The Doctor makes a joke about the rope that's a callback to the last Christmas Special. He paints Anita's car TARDIS blue. The sonic screwdriver gets used extensively in this episode to look cool ...

[Comedic actor Joel Fry plays affable security guard Trev, who doesn’t last long after the Doctor turns up at his place of work.] MOFFAT Doctor Who is a children’s show and it’s Christmas ...

And right now, fittingly, the hotel is holding a “Christmas Everywhere All at Once” special, staff member Trev tells the Doctor ... “The Last Black Man to Drink on This Network Got Fired ...