The Snowmen

"The Snowmen" is the eighth Doctor Who Christmas special since the show returned in 2005. It aired on December 25, 2012 and is set in London on December 24-25, 1892. It stars Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswald. Returning characters Madame Vastra, played by Neve McIntosh, Jenny Flint, played by Catrin Stewart and Strax, played by Dan Starkey, make their first full appearances (barring mini-episodes promoting this special) since the 2011 episode "A Good Man Goes to War". It was also the first on screen appearance of recurring enemy the Great Intelligence since the 1968 six-part serial "The Web of Fear".

Unlike other Christmas specials, which aired either before or after the full season, "The Snowmen" aired in the middle of series 7, and was part of an ongoing story arc which began in the series premiere "Asylum of the Daleks".

The episode was preceded by two mini-episode prequels, "Vastra Investigates: A Christmas Prequel" and "The Great Detective".