Doctor Who feels like it has infinite reasons to celebrate. It is 60 years old this month, it has a flash new sugar daddy thanks to an international deal with Disney+, and it has moved on emphatically from the era of star Jodie Whittaker and writer Chris Chibnall, during which the show seemed to become smaller, looking inward when it should explode authoritatively in all directions. The most beloved showrunner of its modern era, Russell T Davies, is back – and his long-term choice for a new Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, smacks of hope and progression, a fresh start.
Before Gatwa arrives on 25 December, however, there is an extra set of gifts, like an Advent calendar that’s just as plush as your big Christmas present. Three special episodes temporarily re-introduce David Tennant as the Doctor and Catherine Tate as his companion Donna Noble, a combination not seen in the “Whoniverse” since 2010. Their comeback is a treat, a bonus – and the first of the new stories, The Star Beast, romps merrily, just as it should.
