Moffat: 'Who Xmas ep an emotional journey'

Doctor Who executive producer Steven Moffat has insisted that the show's upcoming Christmas special will take fans on an emotional journey.

Speaking to The Guardian, Moffat explained that 'A Christmas Carol' was designed to appeal to a wider audience than the sci-fi series normally does.

"If you're going to do a Christmas Day episode, which is based on the principle that the audience have had a selection box for breakfast and are probably drunk, then you have to move it on a bit - because a normal episode of Doctor Who wouldn't be enough," he jested.

The executive producer further remarked that he is hopeful the festive episode will evoke a variety of emotions from viewers.

He added: "I think [holiday specials] have to be emotional… You have to go on the whole journey - laugh and cry a bit."

The Doctor Who one-off special 'A Christmas Carol' will air on Christmas Day on BBC One in the UK and on BBC America in the US.