'Doctor Who' Season 9 Christmas Special: EP Steven Moffat Explains Why River Song Is Returning
The Season 9 finale episode of the British sci-fi television show "Doctor Who" aired on Saturday, Dec. 5, but it is not the last "Doctor Who" episode of the year. As per tradition, there will again be a special story airing on Christmas Day. This year, that episode is called "The Husbands of River Song" and it will be the eleventh Christmas special since "Doctor Who" was revived in 2005. It will also mark the return of the English actress Alex Kingston as River Song, the Doctor's wife. It will be Kingston's first appearance alongside the Twelfth Doctor, as portrayed by Scottish actor Peter Capaldi.
The last time Kingston played the role of River Song was in 2013's "The Name of the Doctor," in which she acted alongside Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. So why bring back River Song now? "Doctor Who" head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat recently opened up to the press and explained that casting River Song was a very personal decision and was, in fact, prompted by the need to make his mark on the show, just in case he wouldn't be returning for another season.
As reported by Digital Spy, Moffat said: "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."
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The "Doctor Who" showrunner also talked about what fans can expect from the upcoming episode, saying: "Doctor Who's got to be a bit scary – but I think this is quite a funny Christmas special." He adds, "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!"
"The Husbands of River Song," the 2015 Doctor Who Christmas Special, will be in theaters in the U.S. on Dec. 28 and 29. The Christmas special will include an exclusive interview with Alex Kingston, along with a special behind-the-scenes featurette starring Capaldi, Moffat, and more.
