'Fair to say the Doctor is taken with Clara': Doctor Who star isn't kidding as ... - Mirror.co.uk

Never mind the weather, you'll be shivering with fear as the Doctor takes on an army of sinister snowmen in this spectacular seasonal special.

Set on Christmas Eve, 1892, and having lost Amy and Rory Pond to the Weeping Angels, the grief-stricken Time Lord has become a reclusive Scrooge-like character – no longer caring about the universe.

Luckily, a beautiful young governess called Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) brings the Doctor out of his shell and persuades him to take on the evil Doctor Simeon (Richard E Grant) and his deranged Snowmen.

Our man chatted to Matt Smith about the chilling extravaganza.

Doctor Who is such a Christmas TV institution...

Yes, it's wonderful for Doctor Who to be at the heart of the BBC1 schedule and a pleasure to make the Christmas episode. Having snow during filming in the summer is magical and I love the scale of the production.

Richard E Grant leads the Snowmen as the evil Doctor Simeon

What can you tell us about this seasonal episode?

We are reintroduced to Jenna-Louise Coleman, and Richard E Grant plays the dastardly villain. Ultimately the heartbeat of the story is the same: old alien with a hot chick travels through the universe and gets into capers!

Does the return of Jenna-Louise keep things fresh?

Doctor Who constantly reinvents itself. Clara's instantly likeable and that's important for the Doctor's companions. She could be really popular – and Jenna looks so stunning.

Agreed! Will there be flirtation between the Doc and Clara?

This beautiful young woman does strange things to the Doctor. It's fair to say he is taken with her. Whether there will be any zing between them, we'll have to wait and see. 

 

How's the Doctor feeling about the loss of Amy and Rory now?

The fall of the Ponds has had a grave effect on the Doctor. He is lonely and removed from the universe – but handily he meets a young lady who becomes his jaunty new companion.

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There's definitely something between them

What are your favourite shows?

If I could bring anything back it'd be Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em. Michael Crawford was a total genius as Frank Spencer. I see my Doctor as a cross between Frank Spencer, Peter Sellers and Blackadder.

Will this be your last Doctor Who Christmas special?

All good things come to an end, but the show is the star and will one day continue without me. This role could burn you out if you did it for too long.  I take each year as it comes.

* Doctor Who is on Christmas Day, BBC1 at 5.15pm