Doctor Who New Year’s Special - when is Eve of the Daleks on and who is in the cast with Aisling Bea?

It’s not long until this year’s Doctor Who festival special, which will air on January 1 on BBC One at 7pm.

The New Year’s special, called Eve of the Daleks, will guest star Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon.

Here’s everything you need to know about Eve of the Daleks.

What is Eve of the Daleks about?

Eve of the Daleks sees the Doctor, Yaz, and Dan pursued by a Dalek Execution squad, and caught in a time loop too – events repeat themselves over and over as the New Year approaches.

The official BBC synopsis for Eve of the Daleks reads “on New Year’s Eve, the appearance of an executioner Dalek means Sarah and Nick’s countdown to midnight will be the strangest and deadliest they have ever known. Can the Doctor, Yaz and Dan save them?”

(Given Jodie Whittaker’s previous two Dalek stories were Resolution and Revolution of the Daleks, you’re right, this time-loop story should be called Repetition of the Daleks.)

Who is in the cast of Eve of the Daleks?

Jodie Whittaker stars once again as the Doctor, with Mandip Gill and John Bishop playing her companions Yaz and Dan.

For this festive special, they’re joined by Aisling Bea (as Sarah) and Adjani Salmon (as Nick). You’ll know Bea from her fantastic sitcom This Way Up, and you’ll recognise Salmon from (Dreaming Whilst Black). The episode also features a cameo from Pauline McLynn (Father Ted).

Eve of the Daleks was written by Chris Chibnall, and directed by Annetta Laufer (Afro Punk Girl, The Arrival).

Is there a trailer for Eve of the Daleks?

There is indeed. Over a slow and spooky cover of Auld Lang Syne, you can see characters exterminated over and over again, before the time loop glitches and resets…

When is Eve of the Daleks on and how can I watch it?

Eve of the Daleks will air on BBC One on New Year’s Day at 7pm. It’s an hour long.

It will also be available immediately afterwards on BBC iPlayer.

Is this Jodie Whittaker’s regeneration episode? Who is the new Doctor Who?

No, not quite yet. Jodie Whittaker will continue to star as the Time Lord (well, the – actually, that doesn’t matter now) for three more episodes: Eve of the Daleks, a special speculated to air around Easter, and a third and final special which will air in October 2022.

This episode will air as part of the BBC’s centenary celebrations, and will feature the Thirteenth Doctor’s regeneration.

After that, Russell T Davies is taking over as Doctor Who’s head writer – you’ll know Davies from shows like It’s A Sin, A Very English Scandal, or the last time he was in charge of Doctor Who. His first episode will air in November 2023, to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60^th anniversary.

We don’t know yet who the next Doctor will be, though. While a number of actors have been rumoured for the role – including Lydia West, Omari Douglas, Michael Sheen, Olly Alexander, T’Nia Miller, David Tennant with a fake moustache – Davies has said that auditions are still ongoing.

Why should I watch Eve of the Daleks?

Because it’s the beginning of the end for the Thirteenth Doctor.

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