Joy to the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: London 2025

The Doctor appears with room service in Manchester during the Battle of Britain, surprising a lovely couple; on the Orient in 1962, meeting Sylvia Trench of James Bond fame; and at Everest Base Camp in 1953, where he meets Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.

He finally meets Joy at the Sandringham hotel in London on Christmas Eve 2025. Joy has been surprised by a Silurian carrying a briefcase.

Answer: Ham and cheese toastie and a pumpkin latte

The Doctor attempts to deliver the order four times during the cold open, and we watch him order it at the counter of the Time Hotel. The kitchens are 30 minutes in the future, so delivery is even more freaky fast than Jimmy John's.

Answer: Mr Single, the barman, Trev, the manager, Joy

Mr Single attempted to check in with the briefcase. He then gave the case to the barman, who very quickly gave it to Trev. Trev gave it to the Manager when he realized the manager had superior access. And the manager went into Joy's room, where Joy grabbed the case.

The case contained a star generator that took millions of years to develop. The Doctor opens the briefcase which then threatens to disintegrate Joy. When the case is closed, it then required a code. A future Doctor arrives and gives himself the code, creating a major bootstrap paradox. One of the golden moments was the Doctor yelling at his future self.

Answer: Trev

The Doctor identifies himself as Special Agent Clint Rock. Trev offers to help the Doctor, but is hijacked by the briefcase. Shortly after giving the briefcase to the manager, Trev disintegrates into golden dust. Despite being dead, Trev does prove useful in informing the Doctor where to find the briefcase at the Time Hotel.

Trev was played by Joel Fry. He began working in British television in 2002.

Fantasy fans may know him from "Game of Thrones" as Hizdar zo Loraq. Fry has done some podcast work in the "Doctor Who" franchise. One of his cooler credits is a talking alpaca in the children's show "Lovely Little Farm" (2022-23).

Answer: Silurian

The hotel manager was a Silurian, one of the original inhabitants of Earth, who resemble lizards. Probably the most famous Silurian is Madame Vastra, a Victorian-era detective.

We first meet the Silurians in the Third Doctor story "Doctor Who and the Silurians." (1970). They returned in the Eleventh Doctor two-parter "The Hungry Earth/Cold Blood" (2010).

The Lombardi were the troopers we met in "The Well" (2025). The Hath were fish-like creatures in "The Doctor's Daughter" (2008).

Answer: Villengard

The episode featured Villengard, an arms manufacturer first seen in "Boom" (2024). They are an old nemesis of the Doctor. In their latest stunt, they are attempting to create a long-lasting power supply through the creation of a star.

In "Boom" (2004), it was revealed that Villengard managed wars for profit, and did not save wounded soldiers because it cost too much money.

Answer: French

The Doctor said "Pardon my French, but what the French is going on" at one point and later said "French" as they were being attacked by a tyrannosaurus rex.

Answer: Anita

The Doctor noted he rarely spends life in sequential order, but said that he enjoyed the year at the hotel because of Anita. You could tell there was a genuine affection between the two of them. At the end of "Joy to the World" Anita receives an offer to work at the Time Hotel.

The Doctor spent most of 2025 at the Sandringham hotel in London. He was the handyman, performing a variety of chores using his sonic, and a waiter using his psychic paper to give patrons what they wanted (not necessarily what they ordered).

Anita Benn was played by Steph de Walley. A native of Sussex, she has been acting since 2013. Her credits include "50 Kisses" (2014) and "Cyber Bride" (2019).

Answer: Bethlehem

In an unusual religious nod, but one appropriate for the Christmas special, the star is seen above Bethlehem to herald the birth of Jesus. But they got the date wrong; many religious scholars say it was closer to 4 BCE when Jesus was born.

In ancient astrology, newly emerged stars were often seen as heralds of important events, such as the birth of kings. The best description of the star is in the book of Matthew, Chapter 2. There is debate among astronomers as to what the star might have been, although a planetary conjunction is one popular explanation.

Answer: Steven Moffatt

Steven Moffatt, the showrunner during the Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi eras, shows he hasn't lost any steps as a writer. Russell T Davies had been working on the Christmas Special, but got bogged down with Season Two and he asked Moffatt to step in for him. Moffatt has written many of "Doctor Who"'s favorite episodes, including "Blink" (2006).

Alex Pillai directed "Joy to the World." He is a native of Newcastle (just like Varada Sethu), but has worked in both US and British television. His US work includes "Bull" (2017-2020) and "Riverdale" (2018-2023). He previously worked with Nicola on "Bridgerton" (2022).

Nicola Coughlin played Joy. She is best known as Penelope Featherington on the historical drama "Bridgerton" (2021-2024). Another notable credit is Diplomat Barbie in "Barbie" (2023).

Jonathan Aris was the Silurian hotel manager. He has been acting since 1997. His credits include recurring roles on "Sherlock" and "The Night Manager" and major roles in "His Dark Materials" and "The Sixth Commandment."