Doctor Who boss reveals how Captain Jack’s Christmas special return connects to series 12 with Dalek revenge twist

DOCTOR Who showrunner Chris Chibnall has lifted the lid of Captian Jack Harkness' return in the upcoming festive special Revolution of the Daleks.

The beloved sci-fi hit will return on New Year's Day with John Barrowman returning to the iconic role after a brief cameo appearance in series 12.

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Fans will remember how Captain Jack appeared in the Gloucester-based episode that also saw Holby City's Jo Martin make her debut as an alternate version of The Doctor.

Chibnall explained that Jack's role in the festive special was actually lined up before series 12 - a natural fit given his long-running feud with the Daleks.

"We knew he'd be coming back for this special, so we back laid him into the previous series, into the Judoon episode, in the middle," he Chibnall explained.

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"It was cooked up over lots of phone calls and secret meetings and not-so-secret meetings at John Barrowman concerts - he smuggled me backstage and we had a secret conversation," he added to .

Reflecting on Jack's backstory, he continued: "He has a past history with Daleks, seeing as they killed him – small detail in his life – so he's going to be up against those.

"He'll be really important to Yaz, and Graham, and Ryan as well. The moment he finally meets the Doctor should be great, if that were to happen."

Chibnall said he couldn't wait for Jack to meet the latest Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, since the pair never got to cross paths in series 12.

"I really wanted Captain Jack to meet the 13th Doctor, and it'd been a long time since he'd been on screen in Doctor Who, it was well overdue," he added.

Meanwhile Whittaker gushed that Barrowman was a joy to have on set and brought heaps of energy behind the scenes.

"You want the festive specials to feel like a treat, and there's no bigger treat than John Barrowman as Captain Jack - he's incredibly energetic and passionate, as a person, and as Captain Jack," she chimed in.

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"Those are things that have really bonded us as fam, and a family, we go at things at a million miles an hour, so to have a character that can keep up is really exciting, and keeps everyone going."

The comments come after Yaz actress Mandip Gill revealed what was in store for her character after the news that Braley Walsh and Tosin Cole would be leaving the show.

Meanwhile Whittaker recounted how she broke down in tears when she first found out about the double exit.

Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.