Doctor Who Spin-Off Dives Deep with Thrills and Sea Monsters!

The BBC has launched a new Doctor Who spin-off drama called 'The War Between the Land and the Sea', written by Russell T Davies. This series takes a more serious and intense approach compared to the usual Doctor Who adventures. The story centers on humanity's reaction when an ancient species rises from the sea, causing a worldwide crisis. The main cast includes Russell Tovey as Barclay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, and Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. Barclay is an employee of UNIT, the military organization in the Doctor Who universe, and his life is turned upside down when Salt appears during a summit by the Thames. UNIT, led by Kate, struggles to keep order as the crisis unfolds.

Russell T Davies, who is originally from Swansea, said the idea for the series came from his concerns about the environment and the damage being done to the sea. He wanted to explore what would happen if the Doctor was not around to save the day, forcing humanity to face challenges on their own. The show promises a mix of monsters, romance, chases, and action, making it a thrilling experience for viewers. Davies and his team did research by consulting geneticists and looking into the history of the Sea Devils, a classic Doctor Who enemy. They imagined that Homo Aqua, the ancient species in the show, could have branched off from humans millions of years ago. The series is designed to be accessible to new viewers while also including references and lore for longtime fans.

Filming took place in various locations across Wales, including Cardiff Bay, Penylan, the City Arms pub, Hodge House, Cardiff City Hall, and the National Museum Cardiff. Other Welsh locations featured in the series are Merthyr Mawr, Town Bridge in Newport, the University Building and Guildhall in Swansea, and Atlantic College. Gugu Mbatha-Raw described the Cardiff sets as epic, especially the underwater set in Salt's domain, which made her feel like she was in a completely different world. Russell T Davies praised the design team for their work on the sets, calling them absolutely gorgeous. The five-part series was produced by Bad Wolf and premiered on December 7, featuring extensive underwater scenes and a fresh take on the Doctor Who universe. Fans and newcomers alike can expect an entertaining and thought-provoking adventure.