The Giggle is the third and final special in Doctor Who’s 60^th Anniversary celebrations, and probably the most fan service-y instalment of the lot. The Star Beast was a lot of fun, Wild Blue Yonder was brilliantly weird (and even better on a rewatch, I have to say), while The Giggle feels incredibly niche. It’s an episode involving a bigeneration (bi-regeneration), the return of 80’s companion Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford), a puppet show of companions from the last 13 years and, of course, the low-awaited rematch between the Doctor and the Toymaker. Are the various references and call-backs to much for a more casual Who viewer? Quite possibly, although I never thought I’d hear the name Sabalom Glitz mentioned in a primetime BBC One drama, so that’s got to count for something.

The special feels like a Russell T Davies Doctor Who finale of yesteryear: a story with epic scope, heartfelt drama…and a resolution that just doesn’t quite stick the landing. The two Doctors playing catch with the Toymaker is fun, but it does feel like there’s an ensemble cast standing around watching (not unlike Davies’ Series 4 finale Journey’s End). It’s a familiar trope, and one that’s not quite gone away in the years since, although admittedly it’s always been incredibly subjective amongst fans as to which finales are actually satisfying. Part of the issue is that The Giggle is a single episode which spins a lot of plates, explores some big ideas and therefore has to rocket along to include everything. It’s not exactly incoherent, and Davies makes it work surprisingly well, but it’s difficult not to speculate on what a two-part version could have been like – especially when the televised episode has so much going for it.

Neil Patrick Harris is excellent as the Toymaker, regenerated in a way that feels very Russell T Davies (who had the Toymaker dancing to the Spice Girls on their 2023 bingo card?) whilst maintaining what made the character so intriguing in the 60’s. There’s a real sense of history between him and the Doctor (aided by the beautifully colourised clips from the original story The Celestial Toymaker). The accent switching is a little odd (some have speculated that it’s linked to the Toymaker’s previous defeat, while Davies links this to the character’s… complicated history), but he is menacing and strangely compelling, exploiting the hatred of humanity in a way that feels eerily relevant. Not to mention the weird and wonderful realm explored by the Doctor and Donna – realised brilliantly by director Chanya Button – and the creepy puppets brought to life (see Doctor Who Unleashed for a behind the scenes insight into those…if you dare).

I think many fans had been expecting to say farewell to David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor with this episode, but it’s unclear if that is the case. Davies has indicated that this Doctor has retired from adventuring, although there’s certainly a hint about future escapades. Is this setting the Doctor on the path to becoming the Curator, as seen in The Day of the Doctor? Will he re-team with the Fifteenth Doctor later down the line? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see this older, more universe-weary Doctor get his happy ending, while his future(?) self goes off to travel the universe in the TARDIS. Catherine Tate’s Donna also gets her much-deserved happy ending, although I can’t imagine this is the last we’ve seen of her – or her family – either. Bonnie Langford’s return as Mel is a nice inclusion, although it’s a cameo role that feels like set-up for next season. In fact, there seems to be an entire ensemble of U.N.I.T characters (Kate Stewart, Shirley, Mel, Colonel Ibrahim and the Vlinx) destined for a spin-off series in the Whoniverse.

And then of course we come to the man of the hour: Ncuti Gatwa. The bigeneration is a concept I’m still wrapping my head around (and once again I’m disappointed that we’re denied a good old transition effect between Doctors), but Gatwa himself is absolutely magnetic in the role. His wide eyes, big toothy grin (a little reminiscent of the indomitable Tom Baker) and his combination of infectious enthusiasm and emotional openness give him a completely unique energy. It’s obviously early days for his Doctor, but I’m really looking forward to seeing his solo adventures.

So, what to make of The Giggle? It’s an episode with a big of everything, although perhaps a little bit too much considering its duration? Time will tell as to how this episode holds up, but for now I think it’s safe to say that it’s pretty solid. There are some delightfully creepy moments, fantastic visuals and of course that truly jaw-dropping bigeneration moment.

And if nothing else, it’ll certainly get audiences talking. Let’s just hope that there’s no giggling as well…

Doctor Who returns to BBC One on Christmas Day at 5.55pm

Join us for our series blog review then!