Doctor Who had two big moments at San Diego Comic-Con, revealing a sneak peek at the 2024 Christmas special, “Joy to the World,” and announcing a new spinoff series.

Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), who appears in the Christmas special as Joy, introduced the clip. It shows the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) traveling to various time periods and locations where he offers surprised people a ham and cheese toastie and pumpkin spice latte. He travels to the Queens Hotel in Manchester in 1940, on the Orient Express in Italy in 1962, base camp of Everest in 1953, before finally landing in London 2024. Joy is seen checking into a hotel for her Christmas vacation and is shocked when a Silurian enters the room, followed closely by the Doctor and his offer of a sandwich and hot beverage.

“I am thrilled to be joining Doctor Who for the Christmas special this year, and I am so excited for you to meet my character, Joy,” Coughlan said.

The special was written by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat. Current showrunner Russell T. Davies previously stated that the special will give viewers a different look at the Fifteenth Doctor’s personality. The Doctor Who Christmas special “Joy to the World” will air on BBC and stream on Disney+ on Christmas day, December 25, 2024.

The Doctor Who spinoff series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, will be a five-episode event with UNIT in the driver’s seat. It stars Doctor Who alums Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, with Gugu Mbatha-Law (Loki) and Russell Tovey (Feud).

“When a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity, an international crisis is triggered. With the entire population at risk, UNIT steps into action as the land and sea wage war,” per the description.

The War Between the Land and the Sea will feature classic Doctor Who villains, the Sea Devils, who were introduced in 1972. The series was created by Davies, who co-wrote it with Pete McTighe (A Discovery of Witches). Dylan Holmes-Williams, who directed recent Doctor Who episodes “73 Yards” and “Dot and Bubble” is directing The War Between the Land and Sea.

“I’m so lucky to work with such a magnificent cast. And this is a huge, muscular, thrilling drama which will shake the Whoniverse to its foundations. When the Doctor’s not in town, the whole of humanity is in trouble,” Davies said.

The executive producing team includes Davies, Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter. It starts filming later this year; a release date was not given.