Every New Doctor Who Christmas and New Years special, ranked

It’s been almost been 20 years since Doctor Who was revived for a new audience, and the show has brought us lots of Christmas and New Years specials since then. Although Christopher Eccleston rang in this new era with his Ningth Doctor in 2005, David Tennant's Tenth Doctor was the first to star in a holiday special.

We're going to rank every holiday special of the New Who era, including the New Years specials produced during Jodie Whittaker's run as the Thirteenth Doctor. Let's begin!

17. "Resolution" — 2019

The Doctor: Jodie Whitaker, the Thirteenth Doctor

Director: Chris Chibnall

While “Resolution” is certainly a visually impressive episode, it's dragged down by a lack of urgency and imagination. This is the first time we see Thirteen meet Daleks. And sure, The Doctor has come across Daleks plenty of times up to this point, but each time a new regeneration meets a Dalek, there is a powerful punch to it. This episode didn’t have that.

It’s hard to care about Charlotte Richie, the human who is being possessed by a Dalek mutant. Overall, the deaths in this episode have no emotional impact, especially with Thirteen not even being around the individuals at the time.

16. "Revolution of the Daleks" — 2021

The Doctor: Jodie Whitaker, the Thirteenth Doctor

Director: Chris Chibnall

With Thirteen being imprisoned and the return of Captain Jack Harkness, "Revolution of the Daleks" had some promise. The problem is that Jack didn’t seem to be the same Jack that we'd came to know and love during his earlier appearances in the series. There was just something missing in the writing.

On top of that, Ryan’s sudden fears at the end leading to him leaving the group weren’t realistic. This is something that should have taken a season to build up to. "Revolution of the Daleks" passes the time, but it wasn’t the big return of the series expected after a year off due to the pandemic.

15. "The Doctor, The Widow, and the Wardrobe" — 2011

The Doctor: Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

There is some beautiful scenery throughout this episode; it certainly brings the winter wonderland vibe that we need for a Christmas story. The story of a mother trying to do the best for her children is heartbreaking and raises a lot of questions about parenting choices.

That said, the episode takes a long time to get into the crux of the matter. We spend far too long with Madge following her children and Eleven through the forest. This would have made a great middle story for a season, but it doesn’t quite work as a Christmas special.

14. "The Return of Mysterio" — 2016

The Doctor: Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

This is a truly standalone Christmas special. "The Return of Mysterio" has a lot of fun parodying superhero movie, especially the 1978 Superman movie. And it still finds time to continue developing some long-running storylines.

This episode came out just before a wider sense of superhero fatigue started to set in. It’s not one to watch if you’re just done with Marvel, DC, and everything in between.

We get to see a mad glint in Twelve’s eye as he flies around and crashes into things, a reminder that The Doctor isn’t the best pilot. This is a fun but somewhat forgettable episode.

13. "A Christmas Carol" — 2011

The Doctor: Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

We have another very Christmasy episode of Doctor Who. This is what then-showrunner Steven Moffat does, and it works well in most circumstances. This episode is a take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol; it's certainly a fun way to do a one-off holiday special.

Including singer Katherine Jenkins in her acting debut was more fan service than anything else. There isn’t that much depth to her character, although her redemptive story about about choosing life over death — and sometimes choosing death over life — is interesting. This is a constant theme throughout Doctor Who, especially at this point in the series.

"A Christmas Carol" is a cute episode, but not overly memorable.

12. "Voyage of the Damned" — 2007

The Doctor: David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

This was a good Christmas special at the time and provided just what was needed for the Tenth Doctor's development. It just hasn’t quite held up against future Christmas specials.

The idea of having the Doctor on the Titanic, and for it to be an alien ship, is perfect. Kylie Minogue shows up, but just as a showy cameo; remember that she was in Neighbours before her singing career took off. She can actually act and brought her character to life. How many other people wanted to see her become a companion for Ten?

There were plenty of human elements to this story to draw us in. There’s also plenty of nonsense, which is what Doctor Who is all about.

11. "The Next Doctor" — 2008

The Doctor: David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

One of the issues with this episode was that there was a lot of publicity at the time that David Morrissey would be the next actor to play the Doctor, something that didn't end up happening. The series certainly seemed to play into that with this Christmas special. It became a bit of a distraction throughout the episode, but it’s not too bad when you rewatch and forget that noise.

Dervla Kirwan is a great one-off villain, and having the Cybermen step in was a good twist. Who doesn’t love the Cybermen? Sometimes, you just need a well-known villain to carry the story.

There are some funny moments, but overall, this is yet another somewhat forgettable Christmas special.

10. "Eve of the Daleks" — 2022

The Doctor: Jodie Whitaker, the Thirteenth Doctor

Director: Chris Chibnall

I don’t completely hate Jodie Whitaker’s run as the Doctor. Thirteen had some redeemable qualities and I would have loved to see her story play out with some better writing. This Christmas special is one of my favorite episodes from her regeneration.

"Eve of the Daleks" has a smaller cast and is set in an enclosed location, which adds to the tension. The Daleks seem that much more scary when there's nowhere to run. I’m a sucker for time loops as well, so that immediately drew me in. Having that loop decay was the icing on the cake.

I do have an issue with the romance subplot, but that’s mostly because I think that kind of thing is overused.

9. "The Snowmen" — 2012

The Doctor: Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

When “The Snowmen” first aired, I loved it. Like “Voyage of the Damned,” this is just one of those specials that hasn’t quite stood up against the others that have aired since. There’s nothing wrong with that!

This is the second time that we meet Jenna Coleman’s Clara. Only we know it, though. Ten didn’t get to see Coleman’s face in his episode when it turned out that she was a Dalek. Eleven has no idea that he starts off the story of The Impossible Girl, and it’s something that I loved the first time watching this.

We also get the introduction and backstory of The Great Intelligence in the New Who era. The last time the Great Intelligence was seen was during the run of the Second Doctor, and it would have been easy for a lot of people to forget it, if they'd ever heard of it at all. This was a great example of the show making excellent use of its long history.

8. "The Christmas Invasion" — 2005

The Doctor: David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

The first-ever Christmas special of the New Who era certainly set the standard for everything to come. It is a wonderful episode in terms of story, and it brilliantly sets up David Tennant as the new Doctor. Remember, this episode came straight after Christopher Eccleston’s time as the Ninth Doctor, and we had no idea what to expect.

We don’t get a lot of time with Ten in this episode. Instead, the focus is on the Doctor's companion Rose, who uses everything Nine taught her to help protect the world. I liked Rose as a companion, and this episode certainly helped to cement her as someone capable and smart.

There was also a great reintroduction of Harriet Jones and UNIT. Everything felt naturally built into the story, and it's a fun one to rewatch.

7. "The Time of the Doctor" — 2013

The Doctor: Matt Smith, the Eleventh Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

Did you ever think you would see The Doctor grow old? I don’t think anyone did, and that’s what makes “The Time of the Doctor” such a great episode. We see him promise to defend one town forever.

While all that goes on, Clara is with her own family. The two storylines are juxtaposed in a way that makes you think the show is coming to an end.

One of the great things about watching this at the time was that it answered questions about how the Doctor would be able to regenerate again. He was running out of chances. However, there are issues rewatching it when you know he actually ran out of regenerations at least two regenerations before this, since it ends up there were other regenerations we didn't know about.

6. "The Runaway Bride" — 2006

The Doctor: David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

Please don’t get me wrong; I love the introduction of Donna Noble. I wasn’t sure what to think of actor Catherine Tate appearing in a Doctor Who Christmas special, but I immediately fell in love and wanted more. Even though this special is eclipsed by a few others than came after, it’s still brilliant.

Once again, the Doctor has to save the world, but the focus of this stroy is on how Donna is unlike many of the other the Doctor has come across. Donna reacts to the TARDIS the way a normal person might. She’s dismissive of and confused by it all.

We also get to see a side to the Doctor that isn’t usually shown. "The Runaway Bride" sets up so much for future episodes when Donna becomes a companion.

5. "The Church on Ruby Road" — 2023

The Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa, the Fifthteenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

I certainly felt like we got the real Doctor Who with the 60th anniversary specials and then this Christmas special. The Doctor was having fun again. This special certainly helps bridge the gap between eras.

There is a kind of Labyrinth feel to the episode which took me out of the story a little bit. However, the music, the fun, and the absurdity of the story come together very well. It was an entertaining journey for the whole family.

This episode set the tone for what to expect as Gatwa took on the iconic role. It also set up the mystery of his companion Ruby Sunday, which would take us through the next season.

4. "Last Christmas" — 2014

The Doctor: Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

Sometimes, you do just want to see something different, and “Last Christmas” offers that. Demon Crabs? They’re strangely fun and intriguing, even though they don’t seem like they should work.

"Last Christmas" is unmistably a Christmas special. There’s the inclusion of Santa, the solstice, and just that feeling of winter everywhere. You know what you’re watching as soon as you put it on.

This also appeared to be the last story for Clara, and there are moments that feel weighty and final. Jenna Coleman eventually agreed to stay on as Clara, and the story was slightly reworked. "Last Christmas sets up season 9 perfectly.

3. "The End of Time, Parts One and Two" — 2009

The Doctor: David Tennant, the Tenth Doctor

Director: Russell T. Davies

When it comes to Christmas specials that double up as major episodes of the Doctor’s story, “The End of Time” takes the cake. It’s the end of Ten’s run as the Doctor, and we have that heartbreaking moment at the end as he tells everyone he doesn’t want to go. That was so haunting that when Tennant came back as Fourteen, fans were worried that it would take away from this moment.

Having Bernard Cribbins as the companion for this two-part episode was a beautiful way to bring back Donna’s family. It's even more bittersweet knowing that Cribbins died while filming the 60th anniversary specials.

Then there’s the fact that the Master is the big villain in this story. John Simm is one of the best Masters of all time, and there was nobody else I would rather see go up against Tennant’s Doctor. This episode works splendidly as a way to end Tennant's era.

2. "Twice Upon a Time" — 2017

The Doctor: Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

David Bradley comes into the series as the First Doctor; William Hartnell played the character in the original series but passed away. "Twice Upon a Time" gives us a brilliant look at the way the Doctor has changed over the years. The episode seems to be speaking to the longtime fans who haven’t adapted with the world around them, showing us the absurdity of refusing to let go of the past.

There is a lot of analysis in this episode. We have time to think things through and really contemplate what the episode is trying to say. And of course, good ends up winning out over evil in the end, a satisfying end.

This is one of those episodes that closes out an era of the show. Not only is it Peter Capaldi’s last episode as the Doctor, but it’s Steven Moffat’s last as showrunner. There's a beautiful symmetry in this being a Christmas special, a time for looking back as well as looking forward.

1. "The Husbands of River Song" — 2015

The Doctor: Peter Capaldi, the Twelfth Doctor

Director: Steven Moffat

Finally, it’s all about “The Husbands of River Song.” This and “Twice Upon a Time” are Christmas specials I can happily rewatch over and over again. There is so much meaning and depth to them, as well as connections to past moments. “The Husbands of River Song” gives us the moment River meets the Doctor for the first time, but it’s the last time the Doctor will see her. Their story was always backward.

In a way, this offers Twelve a restart. Moffat is no longer tied to the River Song story that was started with Ten.

There’s also plenty of action, comedy, and romance oin this fantastic Christmas special. While there are connections to seasons past and future, it still works as a standalone story.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and Twitter account, sign up for our exclusive newsletter and check out our YouTube channel.