Alex Kingston has revealed that she was “thrilled” when she was invited to guest star in this year’s Doctor Who Christmas Special.

Discussing her surprise festive comeback, the actress candidly admitted that she was also “quite surprised” to get the call. “I was happy to do it because I knew it would be great fun,” she said. “River has become so beloved by fans who are always saying that it would be great to see her interacting with Peter Capaldi’s Doctor. So I was thrilled when Steven decided that he wanted to explore that, too.”

Not only does the “kick ass hero” take a co-starring role in the episode (“She gets to do an awful lot!”), she has also managed to claim its title, with the seasonal jaunt intriguingly named The Husbands of River Song. She teased: “It’s a wonderful slapstick caper with lots of laughs and great one-liners. There is fabulous quick-fire dialogue between her and the Doctor, plus she runs around in the snow and snogs handsome men. So it’s all going on!”

Click here to read the full interview, plus additional Q&As with Peter Capaldi and Steven Moffat. The Husbands of River Song premieres on BBC One on Christmas Day at 5.15pm.

Ho ho ho, sweeties! Unwrap the latest news about this year’s Christmas Special…