Russell Tovey has alluded to the much-rumoured return of the Sea Devils in the upcoming Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, and that Gugu Mbatha-Raw will be playing one of the aquatic race.

Though saying he won’t be wearing prosthetics, Tovey says:

“Well, the story of these creatures has appeared in Doctor Who episodes, it might have been in the ‘60s, but this has been a refresh of that. You’ve got members of UNIT in there. Jemma Redgrave is so brilliant. She’s the same character [UNIT leader, Kate (Lethbridge-)Stewart] in this, but it’s so elevated. Gugu Mbatha-Raw is in prosthetics and phenomenal. I don’t know how she does it. I think it’s got everything for the Doctor Who world, but it also feels completely fresh.”

Of course, the Sea Devils actually debuted in 1972, as the watery cousins of the Silurians, a connection highlighted in 1984’s Warriors of the Deep. The Sea Devils aren’t confirmed to be returning for this show, but as they’re the likeliest species to come back and have been long rumoured for The War Between the Land and the Sea, so Tovey is probably just getting dates mixed up, which is entirely understandable — at least he’s aware that they have a history!

Presumably Kate will mention this history: even though it’s the first time on TV that she’ll meet the Sea Devils, her father, the Brigadier, encountered them, and UNIT will have files on the creatures.

Also note that Russell says “creatures”, not “aliens”, as the Sea Devils are native to Earth.

Either way, Tovey has basically confirmed that the spin-off will feature a returning monster. So it’s either the Sea Devils or the Fish People from The Underwater Menace.

Gugu, of course, played Tish, Martha Jones’ sister in Series 3, so this time, she’ll be on the side of the antagonists.

The War Between the Land and the Sea is in post-production and will air at some point after Doctor Who Series 15.