It’s a good time to be a Doctor Who fan. Over 800 episodes of the iconic sci-fi series will soon be available to watch on BBC iPlayer, and they’ll be joined by a brand-new Doctor Who spinoff series which will reunite classic Doctor Who duos, including classic Doctors and their companions.
Tales of the TARDIS will span six-episodes, with each featuring a different duo, with brand new scenes woven together with classic episodes to create feature-length omnibus episodes. Reprising their roles for the Doctor Who spinoff series are; Maureen O’Brien as Vicki and Peter Purves as Steven, Frazer Hines as Jamie and Wendy Padbury as Zoe, Katy Manning as Jo and Daniel Anthony as Clyde, Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and Janet Fielding as Tegan, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri, and Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Sophie Aldred as Ace.
The episodes will find the various pairs boarding a very special TARDIS on a nostalgic voyage through space and time as they reflect on their adventures and in the process discover something new, leaving viewers with a new insight into the story of each timeless pair.
The BBC also announced that The Whoniverse will become the official name for all the shows within the Doctor Who franchise. “The word Whoniverse was invented by fans, so it’s time to give it official status,” said Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies. “And Tales of the TARDIS is one of the greatest delights of my career – to see old Doctors and companions reunited, still fighting the good fight, is a perfect way to celebrate the Doctor’s 60th birthday!“
Dan McGolpin, Director of iPlayer and Channels added: “I’m delighted to welcome Tales of the TARDIS exclusively to BBC iPlayer, the home of Doctor Who, which is consistently one of our most popular programmes every single week of the year. Tales of the TARDIS will sit within The Whoniverse and features brand new and incredibly moving scenes with well-loved characters; it will be a fantastic starting point for a new generation to discover some of the most classic episodes and a joyous way for longstanding fans to catch up with old friends.“
We’ve also got three new Doctor Who specials to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the franchise. The three specials will see the return of David Tennant, who will be playing the Fourteenth Doctor, as well as Catherine Tate as Donna Temple-Noble. The first special, titled The Star Beast, will debut on Disney+ on November 25th, followed by Wild Blue Yonder on December 2nd, and The Giggle on December 9th.