Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV
  3. Sci-Fi Shows
  4. Doctor Who

New Doctor Who Christmas special trailer teases an emotional cameo from Ruby Sunday following her departure from the TARDIS

News
By Emily Murray published 5 December 2024

Does the new teaser for 'Joy to the World' tease Ruby's return?

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday and Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor in Doctor Who
(Image credit: BBC)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Disney Plus has dropped a new and very festive trailer for the upcoming Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special 'Joy to the World' – and one moment in particular has us very intrigued.

You can watch the teaser here:

YouTube YouTube
Watch On

Set to some Christmassy music, we see Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor meet Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan's Joy at the Time Hotel, an establishment which allows its guests to visit moments in history. As the pair band together for a top secret mission, we see them encounter dinosaurs to Elizabethans as they travel throughout time.

Latest Videos From
Watch full video here:

However, the part that has our eyebrows raised is the Doctor bumping into what seems to be a future version of himself. Asking what on Earth is happening, this future Doctor avoids all these questions, which leads a very frustrated Doctor to exclaim: "Why do you have to be mysterious all the time? That's why everyone leaves you, that is why you are always alone."

As these words are uttered, we cut to a scene of Millie Gibson's companion Ruby Sunday hugging the Doctor in the TARDIS. Now, as you may recall Ruby said farewell to the Doctor in last season's emotional finale, 'Empire of Death'. And if you really have a good memory, you'll recognize this footage as being from that very episode, meaning it is not new for this trailer and is being reused to help emphasize that the Doctor is now truly alone.

You may like
  • Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who season 2 Doctor Who showrunner makes shock departure and Christmas special canceled as sci-fi classic is set to be rebooted
  • Docto Who season 2 finale Doctor Who's Christmas cancelation is the best thing that could happen to the show
  • The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) regenerates in Doctor Who. Doctor Who showrunner says a new Doctor will be announced in "about a week or two weeks"

But this is Doctor Who and they do love to tease us, so maybe this glimpse of Ruby is teasing that she will have a cameo in the upcoming special. We do already know that Gibson's companion will appear in episodes of Doctor Who season 2 and therefore an appearance in this special is not off the cards. In fact, it would be a shame if she doesn't appear, given how beloved the character is.

If she does appear it is sure to be an emotional reunion for the pair but hey – what even is Christmas Day without shedding some tears over Doctor Who.

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The Doctor Who Christmas special 'Joy to the World' airs on Christmas Day on BBC One in the UK and streams via Disney Plus in all other territories. In the meantime, here's the best shows on Disney Plus you can watch right now.

CATEGORIES
Disney Plus Streaming Services
Emily Murray
Emily Murray
Social Links Navigation
Writer

Emily Murray is a former Entertainment Editor of GamesRadar+, once responsible for overseeing all the online content for Total Film and SFX magazine. Emily has previously worked for the BBC, Zavvi, UNILAD, Yahoo, Digital Spy and more. When Emily isn't writing about film and TV, she can be found cuddling her cat on the sofa, likely bingeing New Girl for the millionth time (Nick Miller is the love of my life). You can also find her waxing lyrical about Christopher Nolan on a podcast dedicated to his filmography.

Read more
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who season 2
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who showrunner makes shock departure and Christmas special canceled as sci-fi classic is set to be rebooted
 
 
Docto Who season 2 finale
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who's Christmas cancelation is the best thing that could happen to the show
 
 
The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) regenerates in Doctor Who.
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who showrunner says a new Doctor will be announced in "about a week or two weeks"
 
 
Peter Capaldi as the Doctor in Doctor Who
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who star says the show has become "a bit too big" and he doesn't know "why people take it so seriously"
 
 
Doctor Who
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who could be off air for 5 years industry insiders predict, but it will survive like "Marvel"
 
 
Docto Who season 2 finale
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa jokes about the sci-fi show's low viewership and baffling Billie Piper regeneration
 
 
Latest in Sci Fi Shows
Peter Sarsgaard as Wiles in The Bride
Sci-Fi Shows The Last of Us season 3 is adding The Batman star as another show-original Seraphite character
 
 
Doctor Who
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who could be off air for 5 years industry insiders predict, but it will survive like "Marvel"
 
 
Stranger Things
Sci-Fi Shows David Harbour says he's developing "several" projects with Stranger Things co-star Millie Bobby Brown
 
 
Docto Who season 2 finale
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who's Christmas cancelation is the best thing that could happen to the show
 
 
Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who season 2
Sci-Fi Shows Doctor Who showrunner makes shock departure and Christmas special canceled as sci-fi classic is set to be rebooted
 
 
Sam Witwer as Maul in Maul – Shadow Lord
Star Wars Movies Star Wars fans are "over the timeline between" the prequels and original trilogy
 
 
Latest in News
Rayman, Barbara, and Grand Minimus appear perplexed in one of Rayman Legends Retold's new cutscenes
Games EU rules against Stop Killing Games, but after a 2-year campaign founder insists change is coming
 
 
GTA 6
Grand Theft Auto Solo dev hopes to "beat the real GTA 6 to launch" with their own, AI-fueled version
 
 
A Colonial Marine looking concerned stares off into the distance amidst sparks
Tabletop Gaming Alien RPG gets harrowing new campaign following a hapless team of Colonial Marines
 
 
Team Fortress 2 screenshot of the Heavy shouting
PC Gaming Even more games on Steam are using AI: among over 8,600 demos in this week's Next Fest event, nearly 1,700 use AI
 
 
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 player figures out where the RPG's most famous fountain gets its water
 
 
Arc Raiders raider in skull cap
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders gives players what they asked for as "quieter period" leaves some bored
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Rayman, Barbara, and Grand Minimus appear perplexed in one of Rayman Legends Retold's new cutscenes
    1
    EU rules against Stop Killing Games, but after a 2-year campaign founder insists change is coming
  2. 2
    How to complete the Arc Raiders Forgotten Relics event
  3. 3
    Solo dev hopes to "beat the real GTA 6 to launch" with their own, AI-fueled version
  4. 4
    Don't wait for Prime Day; my favorite Meta Quest 3 charging dock has dropped to its lowest-ever price
  5. 5
    Even more games on Steam are using AI: among over 8,600 demos in this week's Next Fest event, nearly 1,700 use AI

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...