Doctor Who‘s first Christmas episode begins with the police in festive mood – and the TARDIS arriving in various TV and film locations. If it wasn’t obvious this was a comedy episode we’re not left in any doubt for long: ‘I’ve got a complaint’ – ‘Well the doctor’s just round the corner’ followed by some tiresome business about a stolen greenhouse, and Steven entering dressed as a policeman with a Scouse accent.

There are some entertaining moments in this sitcom: ‘I’m a citizen of the universe – and a gentleman to boot,’ is one of the great Doctor quotes, and Hartnell delivers it with obvious delight. But then, having escaped Z Cars‘ finest, there’s a brief reminder of the Dalek plot before the TARDIS arrives in Silent Movie Hollywood for a lot of running about which is rather less amusing (particularly when bereft of visuals). It does, however, throw up the funniest moment:

THE DOCTOR: What’s all this funny accent?

STEVEN: Everyone else is doing it

It’s all very jolly and seasonal, and probably made sense as part of the Christmas Day 1965 BBC1 line-up, but I expect Verity Lambert and Dennis Spooner would have made more of it.

Next episode: Volcano