Doctor Who Christmas special to be shown in north of England first
Advance screenings planned in eight cities as part of BBC plan to ‘do more in northern England’
![Doctor Who Christmas special](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oPJhtphcrs5cLrVUXa23vF-415-80.jpg)
Doctor Who fans in the north of England will get a chance to see the show’s Christmas special ahead of the rest of the UK.
The festive episode, called Twice Upon a Time, will be shown in eight cities throughout the north before its Christmas Day TV broadcast on BBC One.
The screenings will take place between 14 and 22 December in the following venues:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hartlepool Town Hall
The Guild Hall, York
Jubilee Church, Hull
St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle
The Middlesbrough Empire
MediaCityUK, Salford,
Durham School
The old Odeon, Bradford
Free tickets will be distributed by ballot - fans can enter the draw here.
Northern cinema audiences will also get sneak previews of the new series of black comedy The League of Gentlemen and an adaptation of Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson’s children’s book The Highway Rat as part of the BBC North Preview Screening Tour.
A BBC spokesman said the screenings were part of the broadcaster’s “long-term commitment to doing more in northern England”.
Northern Whovians were thrilled by the news:
But their southern counterparts weren’t so amused:
The Doctor Who Christmas special is Peter Capaldi’s last adventure before handing over the reins to Broadchurch star Jodie Whittaker, who will become the first-ever female Doctor.
The episode will see Capaldi’s Time Lord join forces with the cantankerous First Doctor - David Bradley, in the role played by William Hartnell in the original 1960s series - and a stranded WW1 captain (Mark Gatiss), says Den of Geek.
However, there is a catch: the advance screenings will not include the regeneration scene at the end of the episode, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Fans will have to wait for the TV broadcast on Christmas Day to see Capaldi’s Doctor disappear and re-emerge as Whittaker.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Patrick Bishop picks his five favourite books
The acclaimed historian chooses works by Ernest Hemingway, Richard Cobb and more
By The Week UK Published
-
Lady in the Lake: 'brooding' murder-mystery casts 'a potent spell'
Natalie Portman gives a 'scene-stealing' show in period thriller
By The Week UK Published
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures An Olympic training session, a cleaning crustacean and more
By Anahi Valenzuela, The Week US Published
-
Mishal Husain: BBC journalist shares her six favourite books
The Week Recommends Newsreader and Radio 4 presenter picks works by Louisa May Alcott, Jamil Ahmad and more
By The Week UK Published
-
The Jetty: Jenna Coleman is 'magnetic' in 'claustrophobic' crime thriller
The Week Recommends BBC's new four-part show keeps viewers 'hooked' until the end
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Michael Mosley 'collapsed' during holiday hike
Speed Read Tributes paid to 'national treasure' who did so much to popularise science
By Hollie Clemence, The Week UK Published
-
Doctor Who: 73 Yards – a 'stone-cold classic piece of British TV sci-fi'
The Week Recommends Millie Gibson steals the limelight in this 'genuinely disturbing' episode
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Aitch or haitch: the linguisitic debate that 'matters a lot'
Talking Point 'University Challenge' host Amol Rajan has promised to change the way he pronounces the letter 'H'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Secret Army: the IRA propaganda film forgotten for almost 50 years
Why Everyone's Talking About 'Chilling' BBC documentary reveals how US TV crew documented the inner workings of paramilitary group in 1970s
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Inseparable Sisters: uplifting BBC documentary about conjoined twins
The Week Recommends A 'refreshingly human and optimistic' portrayal that balances reality with positivity
By The Week UK Published
-
Annie Nightingale obituary: the trailblazing DJ who was Radio 1's longest-serving presenter
Obituary The first female DJ on BBC Radio 1, Nightingale paved the way for Annie Mac, Jo Whiley, Zoe Ball, Sara Cox and many more
By The Week Staff Published