{"id":109281,"date":"2025-10-30T18:39:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-30T18:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/109281\/"},"modified":"2025-10-30T18:39:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T18:39:08","slug":"doctor-whos-thrilling-spin-off-confirms-december-release-as-new-images-land","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/109281\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor Who&#8217;s &#8220;thrilling&#8221; spin-off confirms December release as new images land"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Doctor Who&#8217;s hotly-anticipated spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea has announced when it will hit our screens. The BBC has also released some first-look images, offering a glimpse at the stacked cast.  <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Helmed by Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, the new series premieres this December on BBC One and iPlayer, with an exact release date to be revealed in due course.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Teased as &#8220;thrilling&#8221;, the five-part series has also confirmed new cast members. Years and Years star Russell Tovey is set to play Barclay opposite Loki&#8217;s Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, while Jemma Redgrave reprises her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.<\/p>\n<p>What to Read Next<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Ruth Madeley also stars as Shirley Ann Bingham, with Alexander Devrient and Colin McFarlane featuring as Colonel Ibrahim and General Austin Pierce, respectively.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">These stars join previously announced cast members Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"russell tovey, the war between the land and the sea\" title=\"Russell Tovey, The War Between the Land and the Sea\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4742\" height=\"3163\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/russell-tovey-the-war-between-the-land-and-the-sea-69038d4d5df77.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tech\/best-tech-deals\/g35899960\/best-streaming-services\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Best streaming services\" data-node-id=\"15.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Best streaming services<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Written and executive produced by Davies and  Pete McTighe, The War Between the Land and the Sea is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, with Lorne Balfe serving as the show&#8217;s composer.<br data-node-id=\"17.3\"\/><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;This is a huge, spectacular Christmas treat, with heroes and monsters and battles and romance, in a world on the edge of disaster,&#8221; teased Davies. &#8220;And remember. Watch the seas!&#8221; <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The spin-off revolves around the Unified Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT), who is trying to prevent a global conflict once an ancient species, the Sea Devils, reveal themselves to humanity.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Ahead of its December release, the show has also released a trailer and some first-look images of Mbatha-Raw as Sea Devil creature Salt, Tovey as Barclay, and Redgrave as UNIT&#8217;s big boss Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"jemma redgrave, the war between the land and the sea\" title=\"Jemma Redgrave, The War Between the Land and the Sea\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4743\" height=\"3162\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jemma-redgrave-the-war-between-the-land-and-the-sea-69038d4c581f4.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>BBC<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69062127\/doctor-who-sarah-jane-smith-return\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69062127\/doctor-who-sarah-jane-smith-return\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"How Doctor Who is bringing back Sarah Jane Smith for &quot;brilliant&quot; new Tom Baker adventure\" data-node-id=\"26.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">How Doctor Who is bringing back Sarah Jane Smith for &#8220;brilliant&#8221; new Tom Baker adventure<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The War Between the Land and the Sea isn&#8217;t the only series expanding the Whoniverse beyond Doctor Who. Set in the same universe as the beloved sci-fi show is also a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a65043706\/doctor-who-bbc-expanding-whoniverse-first\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a65043706\/doctor-who-bbc-expanding-whoniverse-first\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"currently-untitled animated series\" data-node-id=\"28.4\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">currently untitled animated show<\/a> created for BBC&#8217;s children network CBeebies.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">As for Doctor Who, the series recently announced <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69178886\/doctor-who-future-bbc-disney-christmas-special-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a69178886\/doctor-who-future-bbc-disney-christmas-special-2026\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"it&#039;ll be back in the festive season of 2026\" data-node-id=\"30.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">it&#8217;ll be back in the festive season of 2026<\/a> for a brand new instalment. The new episodes will be produced by the BBC alone, interrupting its co-producing partnership with Disney. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"32\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a64419850\/doctor-who-quiz\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/a64419850\/doctor-who-quiz\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Take our interdimensional Doctor Who quiz!\" data-node-id=\"32.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Take our interdimensional Doctor Who quiz!<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"34\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"36\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=127X991730&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fdsdoctorwhoforum\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/dsdoctorwhoforum\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Interested in talking about Doctor Who? Visit our dedicated sub-forum\" data-node-id=\"36.0\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"690a69a3-e09e-4822-9c49-260f3b4bebbe\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/dsdoctorwhoforum\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/dsdoctorwhoforum\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=127X991730&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fdsdoctorwhoforum\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;53fd7fa5-d43c-401b-823b-b21cf6cddcd6&quot;,&quot;metadata&quot;:null,&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Skimlinks&quot;},&quot;product_metadata&quot;:null,&quot;afflink_redirect&quot;:&quot;\/_p\/afflink\/zBCk\/bit-doctor-who&quot;}\" data-vars-ga-product-brand=\"Doctor Who\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"fad5afd6-ef19-4a1d-913d-fac4a06dfb42\" data-vars-ga-product-sem3-brand=\"Doctor Who\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-1lh7k7j e1aq0z090\" target=\"_blank\">Interested in talking about Doctor Who? Visit our dedicated sub-forum<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"38\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/doctor-who\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/doctor-who\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Read more Doctor Who news on our dedicated homepage\" data-node-id=\"38.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read more Doctor Who news on our dedicated homepage<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"41\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The new edition of Living Legends is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgwitchesariana?hearst_refdomain=www.google.com&amp;hearst_utm=none\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgwitchesariana\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Ariana &amp; Witches in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"41.0.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Ariana &amp; Witches in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99. <br data-node-id=\"41.2\"\/><\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761849548_881_a5577bef-f874-41e6-b03b-0f8d9f1e5f46_1686136547.file\" alt=\"Headshot of Stefania Sarrubba\" title=\"Headshot of Stefania Sarrubba\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Reporter, Digital Spy<\/p>\n<p>Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/author\/stefaniasarrubba\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Radio Times<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Digital Spy<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Doctor Who&#8217;s hotly-anticipated spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea has announced when it will hit&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":109282,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[2115,78494,2117,156,2120,2116,111,139,69,78493,437],"class_list":["post-109281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-4b59e5d5-94d6-46ae-9295-2eaa7f185496","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-entertainment","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-locale-gb","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-shorttitle-doctor-whos-thrilling-spin-off-confirms-release","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=109281"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/109281\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/109282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=109281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=109281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=109281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}