BBC makes "Whoniverse" official, announces exclusive Tales of the TARDIS six-part series
Yes, even more Doctor Who content is coming our way. But this limited series' exclusivity might upset you.
Another day, another drop of big Doctor Who news. This time, BBC is officially announcing that "The Whoniverse will become the official name, and dedicated home, for all shows within the orbit of Doctor Who which will live on BBC iPlayer."
It's been hard to keep track of all the recent Doctor Who developments, from Disney taking over distribution (through Disney+) outside of the UK and Ireland, to the three special episodes arriving in November and December to celebrate the series' 60th anniversary. David Tennant's return as the Fourteenth Doctor alone was shocking, but the anniversary episodes will also introduce the previously announced Fifteenth Doctor, played by Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa.
Well, if you're a huge Doctor Who fan who's up to speed with the franchise, BBC is promising an extra present this year in just a couple of days, on November 1: Tales of the TARDIS. The problem for international fans? This new, six-part series will only be available to watch through the BBC iPlayer. Whether it eventually gets distributed through Disney+ doesn't really matter, as this limited series is meant to be a celebration of the Doctor’s 60th birthday, and a good portion of the fandom is being left out.
Reprising their roles as the Doctor and their companions, we'll see Maureen O’Brien and Peter Purves, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, Katy Manning and Daniel Anthony, Peter Davison and Janet Fielding, Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant, and Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. While BBC promises new developments on top of the expected trips down memory lane, the episodes won't be all-new, as they'll mix fresh scenes with classic episodes to create feature-length "omnibus episodes." The new chapters are written by Russell T. Davies, Phil Ford, and Pete McTighe.
If you're planning to get into the Doctor Who franchise, there's much ground to cover, and our guide to the entire TV series and the specials can save you a ton of trouble. As for the 60th anniversary specials, you'll want to get all the details here so you're ready to watch them as soon as they drop.
