Did you spot the Doctor Who reference in Dracula episode one?

Eagle-eyed fans of the Gatiss and Moffat era of Doctor Who spotted a reference to the writers’ time on the popular sci-fi show – when Jonathan Harker (John Heffernan) receives a letter that contains the mention of an “adorable barmaid” at The Rose and Crown.

Now, back in the 2012 Christmas special of Doctor Who (titled The Snowmen), which also had a Victorian setting, Jenna Louise Coleman’s character Clara Oswald worked at a pub bearing the very same name.

This led to many fans taking to social media to express their delight at the reference.

One Twitter uses wrote, “The barmaid at The Rose and Crown you say? Could that be one Clara Oswald?” while another tweeted, “YOU’RE REALLY GIVING US THE CLARA CINEMATIC UNIVERSE.”

https://twitter.com/haruspis/status/1212481579894882307

However, while we enjoyed this fun little reference – it should be pointed out that the line is probably not hinting at a potential looming crossover...

• Dracula: 9 big questions we have after episode 1 of the BBC series

While Clara did work in the Rose and Crown in The Snowmen, that episode took place in 1892 – a good five years before the events of Dracula, therefore that particular version of Clara would already have died by the time at which Dracula is set.

So, alas, viewers shouldn’t expect to see Clara pop up in one of the remaining two episodes of the show. Still, it was definitely a fun nod…

Episode two of Dracula airs tonight at 9pm on BBC One