Doctor Who’s Christmas special just got a whole lot bigger, with the surprise castings of Greg Davies and Matt Lucas.

Fans already know that the episode, airing next month, will mark the first time The Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) meets River Song (Alex Kingston).
Now, it’s been announced that Davies will play King Hydroflax and Lucas will star as Nardole.
Comedian Davis is of course known for shows including The Inbetweeners and Cuckoo, while Little Britain co-creator Lucas recently starred in Pompidou.

A first-look picture from the special was also revealed today (November 24), with Kingston and Capaldi proving to be a match made in heaven.The BBC has also published an official synopsis for the special: “It’s Christmas Day on a remote human colony and the Doctor is hiding from Christmas Carols and Comedy Antlers.
“But when a crashed spaceship calls upon the Doctor for help, he finds himself recruited into River Song’s squad and hurled into a fast and frantic chase across the galaxy.

“King Hydroflax (Greg Davies) is furious, and his giant Robot bodyguard is out-of-control and coming for them all! Will Nardole (Matt Lucas) survive? And when will River Song work out who the Doctor is?
“All will be revealed on a starliner full of galactic super-villains and a destination the Doctor has been avoiding for a very long time.”

Doctor Who’s Christmas episode will air in December, while this weekend’s ‘Heaven Sent’ airs on BBC One in the UK and BBC America in the US on Saturday.