Peter Capaldi has given a new interview to promote this years Christmas Special, The Husbands of River Song, and promises a “very Christmassy” episode.

Speaking to the BBC, Capaldi says the Doctor is taken to a “Christmas card sort of world”:

“The Christmas special is very Christmassy, which I’m sure everyone will be relieved to hear. It finds the Doctor in a Dickensian kind of world, in a Christmas card sort of world which he’s been brought to in order to do a favour for a king. So there’s quite a festive spirit to the episode. But the favour is more complex and isn’t exclusively for the benefit of the king, but more for the benefit of the king’s consort.”

And Peter particularly enjoyed working with Little Britain star Matt Lucas, who plays Nardole:

“I have lots of favourite scenes from the Christmas episode, but I think being met by Matt Lucas on a wonderful wintery Dickensian street with the TARDIS covered in snow was delightful, because it was like a Doctor Who Christmas card. Matt is such a fabulously funny person to have around, so I loved that! …you can expect a lot of laughs and pathos. He is, as ever, a hugely loveable personality, a little naïve, a little out of his depth and quite cosmic.”

Capaldi says he enjoys the Christmas episodes, with this year being more “openly festive” than last year’s outing.

“Last year’s was a bit scarier than this one, this is more openly festive. I like the idea of ghost stories at Christmas and frightening things seem to work rather well in the festive environment.”

And as for River Song’s future, Peter hopes this Christmas doesn’t see her final appearance on the show:

“Yes of course [i’d like to see River return], because Alex is fabulous and it’s always lovely to work with her.”

Doctor Who returns this Christmas Day at 5:15pm on BBC One with The Husbands of River Song, also scheduled to be broadcast on BBC America.