BBC offers first look at 'Doctor Who' festive special 'Revolution of the Daleks'

The BBC has unveiled our first look at the upcoming Doctor Who festive special, which will bring back the Daleks once again.

Revolution of the Daleks will air on the BBC over the Christmas and New Year period, though the specific airdate has not yet been confirmed.

It has been written by showrunner Chris Chibnall and directed by Lee Haven Jones, who previously helmed series 12 episodes Spyfall: Part Two and Orphan 55.

Read more: David Tennant pips Jodie Whittaker to title of favourite Doctor

The story will feature the Doctor’s companions forced to deal with a “disturbing plan” involving a Dalek on their own, with the Time Lord “locked away in a high-security alien prison”.

One of two first-look images features Jodie Whittaker’s Doctor struggling with her lengthy imprisonment, while the other shows Graham (Bradley Walsh), Yaz (Mandip Gill) and Ryan (Tosin Cole) pondering their next move.

The new special will be the first episode of Doctor Who since series 12 finale The Timeless Children aired in March.

That episode saw the Doctor return her friends to Earth, before she was arrested by a Judoon and transported to an asteroid prison.

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Revolution of the Daleks was filmed before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but the upcoming series 13 was not so lucky and it has been suggested there might be an enforced break for the show in 2021.

Digital Spy recently reported, though, that the cast and crew are currently set to begin filming before the end of this year, which might allow audiences to get their Doctor Who fix next year as planned.

Whittaker has stepped up to reassure fans of the show during the pandemic, delivering several messages to the show’s fans in character.

“Remember, you’ll get through this,” she said in one message, adding: “Darkness never prevails.”

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Whittaker will return to the TARDIS for the new series — her third in the role as the first female star to portray the Doctor.

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