A first look at Doctor Who spinoff The War Between The Land And The Sea reveals an intriguing mix of new and returning characters as the show enters production.
Initially announced at San Diego Comic Con in July 2024, the five-part mini-series is the latest addition to showrunner and executive producer Russell T Davies’ flourishing Whoniverse. Pete McTighe also joins the spin-off as executive producer, having previously penned episodes for the 13th Doctor, ‘Kerblam!‘ (2018) and ‘Praxeus’ (2020).
Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient and Ruth Madeley will reprise their roles as UNIT trio, Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Colonel Ibrahim and Shirley Anne Bingham. After recently featuring in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (2023) and Season One (2024), UNIT will be called into action once more when “a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity,” according to the spinoff’s official synopsis.
Colin McFarlane will also make a return to The Whoniverse as General Austin Pierce, a surprise reveal which piqued fans’ interest; McFarlane’s character last appeared 15 years ago in Torchwood: Children of Earth (2009).
Meanwhile, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Russell Tovey will feature prominently in the show as mysterious new characters, after previously featuring in Doctor Who as Tish Jones and Alonso Frame.
Dylan Holmes Williams will direct all five episodes, adding to his role as director for Doctor Who season one episodes 73 Yards (2024) and Dot and Bubble (2024).
The War Between The Land And The Sea is the first spinoff produced by Bad Wolf and BBC Studios as part of the BBC and Disney+ Doctor Who partnership revealed in 2022.
As part of the spinoff’s announcement, Russell T Davies said: “I’m so lucky to work with such a magnificent cast. And this is a huge, muscular, thrilling drama which will shake The Whoniverse to its foundations. When the Doctor’s not in town, the whole of humanity is in trouble.”
Before Doctor Who’s illustrious 61-year history grows further in The War Between The Land And The Sea, fans can also enjoy a festive special episode featuring Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ worldwide this Christmas.
Words by Jacob Gill
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