Russell Tovey looks buff in first official pics from 'Doctor Who' spin-off, 'The War Between the Land and the Sea'
The BBC has released the first official images from its upcoming Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, and fans are already buzzing about Russell Tovey.
The five-part drama, penned by returning Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, promises to be a “huge, spectacular Christmas treat” filled with “heroes and monsters and battles and romance in a world on the edge of disaster,” according to Davies. The series will air on BBC One and iPlayer later this year, with international streaming on Disney+ in 2026.
Among the newly unveiled photos, one image stands out: Russell Tovey, best known for roles in Looking and Years and Years, appears as Barclay, a UNIT operative caught in the middle of an escalating global crisis.
Speaking about his character, Russell said: “Barclay is someone who’s been through the wars - literally and figuratively. He’s loyal, brave, and maybe a little reckless. I’ve loved getting stuck into the action, and yes, there’s been a fair bit of gym time involved!”
The spin-off centres on an ancient species rising from the ocean, sparking an international emergency that UNIT must confront. Alongside Tovey, the cast includes Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Jemma Redgrave reprising her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce.
Russell T Davies teased the scale of the story: “This is UNIT like you’ve never seen it before. It’s global, it’s dangerous, and it’s deeply emotional. Watch the seas!
Produced by Bad Wolf and BBC Studios, the series is being billed as one of the most ambitious Doctor Who spin-offs to date, blending political intrigue with blockbuster spectacle. Filming took place across the UK, with extensive underwater sequences and cutting-edge visual effects promised.
While the BBC has yet to confirm an exact UK release date, the first-look photos suggest an epic, high-stakes addition to the Whoniverse.
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