'Doctor Who' Animated Spinoff In the Works at CBBC

Plans for Doctor Who Season 3 (or Season 16 if you prefer, or Season 42 if you're really going to be like that) are currently stuck in limbo as negotiations 9or lack thereof) occur behind the scenes between series producer Bad Wolf (showrunner Russell T. Davies' company), series home network BBC, and the latest current streamer to pick up the TARDIS and run with it, Disney. The current political climate is not what House of Mouse anticipated when it originally picked up the series, nor have the ratings been what the Disney+ brass hoped*. However, the BBC does seem to be all that bothered; it's just going ahead with the next planned spinoff, Disney on board or not.

(*Truth be told, the only way ratings would hit what they wanted is if Disney had been able to go all in, Bluey-style. Even then, the political climate remains a factor.)

The next spinoff, following the current adult-angled The War Between the Land & the Sea, is aimed at a younger crowd and intended to air on the Children's BBC, CBBC (fondly referred to as "CBeebies"). This isn't the first time the BBC has produced a school-aged spinoff series; the last one was the only genuinely successful spinoff out of Davies' first reboot in the late aughts, The Sarah Jane Adventures, which ended when its lead actor, Elisabeth Sladen, passed away.

This time, the BBC is actually looking to make a spinoff that Disney might want, even if it drops the main series: an animated children's show (probably with short 15-minute or less installments). It's also a smart move, since classic episodes are being revived using animated sequences; depending on how it's done, this show could tie them all together. Then there's Bluey's remarkable success on Disney+ and the House of Mouse's history of children's animated programming; in short, this is a project definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Here is the BBC's call for pitches:

The BBC is set to expand the Whoniverse as it launches plans for a brand new pre-school animation series, which will see the Doctor’s adventures come to CBeebies for the first time ever.

The BBC is seeking a passionate production company to create and produce a series that will run independently of the main show. This series will feature the Doctor traveling through time and space for a pre-school audience, solving mysteries and problems alongside their companions and other friends.

And, of course, they may come up against one or two challenges on their way…

“Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor!” said Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, “This much-loved franchise entertains millions around the world, so it is only right that our younger audience get to experience the wonder and the magic of the Doctor in a brand new format.” She also made it clear in her statement, along with the pitch, that the BBC is looking for people who know the material as well as animation experts. “This is an extremely exciting opportunity, and we are looking forward to welcoming companies to pitch for this new project, as we continue our commitment and investment in the U.K.’s animation industry.”

Will this latest spinoff help bring Disney back to the fold and get Season 3 back on track? Honestly, it's kind of doubtful, but it should also be noted that the driving impetus that caused Davies to buy 51% of the Doctor Who rights in 2022, and to get Disney on board with distribution, was out of fear that a 2024 election that went to the Tory Party would spell the end of the BBC. He did not foresee the Tory party completely imploding, Whig-style, and though Reform would be scads worse, Labour is technically still in charge until 2029, by which time the next 99-year charter will be firmly in place. 

With the Disney life raft no longer necessary, and BritBox looking to pick up more BBC fare facing sudden funding gaps, there are more suitors in town than there used to be. Whatever happens, the Doctor will eventually once again be in.

All the classic episodes in existence from Doctor Who's original run (Seasons 1-26) are streaming on BritBox. The 2005 reboot seasons (Seasons 1-13, or Seasons 27-39 if you're being consistent) are streaming on HBO Max. Seasons 1 and 2 of the new reboot (or Seasons 14+15 if you must, or Seasons 40+41 for the extremists) are streaming on Disney+.