‘Doctor Who’ season 9 Christmas Special: Steven Moffat talks reason for Alex Kingston’s return

Tonight marks the season 9 finale for “Doctor Who,” but it is not the final episode of the year. Once again, there will be a particular story airing on Christmas Day, and it will be one that brings back a classic character in Alex Kingston’s River Song.

So why bring back the Doctor’s wife now? As it turns out it was somewhat of a person decision for Steven Moffat as he started to look at what was his entire career for the show and whether or not he could return. Speaking to Digital Spy, he explained that this would be his way of leaving with a bang, provided that he was not returning for another season with the show:

“I hadn’t signed for next year at that point. I have now – unless they fire me, which would be quite sensible! … I thought it might be the last one, so to get River in – that was bringing me full-circle.”

Moffat also noted to the publication that this time around, you can anticipate something that is a little bit more comedic than what we have had on Christmas Day over the past couple of years, which have focused on everything from death to regeneration to legacy:

“Doctor Who‘s got to be a bit scary – but I think this is quite a funny Christmas special … Last year, Father Christmas was in it, but it was actually quite dark. This year, because the series itself goes quite dark towards the end, we bring it back up. It’s Mr and Mrs Who back in action – it’s mainly one long domestic in space, with a big robot!”

We’ll be back later with more coverage of the finale, but we anticipate it being a rather difficult affair for Twelve to get through. You can see Peter Capaldi’s preview to it now by heading over to the link here! Also, you can sign up right here in the event you want some other TV news on everything we cover, sent right over to you via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: BBC.)