<Tr> <Td> "The Doctor Falls" </Td> <Td>--</Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Doctor Who episodes (1963--1989) Doctor Who episodes (2005--present) </Td> </Tr> <P> "Twice Upon a Time" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, written by Steven Moffat, directed by Rachel Talalay, and was broadcast as the thirteenth Christmas special on 25 December 2017 on BBC One . It features the final regular appearance of Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor, the first official appearance of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor, and guest - stars David Bradley as the First Doctor, having previously portrayed original First Doctor actor William Hartnell in the 2013 docudrama An Adventure in Space and Time . Pearl Mackie guest stars as the Twelfth Doctor's former companion Bill Potts, while his other companions make guest appearances - Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald and Matt Lucas as Nardole . </P> <P> This episode is a continuation of events after "The Doctor Falls", addressing the cliffhanger that it ended on, and takes place during the final story of the First Doctor; footage from the 1966 serial The Tenth Planet, is used in the special . "Twice Upon a Time" is Capaldi's fourth and final Christmas special as the Twelfth Doctor, and the last Doctor Who story to be written and produced by Moffat, who served as the show's executive producer and chief writer since taking over from Russell T Davies in 2010 . After the special's broadcast, Moffat was succeeded as chief executive and showrunner by Chris Chibnall . </P>

What is the name of the 2017 doctor who christmas special