Doctor Who Acknowledges 2024 Christmas Episode Inspired by 1970s Children’s Television Series

Warning: spoilers ahead for Doctor Who’s “Joy to the World.”

The highly anticipated 2024 Christmas special of Doctor Who strikes a nostalgic chord, drawing significant inspiration from the beloved children’s television series of the 1970s. Steven Moffat, the creative mind behind iconic episodes featuring the Weeping Angels and inventive crossovers, has once again crafted a storyline rich with imaginative concepts. This time, the narrative centers around the innovative Time Hotel.

Set approximately 2000 years in the future, London boasts a remarkable hotel where each room serves as a doorway to different historical eras. Guests can fully immerse themselves in the past, embarking on adventures ranging from assassination tours to dinosaur safaris, all while dressed in period costumes. Amid this whimsical setting, Moffat unveils a darker subplot involving the villainous Villengard Corporation, which seeks to exploit the Time Hotel’s wonders for malicious intentions. Although entertaining, the Time Hotel concept bears a striking resemblance to the premise of Mr Benn, and Doctor Who acknowledges this connection.

Doctor Who Easter Egg Recognizes “Joy To The World”As Inspired by Mr Benn

As If By Magic, The TARDIS Appeared…

Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor leaping in Doctor Who

Mr Benn looking at red armor in the costume shop

Joel Fry and Ncuti Gatwa in the Time Hotel lobby

The narrative structure mirrors the storyline of Mr Benn, where the titular character visits his neighborhood costume shop, dons a costume, and steps through a magical door to explore different worlds. For instance, becoming a cowboy would whisk Mr Benn away to the Wild West, while a gladiator costume would transport him to Ancient Rome. By transforming Mr Benn’s costume shop into a hotel, the Christmas special essentially redesigns the original concept.

Doctor Who makes no effort to disguise the parallels between “Joy to the World”and Mr Benn, explicitly addressing their linkage. During a scene where Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor inspects the hotel lobby, he discovers that guests procure their costumes from a shop named “Mr Benn’s Any Era Clothes.” This direct nod to Mr Benn highlights the Christmas special’s homage to the classic 1970s series.

While Mr Benn originally aired only 13 episodes, it was revived with a special titled “Gladiator”in 2005. The Easter egg deepens, revealing that the costume shop’s logo features the iconic bowler hat synonymous with Mr Benn before he transitions into various outfits. Additionally, the shop window showcases a red suit of armor, a subtle tribute to the very first book in the Mr Benn series, titled Mr Benn – Red Knight.

Doctor Who’s “Mr Benn”Easter Egg Suggests Anita’s Bright Future

Could Doctor Who Be Hinting at a Joyful Future for Anita?

Stephanie de Whalley as Anita looking perplexed

The Doctor Who Easter egg concerning “Mr Benn’s Any Era Clothes”unmistakably nods to the iconic character, but it may also provide resolution to a pivotal plot element within the episode. Throughout “Joy to the World,”the Fifteenth Doctor forms a bond with Anita, the Sandringham Hotel manager, who serves as a temporary companion over the course of a year. In appreciation for her companionship, the Doctor recommends her as a prospective recruit for the Time Hotel, presenting Anita with an opportunity to start a new chapter in her life. Notably, she is credited as “Anita Benn”in the episode’s end credits.

This detail suggests a deliberate connection between the Time Hotel’s costume shop and Anita, prompting speculation that the ownership of “Mr Benn”might actually be a distant descendant of Anita. Should this theory hold true, it implies that Anita’s journey concluded on a positive note, possibly resulting in a fulfilling life where she became part of a family that continued to contribute to the Time Hotel’s allure for generations to come.

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