Doctor Who Christmas special to be the biggest tearjerker yet as children unaware their soldier father has been killed in the war

By Alanah Eriksen

Last updated at 6:27 PM on 6th December 2011

Stock up on the tissues if you plan to be parked in front of the telly for your Christmas dose of Doctor Who this year.

The festive special on December 25 could be the show's biggest tearjerker yet as two children are unaware their soldier father has died.

The episode is set in the 1940s during the Second World War and features Outnumbered star Claire Skinner as Madge Arwell.

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What's in here? The Doctor transports two children and their widowed mother to a magical world in the show's Christmas special

She hasn't yet told her daughter Lily and son Cyril that dad Reg, played by comedian Alexander Armstrong, has been killed while flying his bomber home over the channel.

Dr Who writer Steven Moffat explained: 'She doesn’t want Christmas to become the day that broke their hearts.

'But when they're evacuated to a draughty old house in Dorset for the holidays, and meet a mysterious young caretaker in a bow tie, events take an unexpected turn.

Through the portal: Claire Skinner plays Madge Arwell, who has not told her children Lily (Holly Earl) and Cyril (Maurice Cole) that their soldier father has died

The tools are ready: The Doctor, played by Matt Smith, with the iconic sonic screwdriver

'What could be inside that big blue parcel under the tree?'

In the hour-long special the Doctor, played by Matt Smith, is determined to give them a happy Christmas.

They find a magic present under the tree, which is a portal to another world where two 'monsters', played by Bill Bailey and Arabella Weir, live.

Getting in the festive spirit: Claire is known for her portrayal of Sue in BBC's Outnumbered

Mother and daughter: Holly Earl is best known fore her portrayal of Nita Clements in the BBC medical drama Casualty

Mother and daughter: Holly Earl, 19, is best known for her portrayal of Nita Clements in the BBC medical drama Casualty

'Soon the Arwells find themselves in a battle for survival in a magical new land,' said Moffat.

'As ever, at this time of year, the Doctor is trying to make things right, and as always it doesn't go according to plan. But maybe he's reckoned without the power of a determined mother.

'This Christmas, it might just be the lonely Time Lord who's shown the way home.

In a more sombre mood: Comedian Alexander Armstrong played soldier and father Reg

Banding together: The distraught family must face a Christmas without their hero husband and father who was killed while flying his bomber home

Moffat added: 'The Doctor at Christmas - it always just feels so right. When I was a kid, Santa and the Doctor somehow lived in the same place in my head - two generous madmen that I loved so much.

'So now that the Doctor is a regular feature of Christmas the world is just that bit more right.'

Meanwhile, Alexander Armstrong has said the show been taken to a new level since it returned to British screens six years ago.

Follow me: The time Lord is determined to give the family a happy Christmas

Unexpected turn: Writer Steven Moffatt says the Doctor portrays a mysterious young caretaker in a bow tie

Distraught mother: Claire threw herself into the role of Madge for the memorable episode

He told the BBC: 'It’s something I’ve always wanted to be in and there really isn’t another show like Doctor Who. The heritage of it is amazing and when the BBC got it going again it suddenly took on a whole new life.

'It has all the charm and ingenuity of the first incarnation but it also has Russell and now Steven's really current TV brains behind it, people who are so literate in really good television that gets you thinking.

Behind the scenes: Matt gets his tweed suit touched up in between takes

Hard at work: Matt, who is the 11th Time Lord, films the Christmas episode

'With Christopher, David and now Matt, this Doctor Who has kind of gone nuts. I mean my Doctor Who when I was young was Tom Baker, I loved Tom Baker, everyone did, but the Doctor these days has taken on a sort of rock star status.'

Matt Smith described the Christmas episode as: 'a brilliant and touching story about a family who have experienced a tragic event and in many ways they’ve had Christmas stolen from them.

The family meet two monsters including Billis (Arabella Weir)

Scary stuff: The family meet two monsters in the magical world, including Billis (Arabella Weir)

'The Doctor, in a very ‘Doctory’ way, tries to bring Christmas spirit and cheer back into their lives. He has ‘Doctorified’ the house so to speak and there’s a magical present under the Christmas tree which is a portal to another world.'

Matt also revealed his favourite Christmas ever.

'The best present I’ve ever had was a snooker table when I was a kid, although my SEGA Mega Drive came close. I also used to love getting pyjamas and wearing them all day.'