The BBC has announced a new animated Doctor Who spinoff series for younger audiences, titled Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew. The show will feature a "young" Doctor, depicted in promotional art with distinctive blue, spiky hair, and accompanied by a robot toaster sidekick.
Developed by Blue Zoo Animation Studio, known for Alphablocks and Numberblocks, the series is scheduled to premiere in late 2027 or early 2028. This timeline aligns with the BBC's broader plans to bring the main Doctor Who series back to UK television around the same period. Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew will consist of 52 eleven-minute episodes, each featuring preschool-friendly narratives.
The animated series follows the young Doctor and his companions Hannah and Beastie, along with the robot Toast-IE, as they embark on adventures through time and space in the TARDIS. The show will introduce viewers to various creatures, new worlds, and familiar Doctor Who adversaries, including a reimagined, more child-friendly Dalek design. Promotional images showcase the Doctor using his sonic screwdriver and a companion with a pink alien pet.
The introduction of a "young" Doctor and the series' placement potentially outside established timelines may be influenced by the recent exploration of the Doctor's pre-William Hartnell origins. This approach offers creative freedom for the spinoff, allowing it to explore the Whoniverse without being strictly bound by existing continuity or specific actor appearances. However, the article notes the possibility of guest appearances from established Doctors, such as David Tennant.
Former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who recently commented on his departure from the series and the unresolved cliffhanger from his tenure, will not be involved in Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew.