Planning for the 2017 Christmas special is well underway, with one of Steven Moffat’s go-to directors at the helm.

It’s not-long been confirmed that Rachel Talalay will direct the 2017 Christmas Special of Doctor Who, the final chapter of Steven Moffat’s time on the show.

Speaking to Huffington Post, Steven Moffat confirmed that Talalay – for whom this will be her seventh time in the director’s chair on Doctor Who – would be in charge. Specifically, he said the following…

“Frankly, making big-budget spectaculars on no money at all is what we need, and Rachel’s got such a deep background, and such great ability at that! I’m working with her right now, actually: we’re just finishing up on the finale episodes, and planning the Christmas one, which she’s also directing — which is my very last one.”

Very shortly after, when quizzed on Twitter, Talalay was only too happy to confirm the news…

Yes, thrilled to be doing #DoctorWho Xmas episode (and what a script!). Very sad it's our last.
https://t.co/5sJr5lXUmz via @HuffPostBlog

— Rachel Talalay (@rtalalay) May 27, 2017

While rumours suggest that this will also be Peter Capaldi’s last stand as the Doctor, it is yet to be formally confirmed that he will still be in the TARDIS come the beginning of this year’s yuletide adventure. We presume, of course, he certainly won’t be in it by the end.