Doctor Who: The Giggle Soundtrack: “The Giggle” is the third and final of three specials broadcast to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the British science fiction series Doctor Who. Written by Russell T Davies, it marks the start of his second stint as showrunner, having previously held the role during the show’s 2005 revival through 2010.
The special aired on BBC in the United Kingdom and Ireland on December 9, 2023, and internationally on Disney+, following the two earlier 60th-anniversary specials, “The Star Beast” and “Wild Blue Yonder.” “The Giggle” features the regeneration/”bi-generation” of the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) into the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa), and guest stars Neil Patrick Harris as the villainous Toymaker.
Release date: December 9, 2023 (United Kingdom); December 9, 2023 (Disney+, various international regions)
Quick Facts
| Episode | Doctor Who: The Giggle (60th Anniversary Special 3 of 3) |
| Writer | Russell T Davies |
| Air Date | December 9, 2023 |
| Composer | Murray Gold |
| Key Cast | David Tennant, Ncuti Gatwa, Catherine Tate, Neil Patrick Harris |
| Standalone Soundtrack Album | Not yet released as of this writing (Murray Gold has said 60th-anniversary specials scores are planned) |
| Where to Stream | BBC iPlayer (UK); Disney+ (international) |
Who Is the Composer of Doctor Who: The Giggle?
Murray Gold: Murray Jonathan Gold (born February 28, 1969, in Portsmouth, England) is an English composer for stage, film, and television. He is best known as the music director and composer for Doctor Who’s 2005 revival through 2017, and returned to score the show’s 60th-anniversary specials and Ncuti Gatwa’s era starting in 2023. His other credits include the BBC’s Vanity Fair, Queer as Folk, Gentleman Jack, and the films Wild About Harry and Death at a Funeral.
Music Featured in Doctor Who: The Giggle
The episode’s most memorable musical moment is a needle-drop, not an original score cue: the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris) lip-syncs and dances to “Spice Up Your Life” by the British girl group the Spice Girls, from their second studio album Spiceworld (1997), during his high-camp rampage through the UNIT control room.
| Cue / Song | Artist / Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spice Up Your Life | Spice Girls | From Spiceworld (1997); needle-drop used for the Toymaker’s dance |
| Doctor Who Theme (original) | Ron Grainer, realized by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (Delia Derbyshire) | 1963 original theme |
| Doctor Who Theme (1980s arrangement) | BBC Radiophonic Workshop / Peter Howell | Classic-series theme variant |
| Doctor Who Theme (2005-2017 era) | Murray Gold | Modern-revival theme arrangement |
| I Am the Doctor | Murray Gold | Recurring Eleventh Doctor-era theme |
| Doomsday | Murray Gold | Recurring emotional theme from the revival era |
| The Doctor’s Theme | Murray Gold | Recurring character theme |
Note: aside from “Spice Up Your Life,” a standalone soundtrack album for the 60th-anniversary specials had not been officially released as of this writing; the theme variants above are drawn from Doctor Who’s broader score history rather than a released “Giggle” album.
Where to Stream
You can watch “Doctor Who: The Giggle” on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Ireland, and on Disney+ internationally, including the United States. (Source: Wikipedia)
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
What song does the Toymaker dance to in Doctor Who: The Giggle?
“Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls, from their 1997 album Spiceworld. An earlier version of this page misidentified the song as being by a fictional group called “Speechless Girls” — that has been corrected.
Who composed the score for Doctor Who: The Giggle?
Murray Gold, the longtime Doctor Who composer (2005-2017), returned to score the 60th-anniversary specials, including The Giggle.
Has a soundtrack album for the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials been released?
Not as of this writing. Murray Gold has said soundtracks for the specials are planned, but no official release date has been confirmed.
What happens in Doctor Who: The Giggle?
The special sees the Fourteenth Doctor (David Tennant) and companion Donna Noble face the Toymaker (Neil Patrick Harris). The story introduces “bi-generation,” allowing the Doctor to regenerate into the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) while the Fourteenth Doctor also survives.
Where can I watch Doctor Who: The Giggle?
It’s available on BBC iPlayer in the UK and Ireland, and on Disney+ in the United States and most other territories.
Related reading: TV Soundtracks Hub · Disney+ · Streaming Guide