Following a long wait since the departure of Christopher Eccleston from the title role of Doctor Who, viewers in the U.K. have been waiting patiently to find out if the hype and build-up to the Christmas special lived up to expectations -- especially the full introduction of Scots actor David Tennant as the 10th Doctor.

Well, I watched The Christmas Invasion last night, sitting on the couch stuffed full of turkey, and I can honestly say it ranks amongst the best 60 minutes of television on the BBC all year.

It had everything: maniacal Santas, invading aliens, a hard-nosed Prime Minister and The Doctor fighting a sword-battle in his pyjamas. Oh, and it was funny too.

Warning: Spoilers after the jump.
 

Speaking on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on BBC ONE ahead of the Doctor Who Christmas Day special, The Christmas Invasion, the new Doctor, David Tennant said that he will be hanging around for the foreseeable future -- certainly, he'll be staying in the title role for a second series.

"It's a bit of a gamble.," said Tennant. "The danger is that you get stuck with it, but the other option is you don't do it. I didn't want to be that guy. As long as I don't get the sack, I'll do another series."

He also admitted that he's apprehensive about taking over from Christopher Eccleston: "It's almost too exciting, all a bit daunting. It was the most successful TV show of the year; if it all goes wrong it's my fault."

Viewers in the U.K. will find out how much of a Doctor Tennant is on Christmas Day, when The Christmas Invasion is broadcast at 1900GMT (60mins) on BBC ONE.

Via: Digital Spy.