The rumours that a new Doctor Who spin-off based around UNIT have been strengthened after a new report by The Mirror, which speculates that Jemma Redgrave will be the lead, returning to her role as Kate Stewart.

After new showrunner, Russell T Davies, announced that there will be Doctor Who spin-offs, many fans thought that UNIT was the most likely candidate. Now, The Mirror is reporting that these rumours are true and that there will also be a spin-off programme based around the monsters of Doctor Who.

A curiously curt source said:

“Doctor Who has always featured strong women in positions of authority.”

Uhm, indeed. That relates to Kate Stewart reportedly being the lead of this UNIT-based series, which doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as she’s the Chief Scientific Officer at the organisation, and its figurehead. She’s the daughter of Doctor Who legend, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.

UNIT first appeared in the Second Doctor era then played a core part in the early Third Doctor era. They’ve played recurring roles ever since, showing up again in 21st Century Who from Aliens of London/ World War Three, written by Davies. Kate Stewart debuted in Doctor Who in 2012’s The Power of Three, with Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, returning for the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. UNIT has since been in several stories, including The Zygon Invasion/ The Zygon Inversion, Survivors of the Flux, and The Power of the Doctor.

UNIT has carried a few series already — on audio for Big Finish, and for Candy Jar Books, both ongoing.

At this stage, it’s still just a rumour, but we think it’s pretty likely; so too is a spin-off with a classic Doctor Who companion, similar to The Sarah Jane Adventures.