Nick Frost will be the latest in a long line of guest stars to exclaim, “It’s bigger on the inside!” The star of Shaun Of The Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End has been cast in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas special. Joining Frost will be Misfits’ Nathan McMullen, Coronation Street’s Natalie Gumede, The White Queen’s Faye Marsay, and Michael Troughton—who is the real life son of Patrick Troughton, the actor who played the second Doctor back in the late ’60s. The BBC released a picture of the actors’ chairs as part of the announcement.
The official press release promises an “action-packed, unmissable adventure,” but offers nothing in the way of actual plot details. It will be the first holiday special for Peter Capaldi, who has taken the Doctor down a decidedly grumpier path than his predecessor Matt Smith. There are rumors that the Doctor’s companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) may depart at Christmas, although the BBC has been cryptic about the future of her character.
Understandably, the guest stars are excited to appear on the iconic British series. In a statement Frost said, “I’m such a fan of the show. The read-through was very difficult for me; I wanted to keep stuffing my fingers into my ears and scream, ‘No spoilers!’ Every day on set I’ve had to silence my internal fan-boy squeals!” For his part, showrunner Steven Moffat took an even punnier approach to the news, explaining, “Frost at Christmas—it just makes sense!”