Shortly after the release of the season two finale of “Doctor Who”, the BBC has announced that it is going to be expanding the “Whoniverse” with 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 looking for a passionate production company to create and produce the series, which will run independently from the main show, that will see the Doctor travelling through time and space for the 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…

Speaking about the plans, Patricia Hidalgo, Director of Children’s and Education, said:

“Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor! 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. 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 UK’s animation industry.”

While Disney has had a co-production deal with the BBC for the main “Doctor Who” show, along with the spin-off series of “The War Between the Land and the Sea”, it will not be involved in the new animated show.

Disney’s deal only included two seasons of “Doctor Who”, along with the 60th anniversary and Christmas specials, plus the new spin-off show.  There has been considerable speculation that Disney might not continue to co-produce the series with the BBC; however, the BBC will continue with the show, as it has done for over 60 years, moving on to a brand new Doctor, played by Billie Piper. 

If Disney and the BBC were looking to continue their partnership, an animated show for pre-schoolers would be a great addition to the Disney Jr lineup, but I do have a feeling that Disney won’t continue their partnership beyond the new spin-off series, due to a lack of viewership and problematic content that has caused some backlash, plus Disney would rather invest in content it owns outright.

No other details on the upcoming “Doctor Who” animated series have been revealed, and it sounds like it’s still in the early stages, given that the BBC hasn’t even involved a production company yet.

Would you like to see a “Doctor Who” pre-school series?  Let me know on social media!

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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