WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for the latest episode of Doctor Who, "The Timeless Children," which premiered Sunday on BBC.
Doctor Who's Series 12 finale "The Timeless Children" ended with the Doctor imprisoned by a Judoon platoon. An image following the credits promised the Doctor would return in a future episode, "Revolution of the Daleks." According to Doctor Who's showrunner Chris Chibnall, the episode will be a one-off extended special, which will air at the end of 2020.
"We can't leave the Doctor there! On that cliffhanger! Well, we did. But rest assured, the Doctor and her friends will be back for a one-off extended Special around Christmas and New Year," Chris Chibnall announced on BBC. "(I don't know when they're going to put it on yet, otherwise we'd tell you!). There will be Daleks. There will be exterminations. Thrills, laughter, tears. You know. The usual. See you at the end of the year."
"I can't wait for the Doctor to go into battle with the ultimate enemy in this year's Daleks festive special," added BBC Director Charlotte Moore.
Last night's episode provided plenty of shocking turns and mythology-changing revelations, including the fact that the Doctor was instrumental in helping to birth the Gallifreyan race as the mysterious timeless child. Viewers long believed the Doctor began their journey as William Hartnell, but last night's reveal demonstrates this is no longer the case, with the show teasing that she could have experienced an almost unfathomable number of regenerations prior to her time with her adoptive guardian Tecteun and, eventually, the Time Lords.
Doctor Who stars Jodie Whittaker as the 13th iteration of the titular Time Lord. Whittaker is joined by co-stars Bradley Walsh, Tosin Cole and Mandip Gill in a series spearheaded by showrunner Chris Chibnall. The next episode, "Revolution of the Daleks," will air this holiday season. The new season and all previous 11 seasons will stream on HBO Max later this year.
