Santa Claus is coming to BBC for its annual “Doctor Who” Christmas special, and “Shaun of the Dead” star Nick Frost will be playing the iconic holiday figure.
The first trailer (above) for the science fiction show’s 2014 Christmas special gives viewers the first glimpse of Frost as jolly old St. Nicholas, who will be helping Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) and his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) face off against some kind of beast terrorizing the North Pole.
Previously announced guest stars on the special include Michael Troughton (“Breathless,” “The New Statesman”), son of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton; Natalie Gumede (“Coronation Street,” “Strictly Come Dancing”); Faye Marsay (“Pride,” “The White Queen”) and Nathan McMullen (“Misfits,” “Casualty”).
BBC America is airing the Season 8 finale on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET, but the Doctor will return in December for the special written by Steven Moffat and directed by Paul Wilmshurst (“Strike Back,” “Combat Kids”). No exact date for the special, however, has been announced.