Doctor-Who-Christmas-Special-2013-sliceNot only did the BBC choose to use tonight’s Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special to launch a new trailer for Sherlock Season 3, they’ve also launched the first teaser trailer for the Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013.

Written by current showrunner Steven Moffat, the episode will mark the final appearance of Matt Smith, who serves as the Eleventh Doctor. And after making a cameo in tonight’s special anniversary episode, Peter Capaldi will become the Twelfth Doctor in anticipation of next year’s eighth season.

This Christmas… Silence will fall!

Ben Wheatley, one of the most promising directors to emerge from our shores in recent memory, has signed on to helm the first two episodes of the new season, with filming expected to get underway early in the New Year.

Capaldi will be joined by the current companion, Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman), who first appeared in last year’s Christmas special, The Snowmen.

There’s still no official premiere date for Series 8 next year, though it’s expected that it will begin in the late summer / early autumn.

In the meantime, you can say goodbye to Smith as the Eleventh Doctor on Christmas Day on BBC One, in what is sure to be one of the most-watched programmes of the holiday season, if not the entire year.

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