A favorite Christmas tradition? A new Doctor Who special, of course! It was an annual event for years, then there was a brief break where there were New Year’s specials (which just isn’t the same), and then, with Russell T Davies returning as showrunner for the new seasons, those episodes returned. And while there isn’t a new one for 2025, there will be one in 2026. Details like exactly who it will star and what will happen — there are so many questions after Billie Piper‘s return — have yet to be revealed.
When we spoke with Davies and Steven Moffat (who wrote the 2024 Christmas special “Joy to the World”), we asked them their favorite episodes of each other’s. And we have to admit: Their arguments did have some influence on our own ranking of the Doctor Who Christmas specials (just when it came to deciding the final order of the top 2). From the first episode with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) to the Eleventh (Matt Smith) putting a twist on a classic tale to the Twelfth (Peter Capaldi) giving River Song (Alex Kingston) a final date, there’s something as magical about these stories as the holiday itself.
Scroll down to check out our ranking, then let us know which Christmas special tops your list in the comments section.
Doctor Who, Streaming now, Disney+
