Contrary to popular belief, 2025 had not just one, but four Doctor Who christmas specials, courtesy of Big Finish. Doctor Who: Christmas: It's a Wonderful War and Other Stories is one of the best Big Finish sets of the year, and in this episode we'll be reviewing and summarizing each story to explain why they hit all the right Christmassy Doctor Whoy notes.

Doctor Who: Christmas: It's a Wonderful War and Other Stories from Big Finish Productions

From a sleepy English village to an asteroid on the edge of creation, Christmas is celebrated across all of time and space. But beneath the snow and behind the tinsel... the monsters are waiting.

1. Unholy Night by Noga Flaishon - a Missy Adventure

2. Legacy of Blood by Julian Richards - a Sixth Doctor and Jago & Litefoot Adventure

3. Presents of Mind by Mark Wright - a Smith & Sullivan Adventure

4. It's a Wonderful War by Jonathan S Powell - an Eighth Doctor Adventure

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In our holiday special, we're gobbling up RTD's chaotic coincidence festive Christmas episode, The Church on Ruby Road.

Who is the breakout performer opening the Gatwa era? Why is Jurassic Park so badly run? What makes a villain versus sympathetic? Did the gobins kill Adric? Is popcorn television enough at christmas, or do we need more depth? Is Carla Sunday an alt-reality serial killer? How should the episode's hanging threads have been resolved? What DNA based pranks could we pull on Ruby? Answers to all these questions on this episode of Always Foolish.

Always Foolish is a positive Doctor Who podcast, about finding things we like in episodes we don't. We pick out our favourite bits for these stories, and suggest quick fixes to some common critiques.

Please, listen, share and rate the show. It really helps. Follow us and get in touch on Instagram alwaysfoolishpodcast, TikTok @alwaysfoolishpod, and YouTube @alwaysfoolishpod

Merry Christmas Davina McCall

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David's been listening to Big Finishes spooky season special boxset, Halloween: Sea Smoke and Other Stories and he has thoughts. Mostly about episode 2. Enjoy this little review of one of the weirder Big Finish sets of the year.

Doctor Who: Halloween: Sea Smoke and Other Stories from Big Finish Productions

Dare you step into the shadows? Terror awaits across time and space. Silent assassins, primordial evils and horrors that defy imagination – the Doctor’s universe has never been more terrifying. The four stories are:

1. Sea Smoke by Jonathan Sims - A First Doctor and Dodo adventure

2. Party Favours by Georgia Cook - A Kate Stewart and Osgood adventure

3. Bramble King by Noga Flaishon - An Eighth Doctor and Audacity adventure

4. Merlin's Trap by Hannah Kennedy - A Twelfth Doctor adventure

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