… #DoctorWho
— Simon Meyrick (@SimonMeyrick) December 25, 2017
Safe to say … the lovely @Jenna_Coleman_ has saved Christmas! #DoctorWho pic.twitter.com/yVCBQLV7Gc
— Andrew Ralph (@AndrewRalphPC) December 25, 2017
Thank you @Jenna_Coleman_ for the lovely message to #PeterCapaldi You two are forever my TARDIS team, glad you were there for Peter’s final bow. Much love to you both! ❤️❤️ #DoctorWhoXmas #DoctorWho
— Christine 🎸🕶 💕🍁❄️ (@time_soulmates) December 25, 2017
Coleman’s surprise appearance came as Jodie Whittaker made her debut.
The actress embarked on her Doctor Who journey with a bang as she fell from the Tardis moments after transforming into the Time Lord.
As Peter Capaldi’s Doctor regenerated in the show’s Christmas Day special, the first ever female to take the role uttered her first lines and was warmly welcomed by fans.
In the actress’s native Yorkshire accent, Whittaker’s Time Lord said, “Ahh brilliant” as she got her first glance of the Tardis controls.
The time travelling vehicle then span out of control with the Thirteenth doctor falling through its open doors into space.
The first sight of Whittaker in the sci-fi show excited fans on social media, with fans hailing her ‘stunning’ entrance whilst also bidding farewell to Capaldi…
We'll miss you, Peter Capaldi. But looking really forward to seeing Jodie Whittaker take on the role – what an entrance! #DoctorWho
— George Aylett (@GeorgeAylett) December 25, 2017
#DoctorWho. No specific spoilers here… but that was such a turbulent emotional battlefield. Superb swansong for Peter, and brilliant intro for Jodie. The First Doctor's lines showed how the world has changed, and how the show changes with it. Absolutely stunning.
— Stewart Bint (@AuthorSJB) December 25, 2017
I just want to say: thank you Peter Capaldi for portraying an incredible, deep, emotional and kind Doctor who showed us it’s ok to be scared of change and to never give up. And thank YOU for always being kind, warm and for always having a smile for everyone. #DoctorWho
— valentina | dw spoilers (@magicofvenice) December 25, 2017
So bye bye Peter Capaldi and hello Jodie Whitaker! #DoctorWho
And bye bye to Steven Moffat who is without question the best writer to have ever graced Doctor Who and is leaving it extremely ripe for the future.— Benji_W (@Benjamin_Huish) December 25, 2017
Fab #DoctorWho Peter has been a marvellolous incarnation but so pleased to see Jodi taking over- what a great ending…
— Dan Scoggins (@DobroDan) December 25, 2017
A perfect story with just the right amount of nostalgia and sentiment, I’ll miss Peter Capaldi #DoctorWho
— John (@johnedwards996) December 25, 2017
Capaldi’s last words as the Time Lord included the line: “Never be cruel, never be cowardly … Remember hate is always foolish, and love is always wise.”
The emotional instalment also featured David Bradley as the first ever Doctor, the Christmas truce of the First World War, and even saw the Doctor meet the grandfather of one of his greatest friends, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
Moffat and Capaldi’s exit marks a significant change for the BBC show, with Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall taking on the role of showrunner.
