The latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine previews the new spin-off series launching next Sunday, The War Between the Land and the Sea

In the magazine

• As THE WAR BETWEEN THE LAND AND THE SEA surfaces on BBC One and iPlayer, we speak to star RUSSELL TOVEY about his role as Barclay Pierre-Dupont.

• Writer PETE McTIGHE, producer JOEL COLLINS and director DYLAN HOLMES WILLIAMS discuss the development of this eagerly awaited spin-off.

• A preview of the new 90-minute version of Third Doctor classic THE SEA DEVILS.

• UNIT intelligence on previous SEA DEVIL skirmishes!

• Back to 1968! UNIT’s first encounter with the Doctor – 57 years ago!

• Concept artist PETER McKINSTRY talks about his work and his new book The Art of Time Travel.

• Doctor Who showrunner RUSSELL T DAVIES shares his latest 12 Days of Christmas!

• Looking back on 60 years of the Doctor Who Annual.

• We remember Doctor Who’s very first Dalek December…

• …and the many ways in which Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has influenced Doctor Who.

• We excavate the Cave-Monsters – in the first part of our deep dive into the fact and fiction of Doctor Who and the Silurians.

• A ghost story for Christmas featuring the Fifteenth Doctor…

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: News including the launch of The War Between the Land and the Sea, a round-up of this year’s Doctor Who Day activity, and a Children in Need Special.

• Reviews – featuring the latest audios, books and action figures.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe – including the War Doctor’s clash with every Cyberman ever!

• Prizes to be won – you could win a massive Christmas bundle of Blu-rays and CDs! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 624 is on sale Thursday 4 December 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £8.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £7.99.

The next release in the Blu-ray Collection series will be Season 21, the last starring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and introducing Colin Baker as the Sixth incarnation.

The box set will be released on Monday, 16th March 2026 and is available for pre-order on Amazon now. 

In his final season, the action ramps up for Peter Davison’s Doctor as he faces terrors from his past, invaders from the future, arch enemies and a battle to the death.

With companions Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson), Peri (Nicola Bryant) and robot Kamelion (Gerald Flood) the Doctor journeys from an underwater seabase to contemporary England, from a devastated Earth colony to the beaches of Lanzarote, from a volcanic alien world to the deadly caves on Androzani.

Along the way, the TARDIS crew confront Daleks, Sea Devils, Silurians, Tractators, slug-like Gastropods, the evil Malus and the vengeful Master!

All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media. 

The Collection: Season 21 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material, including:

• UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS
  On The Awakening, Frontios, Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Caves Of Androzani
• WARRIORS OF THE DEEP: SPECIAL EDITION 
• An exciting four-part re-edit with updated special effects and immersive 5.1 surround sound mix
• IN CONVERSATION
• Matthew Sweet chats to Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough) and Matthew Waterhouse (Adric)
• NEW MAKING-OF DOCUMENTARIES
• For Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Twin Dilemma
• LOOK WHO’S BOATING 
• Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton take to the River for an epic adventure.
• 48 HOURS WITH FIELDING
• Toby Hadoke crashes at Janet Fielding’s
• BEHIND THE SOFA 
• New episodes with Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Bonnie Langford (Mel), Colin Baker (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Tara Ward (Preston), Keith Jayne (Will), Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet), Rula Lenska (Styles), director Graeme Harper, Paul Conrad (Romulus) and Andrew Conrad (Remus).   
• THE DOCTOR WHO ESCAPE ROOM
• Two new teams battle it out
• BRAND NEW AUDIO COMMENTARY 
• On The Awakening
• NEW SURROUND SOUND MIXES 
• On Warriors Of The Deep, The Awakening and The Caves Of Androzani.
• TALES OF THE TARDIS 
• A 2023 edit of Earthshock with new linking material
• from Peter Davison and Janet Fielding
• THE FIVE(ISH) DOCTORS REBOOT
• With brand new audio commentary
• EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE TREATS 
• Including never-before-released TV appearances and studio footage
• HD PHOTO GALLERIES 
• INFO TEXT 
• PDF ARCHIVE
• PLUS LOTS MORE!

This ten-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD, including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.

The Collection: Season 21 Announcement Trailer

BBC Audiobooks has announced the completion of the full sequence of audiobook novelisations covering every televised Doctor Who adventure from The Daleks (1964) to Rose (2005).

This landmark is celebrated with the release of Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster, read by Jon Culshaw, an audio adaptation of  Terrance Dicks’s 1976 novelisation of the beloved Fourth Doctor story Terror of the  Zygons. 

This milestone marks the culmination of over 160 unabridged audiobook titles,  representing every televised Doctor Who story between the Daleks’ debut in late 1963 through to the revival of the series in 2005. 

What began with Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks by David  Whitaker in 1964 - later reissued as Doctor Who and the Daleks - has grown into an extraordinary legacy of storytelling. The Target Books range has ensured that each of those adventures, from the black-and-white classics to the dawn of the modern era, has been preserved and reimagined in sound. 

61 narrators have contributed their voices to this audio chronicle of the Doctor’s TV  adventures, including five on-screen Doctors (Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter  Davison, Colin Baker and Paul McGann).

This is in addition to numerous companions, allies and adversaries bringing each story to life, lending their talents to  both narrative and dialogue.

Their readings are accompanied by key special effects and the authentic voices of Daleks, Cybermen, and K9, courtesy of Nicholas Briggs  and John Leeson.

A brand-new trailer for The War Between the Land and the Sea has been released, exclusively broadcast on today’s The One Show, featuring leads Russell Tovey (Barclay Pierre-Dupont) and Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Salt).

The five-part series will showcase how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing themselves to humanity and triggering an international crisis. UNIT, led by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), fights for control as humanity faces destruction.

Alongside Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Jemma Redgrave, the series features a star-studded cast including Ruth Madeley as Shirley Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christofer Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce. Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will launch with a double bill on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK at 8:30pm on Sunday 7 December, and exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available) in 2026.

The series was created by Doctor Who Showrunner and Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who wrote the series with Executive Producer Pete McTighe. In addition, Executive Producers for Bad Wolf are Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

The series is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, with Lorne Balfe serving as the show’s composer.

NEW TRAILER | The War Between the Land and the Sea

A newly re-edited version of the classic Doctor Who story ‘The Sea Devils’, will be available on BBC iPlayer and broadcast on BBC Four on Sunday 7th December

The 1972 Third Doctor story is being shown ahead of the foes' return in The War Between the Land and the Sea at 8:30 pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

This new 90-minute special condenses the original six-part adventure into a feature-length experience, with updated sound design by Mark Ayres, and an enhanced score featured in The War Between the Land and the Sea created by Lorne Balfe, which has been woven together with Malcolm Clarke’s groundbreaking 1972 music.

The Sea Devils stars Jon Pertwee who played the Doctor between 1970 and 1974, alongside Katy Manning as companion Jo Grant, and features the Master, played by Roger Delgado.

Written by Malcolm Hulke and directed by Michael E. Briant, the story introduced audiences to the formidable aquatic species the Sea Devils.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says:

The special version of The Sea Devils will air on BBC iPlayer from 6 am and BBC Four at 7 pm on Sunday 7th December, and will be followed by a double bill of The War Between the Land and the Sea at 8:30pm on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

The Sea Devils is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for BBC Four and BBC iPlayer. Executive producers are Russell T Davies, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

The BBC has announced that the Doctor Who Spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is set to launch with a double bill on Sunday 7th December from 8:30pm simultaneously on BBC iPlayer and BBC One.

The five-part series follows Barclay (Russell Tovey), a low-level UNIT staff member whose ordinary life becomes a world of terror when an ancient species rises from the sea. Barclay becomes humanity’s ambassador when the mysterious Salt (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) emerges from the Tank at a summit on the Thames. UNIT, led by Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), fights for control as humanity faces destruction.

Alongside Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Jemma Redgrave, the series features a star-studded cast including Ruth Madeley as Shirley Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christofer Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce. Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says:

The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television. Outside of the UK it will air exclusively on Disney+ in 2026.

The series was created by Doctor Who Showrunner and Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who has written the series with Executive Producer Pete McTighe. In addition, Executive Producers for Bad Wolf are Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

The series is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, with Lorne Balfe serving as the show’s composer.

BBC Studios is celebrating Doctor Who Day 2025 with an interactive TARDIS Treasure Hunt.

The global celebration of the series takes place on Sunday, 23rd November, the 62nd anniversary of the broadcast of the first episode in 1963.

This year’s festivities centre around an exciting digital activation: VWORP AROUND THE WORLD, an interactive TARDIS treasure hunt inviting fans to help locate the Doctor’s missing time machine.

The virtual scavenger hunt unfolds across five missions, each guiding fans to a secret location via clues that when solved will reveal a location using what3words. Participants will log into the UNIT HQ section of the official Doctor Who website and enter the discovered TARDIS locations to unlock exclusive digital prizes, including deleted scenes, unseen scripts, and behind-the-scenes content.

The fifth and final mission, launching on 20th November, will culminate in a dramatic real-world reveal of the TARDIS landing.

The first three missions are now live on the Doctor Who website  (Mission 1, Mission 2, Mission 3).

In addition to the treasure hunt, fans can look forward to a host of activities to celebrate Doctor Who Day including:

• A 24-hour YouTube livestream showcasing every era of Doctor Who, hosted by content creator Christel Dee.

• The release of Season 2 scripts and deleted scenes on the Doctor Who website.

• A special episode of The Whoniverse Show

• And more surprises

Fans can follow the hunt and join the celebration via the Doctor Who website, social media channels, and the Doctor Who newsletter. The hashtag #DoctorWhoDay will be used across platforms to unite fans around the world.

The next DWM Special Edition begins a new series called Doctor Who: Legends, with a look at the life of Dalek creator Terry Nation.

Editor Marcus Hearn explains

The all-new content includes previously unpublished interviews, deep dives into all of Nation’s Doctor Who stories, and extracts from scripts that never made it to the screen. The issue is lavishly illustrated with rare and unseen images, including pictures from the Nation family’s collection. 

Highlights include:

• Terry Nation reflects on Doctor Who, Survivors and Blake’s 7 in a previously unpublished interview conducted in 1991.

• An exclusive interview with Rebecca and Joel Nation, in which they remember growing up with their famous father.

• Doctor Who writer and former showrunner Steven Moffat pays tribute to Terry Nation and revisits an overlooked Dalek story.

• Lost scenes from some of Terry Nation’s greatest scripts are brought to life with fresh analysis and new artwork.

• Kevin Jon Davies describes childhood meetings with Terry Nation in the 1970s.

• The story of Nation’s entire career from the 1950s to the 80s, including details of his contributions to Out of the Unknown, The Saint, The Avengers and other classics.

• Every Terry Nation film, television and radio credit, compiled for the first time.

• A previously unpublished interview with Nation’s friend and former agent, Beryl Vertue.

• The script-to-screen development of every Terry Nation Doctor Who story, including details from newly discovered notes and drafts.

    AND MORE!

Doctor Who: Legends – Terry Nation is available at panini.co.uk and good news retailers, price £9.99. It will also be available digitally from pocketmags.com price £8.99.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine is published today.

In the issue

• CAROLE ANN FORD, the first person cast in Doctor Who – as the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan – speaks to DWM about First Doctor WILLIAM HARTNELL, how she would have like to have played Susan and returning to Doctor Who in 2025!

• We examine how the character of Susan Foreman came into being…

• …and delve into the paperwork to discover the other actors considered for the role.

• We take a look at a new book celebrating the artwork used in DWM’s own Time Team column – encompassing every story from An Unearthly Child to the TV Movie.

• Back to 1980! PETER DAVISON is cast as the Fifth Doctor, and the demise of the last standing Mark 2 Police Box… 

• Gary Gillatt explains what dogs can teach us about our relationship with the Doctor…

• It’s the last throw of the dice for humanity. We travel to the end of the universe in search of Utopia…

• As we celebrate 62 years of Doctor Who we look back at the 20th Anniversary Special The Five Doctors…

• The concluding part of our latest comic strip featuring the Fifteenth Doctor…

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: Doctor Who returns to TV for Christmas 2026! Plus, we talk to Film Is Fabulous! about the hunt for missing episodes and bring you details of forthcoming audio releases.

• Reviews – featuring the latest audios and books.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Prizes to be won – including Blake’s 7 Season 2 on Blu-ray! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 623 is on sale Thursday 6 November 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

The BBC has announced that the latest Doctor Who Spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is due to launch in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December.

The five-part series will showcase how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing itself to humanity and triggering an international crisis.

Featuring a star-studded cast including Russell Tovey as Barclay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce.

Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says:

The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK in December, and exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available) in 2026.

The series was created by Doctor Who Showrunner and Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who has written the series with Executive Producer Pete McTighe. In addition, Executive Producers for Bad Wolf are Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

The series is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, with Lorne Balfe serving as the show’s composer.