Who News: Christmas Special Detail Overload

Festive adventures galore are coming our way next month- but can Clara save the Doctor's soul?
When we last encountered the Doctor, we left him in a dark place- Amy and Rory were lost to him after a devastating final battle with the Weeping Angels, and his own wife refused to travel as his companion in the TARDIS for fear of having two psychopaths regularly on board. As we saw on Children In Need last night, the effects of The Angels Take Manhattan on the Time Lord are not understated, forcing the once jovial hero into retirement and depression. Where next, then? Well, that's what we're here to find out, as BBC America and the BBC's British branch have unveiled the first proper details on Christmas Special The Snowmen...

• THE BBC AMERICA SYNOPSIS: "A new companion, a new look for the Doctor, plus a new monster will all be introduced in this movie-scale episode. Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor and introducing Jenna-Louise Coleman as new companion Clara, The Snowmen follows their adventures as they embark on a mission to save Christmas from the villainous Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant) and his army of icy snowmen."
• STEVEN MOFFAT ON THE SNOWMEN: "The Doctor at Christmas is one of my favourite things- but this year it's different. He's lost Amy and Rory to the Weeping Angels, and he's not in a good place: in fact, he's Scrooge. He's withdrawn from the world and no longer cares what happens to it. So when all of humanity hangs in the balance, can anyone persuade a tired and heartbroken Doctor that it's time to return to the good fight? Enter Jenna-Louise Coleman..."
• MATT SMITH ON THE SNOWMEN: "For this year's Christmas Special we have the wonderfully villainous Richard E Grant as Doctor Simeon As well as lizards, Victorian assassins and deranged warriors from the future, who all return to convince the Doctor that he should board the TARDIS again and save the world. Add to that Jenna-Louise Coleman and so begins the Christmas Special 2012. I hope everyone enjoys it!"

Expect more details, images and trailers for the episodes in the weeks leading up to the holiday season. Doctor Who: The Snowmen airs on Christmas Day.