Doctor Who: Spoiler alert!

Christmas special cast and storyline details revealed...

10:16 22 September 2011

The BBC has revealed details of the Doctor Who Christmas special, penned by Steven Moffat.

Production has now started on the festive edition on the popular sci-fi show, which will see Matt Smith's Doctor embark on a magical and mysterious adventure in war-torn England with a young widow and her two children.

Outnumbered actress Claire Skinner and comedian Bill Bailey are both set to join Smith, alongside The Fast Show's Arabella Weir and Armstrong and Miller's Alexander Armstrong.

Lead writer Moffat commented:

"The Doctor at Christmas - nothing is more fun to write. Maybe because it's so his kind of day - everything's bright and shiny, everybody's having a laugh, and nobody minds if you wear a really stupid hat.

"Of all the Doctors, Matt Smith's is the one that was born for this time of year - so it's the best news possible that he's heading back down the chimney."

The special, set during the Second World War, will see Madge Arwell, played by Skinner, and her two children evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset.

Little do they know that they are set to enter a magical new world and learn that a Time Lord never forgets his debts.

This marks Matt Smith's second outing as the Doctor at Christmas time and will follow hot on the heels of the successful 2011 series, currently airing on BBC One until October.

Filming on the special will continue until mid-October.