: It marked the first time the revived series used actual television footage of the first eight Doctors (shown via "infostamps") instead of just drawings.

: Guest star David Morrissey was reportedly cast only five days before filming began.

: A new monster was introduced—a crude, blocky version of a Cyberman draped in black robes—designed to act as animalistic scouts for the Cybermen.

: While earlier stories like "The Unquiet Dead" were set in the past, this was the first revived-series Christmas special to take place in a past era (1851 London) rather than the present day.

: The episode famously features a low-tech Victorian "TARDIS," which stands for T ethered A erial R elease D eveloped I n S tyle—a hot air balloon used by David Morrissey's character.