VIDEO: DOCTOR WHO Christmas Special Sneak Peek

BBC has just released the first teaser for the upcoming Doctor Who Christmas special - check it out below!

Doctor Who follows the Doctor, an alien from the planet Gallifrey, the last of the powerful Time Lords, on his adventures through all of space and time. Traveling in the TARDIS, the time machine resembling a vintage British blue police box that is bigger on the inside, the Doctor almost always side-steps danger armed only with his incredible intelligence and fix-anything sonic screwdriver. The Doctor routinely cheats death by regenerating - changing into a new, fresh body. Eleven actors have starred in the iconic role. First played by William Hartnell, the Doctor was portrayed by seven actors before the series went off the air in 1989, including Tom Baker, who held the role the longest, from 1974-1981. After being off the air for seven years, the Doctor regenerated again in a 1996 TV movie.

When Doctor Who returned to television with a new lead writer and executive producer, Russell T Davies, in 2005, the title character once again had a new face. The series was resurrected with Christopher Eccleston (Thor: The Dark World, Heroes) as the Doctor, and Billie Piper as his companion Rose. David Tennant took on the role in 2006. In 2010, Steven Moffat (Sherlock, Coupling) became lead writer and executive producer while Matt Smith, made his first appearance as the Doctor - the youngest actor ever to play the character. He is the first actor to be nominated for a BAFTA Award in the role. Last season Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) became his companion, the impossible girl who routinely appears when he needs the most help. The thrilling season finale ended on a cliffhanger with the closing shot saying Introducing John Hurt as The Doctor.

Matt Smith will hang up his bow tie at the end of this year after starring in the 50th Anniversary special and regenerating in the Christmas special. Having starred alongside companions, Amy Pond (Karen Gillan, Guardians of the Galaxy), Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill, Broadchurch), River Song (Alex Kingston, NCIS, ER) and most recently Clara Oswald, Matt's Doctor has fought Daleks (mutated beings encased in a metal shell and bent on destruction) and Cybermen (humans who have been upgraded to soulless metal robots) as well as Weeping Angels (frightening creatures that are erased from memory the moment someone looks away) in New York. Regularly heard shouting 'run' and 'Geronimo', through Matt's Doctor fans have been introduced to a new culinary combination - fish fingers and custard.