England, 1183 – The court of Henry II. The Doctor and Yaz gatecrash a right royal – if terrifyingly dysfunctional – family Christmas as Henry’s estranged wife Eleanor returns to spend Yuletide with the fam. The Doctor and Yaz uncover an imposter amongst them, but who are they really? And what do they want?
**Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be repressed.**
Recorded on: 5 and 10 July 2024
Recorded at: The Soundhouse
Writer Lisa McMullin said: "Since the Thirteenth Doctor was all about her 'fam', I wanted to write a story with family at the very heart of it. And Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their children are the ultimate dysfunctional family. The most melodramatic soap has nothing on them.
"Eleanor has been banished from court after helping her son raise an army against his father (the King – her husband!), but she's been allowed home for Christmas. And then the Doctor and Yaz rock up.
"On the surface it's a festive romp - deck the halls and grab a mince pie for a right royal family Christmas. But the banter is barbed and, underneath, the story is an exploration of how a family copes with grief and loss."