The BBC has announced a new Doctor Who spin-off series set to debut on UK children’s channel CBeebies, amid a turbulent time for the broadcaster’s flagship sci-fi show.
Details of the new series are scarce, and it’s clear the project is currently still in its early planning stages, with the BBC currently seeking a “passionate production company” to step on board and help take the idea forward.
Word of the BBC mounting a new animated series immediately brings to mind Disney, which co-financed the Doctor Who’s recent two seasons, and which also funded the upcoming live-action spin-off The War Between the Land and Sea. Doctor Who’s most recent season even featured an episode where the title character was transformed into an animated character.
Curiously, however, the BBC has made clear today that Disney will not be involved in this new animated project, as fans wait to hear if the company has pulled out of financing new episodes of Doctor Who altogether.
Indeed, today’s announcement sparks a galaxy of questions for the future of Doctor Who, whose recent run landed to mixed reviews and a huge degree of uncertainty over its future. The show’s most recent finale saw the exit of star Ncuti Gatwa, during a reworked ending added in via reshoots.
The BBC has yet to confirm if and when a new season of Doctor Who show will enter production, or even make clear whether returning actor Billie Piper, who viewers saw Gatwa tranform into, is indeed playing a new incarnation of The Doctor, or some other, mysterious temporary replacement.
All of this leaves today’s animated spin-off announcement, which comes without any details of its planned cast or setting, looking particularly odd. Who will play The Doctor within it? Will the Doctor even appear? A statement by the BBC today suggests so, but does not confirm it.
“Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor,” said Patricia Hidalgo, BBC Director of Children’s and Education. “This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it is only right that our younger audience get to experience the wonder and the magic of the Doctor in a brand new format.”
Surely to experience the magic of the Doctor, the main character themselves will turn up? But, if so, there’s no mention of which Doctor this might be.
“This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and we are looking forward to welcoming companies to pitch for this new project,” Hidalgo continued, making clear the series won’t be debuting imminently, “as we continue our commitment and investment in the UK’s animation industry.”
The BBC has a history of Doctor Who spin-offs, including the more adult-focused Torchwood, teen-orientated Class, and previous children’s series The Sarah Jane Adventures. None of these featured The Doctor as a primary character, though the Time Lord did put in an appearance in the latter series as a guest star.
Perhaps this animated series doesn’t need a new Doctor, then, and perhaps now is the perfect time to mount such a project. Fans believe that, even if new episodes of Doctor Who were confirmed now, scheduling, filming, and post-production work would mean the series will likely be off-air until 2027 regardless.
So, what could this new animated spin-off focus on? A return of animated villain Lux from Doctor Who’s most recent season is possible, considering the medium, although might be deemed too creepy for the young CBeebies audience. More age appropriate, perhaps could be an animated continuation of Space Babies, Doctor Who’s divisive recent episode which featured a spaceship piloted by toddlers. Could this be where pram-inhabiting Captain Poppy returns? Whatever the show’s focus may be, considering its early production status, Doctor Who fans likely have another wait on their hands until more is announced.
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social
