The Return of Doctor Mysterio (TV story)

The Return of Doctor Mysterio was the 2016 Doctor Who Christmas special. It was the show's twelfth Christmas special since its revival, and the third full Christmas special with Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor. It saw the return of Nardole from the previous Christmas special, this time as the Doctor's companion.

Steven Moffat was hugely influenced by the comic books he loved as a child in writing this episode—particularly Superman's Clark Kent, Moffat's favourite superhero, both then and now. By his own account, he took particular inspiration from the Superman films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Though clearly humorous in tone, Doctor Mysterio explores many common superhero themes, such as the hero's secret identity, his origin story, and a love triangle involving both the hero and the man behind the mask.

Synopsis
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Plot
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Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Nardole - Matt Lucas
 * Grant - Justin Chatwin
 * Lucy - Charity Wakefield
 * Mr Brock - Tomiwa Edun
 * Dr Sim - Aleksandar Jovanovic
 * Young Grant - Logan Hoffman

Crew
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Story notes

 * The name Doctor Mysterio comes from the name in Mexico for Doctor Who, Doctor Misterio, which Steven Moffat and Peter Capaldi encountered when they visited there in the Doctor Who World Tour. Capaldi in particular fell in love with the name, so Moffat decided to use it in an episode title.
 * This story marks the first time two full consecutive television stories have been broadcast on Christmas Day.
 * This story was the third Christmas special to star Peter Capaldi and the first not feature any Eleventh Doctor companion since The End of Time.
 * Matt Lucas is the first comedian to play a companion in a television story since James Corden as Craig Owens in Closing Time. The last comedian to play a full-time companion, though, was Catherine Tate as Donna Noble.

Production errors
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Ratings
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Filming locations
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Continuity

 * The Doctor purports himself to be the original example of the title doctor. (TV: A Good Man Goes to War)
 * Nardole joins the Doctor in his travels. When the Doctor first met Nardole, he was River Song's personal assistant. (TV: The Husbands of River Song)
 * Nardole mentions River's death in the Library. (TV: Forest of the Dead)

Home video releases
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