Russell T Davies wants to “show the BBC” the Doctor Who universe’s potential with new spin-off

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With the upcoming spin-off, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ Russell T Davies has shared that he aims to demonstrate the full potential of the Doctor Who universe to the BBC.

Doctor Who is at a turning point, as the BBC has ended its partnership with Disney. Although fans will have to wait until Christmas 2026 for the next full series, a special festive episode, ‘The War Between’, will air this year.

Showrunner Russell T Davies has hinted at the exciting possibilities of the show, telling Empire he wanted to demonstrate the full scope and impact this universe has to offer the BBC.

The show feels incredibly current, tackling issues like the outrageous profits made by water companies and their dismissive attitude towards the public – and it absolutely should, given the subject matter!

The upcoming story, ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ centers on ordinary man Barclay (played by Russell Tovey) as he gets caught up in a struggle to stop a large-scale war. It will feature the classic monsters from 1972, previously known as the Sea Devils, but showrunner Russell Davies suggests they’re now referred to by a different name.

The new five-episode show starts on December 7th and features a meeting between the presenter and Gugu Mbatha-Raw’s character, Salt. The two will develop a surprising bond.

Davies recently shared with TopMob that the show will address the climate crisis, noting that it’s a topic on every writer’s mind. He explained that we’re already experiencing the effects of climate change – essentially in a ‘climate war’ – and the series simply brings that reality to life through drama.

He explained that when he was first asked about returning to Doctor Who in 2021, this initial concept was the very first thing he proposed. He’d actually come up with the idea on his own, before any discussions began.

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2025-11-17 20:10