BBC Orders Animated Doctor Who Spinoff TARDIS Crew for CBeebies
The BBC has commissioned Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, a new animated spinoff series aimed at younger preschool viewers on CBeebies, IGN reported. The London-based creator of Alphablocks and Numberblocks, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, is producing the 52-episode series, with each installment running for 11 minutes.
Official artwork released by the BBC shows a young incarnation of the Time Lord sporting blue spiky hair, wielding a sonic screwdriver, and traveling alongside companions named Hannah, Beastie, and Toast-IE. Hannah wears a pink hat and holds a pink alien pet, while Toast-IE serves as a robot toaster sidekick. The series features preschool-friendly stories set aboard the TARDIS as the crew encounters creatures, new worlds, and classic foes like the Daleks, which sport a cutesy redesign featuring a wooden spoon as an appendage.
Animated series targets late 2027 or early 2028 launch
Production targets a launch window in late 2027 or early 2028. This schedule places the animated release roughly a year before the BBC aims to bring the main Doctor Who series back to United Kingdom television screens, according to IGN’s reporting.
The spinoff sidesteps the established eras of the main television show’s 16 main incarnations. IGN noted that describing the protagonist as a young Time Lord suggests the series explores a pre-Hartnell era, leaning into the franchise’s Timeless Child revelation that establishes a much longer lineage of forgotten variants.
Former showrunner Russell T Davies is not involved in the project. Davies recently discussed his departure from the main series, stating he felt no concern about leaving his Billie Piper cliffhanger unresolved.
Frequently Asked Questions About TARDIS Crew
When will Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew premiere?
The BBC projects a launch window in late 2027 or early 2028 for the CBeebies animated series.
Which animation studio is producing the series?
London-based Blue Zoo Animation Studio, known for creating Alphablocks and Numberblocks, is producing the show.
How many episodes has the BBC ordered?
The BBC has commissioned 52 episodes, with each episode lasting 11 minutes.