Doctor Who unveils epic spin-off and Nicola Coughlan's stellar cameo at Comic-Con

Virgin Radio

27 Jul 2024, 14:53

New adventures in the Whoniverse! Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Bridgerton’s Nicola Coughlan set to dazzle in the next batch of thrilling interstellar instalments.

Whovians! The Doctor Who universe is expanding faster than a TARDIS in full flight.

The latest announcement at San Diego Comic-Con has fans buzzing with excitement.

Yes, you heard it right—there’s a brand new spin-off coming our way! Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw will star in The War Between the Land and the Sea, and it's set to shake the Whoniverse to its very core.

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Oh, and did we mention that Bridgerton’s very own Nicola Coughlan is also set to make a special appearance in the Who-niverse? Because she absolutely will!

The news was unveiled by none other than the current Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, alongside his faithful companion Milly Gibson, and the legendary writer Russell T Davies.

The BBC and Disney+, which airs the show outside the UK, dropped this bombshell during their panel, leaving fans in a tizzy.

Our favourite Whovians, Tovey and Mbatha-Raw, are no strangers to the Doctor Who galaxy.

Both have graced the screen before, but in true Whovian fashion, the series is comfortable with a bit of actor-swapping.

Joining them are Jemma Redgrave and Alexander Devrient.

Redgrave, reprising her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, commander-in-chief of Unit, will be back in action, while Devrient returns as the ever-dashing Colonel Ibrahim.

The plot? Prepare for an underwater thrill ride! When an ancient and terrifying species emerges from the ocean, it triggers an international crisis of epic proportions.

Humanity is in peril, and Unit must step up to save the day.

Think The Abyss meets Doctor Who, with a sprinkle of Finding Nemo for good measure.

Tovey, famous for his roles in Being Human, Feud, and Looking, will lead the charge. Mbatha-Raw, who shone in Belle, Beyond the Lights, The Morning Show, and Loki, will be right there with him.

Together, they promise to bring a thrilling dynamic to the screen.

Davies couldn’t be more thrilled, stating in a press release: “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.”

BBC's director of drama, Lindsay Salt, chimed in: “The War Between the Land and the Sea is another utterly unique and gripping drama from Russell T Davies and we’re delighted to welcome the show to the Whoniverse.

"Featuring a stellar cast, with Russell Tovey and Gugu Mbatha-Raw taking on leading roles, this brand-new, epic mini-series will leave audiences on the edge of their seats as they watch Unit take on one of their biggest battles to save humanity.”

Filming kicks off next month under the direction of Dylan Holmes-Williams, who has previously worked his magic on Doctor Who episodes. Expect the same heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat excitement we’ve come to love.

But wait, there's more! As if the spin-off wasn’t enough, fans were treated to a sneak peek of the Christmas special, featuring the one and only Nicola Coughlan from Bridgerton.

Gatwa described her as “an absolute star.” Coughlan will shine as Joy in Joy To The World, penned by the ever-brilliant Steven Moffat.

Can we expect some Regency-era aliens? One can only hope!

In a tantalising tease, the panel also hinted at the next season’s big musical episode and introduced the new companion, Belinda Chandra, played by Varada Sethu.

If that doesn’t get you humming the Doctor Who theme tune, we don’t know what will!

The new series and special episodes will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ for fans around the world.

Get ready to be transported across time and space with all the action, drama, and wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey stuff that makes Doctor Who so beloved.

The series will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on Disney+ outside the UK where available.