Firstly, let’s get the depressing news out of the way.

In less than 63 days’ time it will be Christmas: snow, endless queues and the inevitable post-dinner blot – but don’t despair! Doctor Who will be returning to our screens with a new companion, an exciting roster of guest stars and a customary, sentimental downfall of snow in a beautiful Victorian era setting.

Vloggers JAKG Productions have been on set during the filming of this year’s festive special and have captured both Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman filming a scene involving some snowbound climbing (Caution for those of a spoiler-sensitive nature.)

It’s Doctor Who and the As Yet to Be Constructed Menace! Gaze in rapture at how the Doctor flouts the mandatory ‘hard hat and hi-vis vest at all times’ rule!

What we know of the as-yet-untitled episode (rumoured to be called The Snowman, carrying on the tradition of adapting famous Christmassy tales with a sci-fi twist. Alien snow, perhaps?) is that it’ll again be written by Steven Moffat, directed by Saul Metzstein – who also helmed Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and A Town Called Mercy - and will feature the alternate Ninth Doctor, Richard E. Grant.

The episode will also see the return of Madame Vastra and her personal lady-servant Jenny (again played by Neve McIntosh and Catrin Stewart respectively) and former combat nurse, Commander Strax, portrayed once more by Dan Starkey, who has apparently risen from the grave in order to act as a butler to the pair.

Joining them will be Tom Ward, who appeared in the BBC’s Silent Witness; Liz White, best-known for her role as WPC/WDC Annie Cartwright in the BBC time travel drama Life on Mars and as the eponymous The Woman in Black, who’ll portray a maid; and Graham Turner, who has appeared in Luther, and will be playing a character called Amos.

Unsurprisingly, the Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 will air on Christmas Day.