Doctor Who showrunner, Russell T Davies, says that he wanted the new spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, to show off the capabilities of the Whoniverse.

And it’s not just to deliver that scale for audiences; it seems he wanted to prove it to the BBC too.

Davies told Empire:

“I wanted to show the BBC what this universe is capable of. And the potential that it has, and the punch that it can deliver.”

That does sound like the sort of job a spin-off should be doing, in part, although its intent — i.e. to set the stage for more spin-offs — is somewhat stunted by it having been made in different times, when Disney was still on board and the future of Who seemed rosy. It seems unlikely another spin-off will be greenlit, even if the reception to The War Between the Land and the Sea is positive.

That’s not to say another wouldn’t be welcomed. I would be up for a UNIT spin-off, for instance. That sounds like what The War Between the Land and the Sea is anyway; almost a pilot.

Davies goes on to say:

“It’s very 2025 in its bones. We even deal with the water companies and their profiteering bosses laughing in our faces. In a series about the water you have to!”

He’s not wrong. For those in foreign territories who are unaware, water companies have been making massive profits but dumping a huge amount of waste, stuff that should be destined for sewage, into UK seas and rivers. It’s a global problem, but one that keeps cropping up on UK news without much around the situation being fixed.

The War Between the Land and the Sea launches with a double bill on Sunday 7th December 2025 in the UK, and will be available around the world in early 2026.