A Whovian's Guide To Streaming The Doctor Who Christmas Specials

Doctor Who is a beloved sci-fi series that has been airing since 1963 and follows a time-travelling, regenerating alien known as the Doctor. The show has recently celebrated its 60th anniversary with three specials, including the Christmas special, The Church on Ruby Road, which is available to watch on Disney+ worldwide. The Christmas special marks the first appearance of the Fifteenth Doctor, played by Ncuti Gatwa, and his companion, Ruby Sunday, played by Mollie Gibson.

Watch on Disney+

The Doctor Who Christmas Special, titled "The Church on Ruby Road", aired on Disney+ worldwide on 25 December 2023. The episode is available to stream on the platform.

In the US, the episode was available to stream from 12:55 p.m. ET, 9:55 a.m. PT, 10:55 a.m. MT, and 11:55 a.m. CT. Internationally, the episode aired at 6:55 a.m. HST in Hawaii, 8:55 a.m. AKDT in Alaska, 4:55 a.m. AEDT in Sydney, Australia, and more.

Disney+ offers a range of subscription plans for viewers to choose from, with the lowest starting at $7.99 per month. The streaming service is also home to movies and TV shows from The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, Pixar Animation, National Geographic, and more.

The Christmas Special marks the first full episode of "Doctor Who" with Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor and Millie Gibson as his new companion, Ruby Sunday. The episode sees Ruby searching for answers about her mysterious past. Why was she abandoned as a baby in the snow on Christmas Eve? And why has she been dogged with bad luck ever since?

The episode also features a fantasy element, with the Doctor and Ruby joining forces to stop a flying ship full of baby-stealing goblins.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video

You can watch several Doctor Who Christmas specials on Amazon Prime Video.

A Christmas Carol

The first Christmas special starring the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), this episode sees Amy and Rory trapped on a crashing space liner. The Doctor must save the soul of a lonely old miser to rescue them.

The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe

Evacuated to a house in Dorset from war-torn London, Madge Arwell and her two children, Lily and Cyril, are greeted by a madcap caretaker whose mysterious Christmas gift leads them into a magical wintry world.

Last Christmas

The Doctor and Clara face their last Christmas, trapped on an Arctic base and under attack from terrifying creatures. They call for help from a familiar Christmas hero – Santa Claus (Nick Frost).

The Christmas Invasion

While the newly-regenerated Doctor lies comatose, the Sycorax are coming.

The Next Doctor

The Doctor meets another Doctor, and the two must combine forces to stop the CyberKing.

The Runaway Bride

The Doctor finds himself with a new companion, and they uncover an ancient alien plan.

Watch on BritBox

BritBox is a streaming service that offers a wide range of British classic shows, including all five million seasons of Doctor Who. It is a subscription-based service available directly through its website or via apps on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and other platforms. BritBox costs $6.99/£5.99/AU$8.99 per month and offers a 7-day free trial, making it an excellent option for those looking to binge-watch Doctor Who classics.

In addition to its vast collection of Doctor Who episodes, BritBox also provides subscribers with access to other popular British shows such as Mr Bean, Midsomer Murders, and Victoria. It is the perfect streaming service for those who want to indulge in some nostalgic British television shows.

For those interested in watching newer episodes of Doctor Who, it is worth noting that BritBox may not be the best option. While it is an excellent choice for classic episodes, more modern instalments can be found on other streaming platforms.

BritBox is an excellent option for fans of British television, offering a vast collection of Doctor Who episodes and other iconic shows. With its reasonable pricing and free trial, it is a great choice for those looking to marathon the classic seasons of this beloved time-travelling series.

Watch on Max

If you're looking to watch the modern-era Doctor Who episodes from 2005 onwards (i.e. from when Christopher Eccleston played the Ninth Doctor), you can watch them on Max.

Max offers a range of subscription options, with plans starting at $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year. There is also a Black Friday offer, which provides new and returning users with a discounted rate of $2.99 per month for up to six months.

Once you have signed up and created a profile, you can watch the show by clicking on the Doctor Who title page on the Max website or on the Max app.

Please note that the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) is missing from Max. The 1996 television film featuring the Eighth Doctor is not currently streaming anywhere in the United States.

Watch on Hulu

Hulu is available as part of a bundle with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $14.99 per month. This is a great option if you want to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special, as well as other Disney+ content, and ESPN+.

The bundle is a great deal, offering a saving of about 45% compared to signing up for separate subscriptions. You can also get the bundle with ad-supported Hulu and Disney+ for $9.99 per month, which is a saving of nearly 40%.

If you're a cord-cutter, Hulu + Live TV comes with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $76.99 per month for the ad-supported package, or $81.99 per month to get the ad-free versions of Hulu and Disney+.

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