It's interesting that they try to pitch the Christmas episodes at a slightly different audience - or perhaps an audience in a slightly different mood with slightly different expectations.

I was once agains surprised that a principal guest start - Kylie Minogue this time - could actually turn in a good nuanced performance, aided by a perceptive script. She's apparently even indicated that she'd not be averse to coming back sometime.

The Doctor in social settings is always interesting, just to see how he's going to subvert them.

On the other hand, some of the silliness, like the Queen waving "Thank you Doctor", rather spoiled the suspension od disbelief for me.

And the old man who played the newsseller Wilf so impressed the production team that they invited him back for several episodes in series 4.