‘Doctor Who’ Spin-Off Based Around ‘UNIT’ In The Works Starring Jemma Redgrave

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Reports from multiple sources today have revealed that the BBC has a new ‘Doctor Who‘ spin-off series in the works, based around ‘UNIT’ led by Jemma Redgrave’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.

Ever since it was announced that Rusell T Davies would be returning to ‘Doctor Who’, and Disney would be joining the series as the international partner (bringing with it a large amount of Disney dollars), there have been noises about expanding the ‘Whoniverse’ with new spin-off series. Now, there have been multiple reports that one possible show in the works is the long-rumoured UNIT series under the leadership of Kate Lethbridge-Stewart.

UNIT has been a part of the Who mythology since it was first formed in 1968 during ‘The Invasion’ arc featuring the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton. The organisation, led by Kate’s father, Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart (played by Nicholas Courtney), was set up to investigate and combat paranormal and extraterrestrial threats to Earth. UNIT featured more heavily during the Third Doctor’s (Jon Pertwee) tenure and popped up at various points after that in the classic series.

Redgrave’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart made her debut in the 2012 episode ‘The Power of Three’ alongside Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor, and was last seen in 2022’s ‘The Power of the Doctor’, Jodie Whittaker swansong as the Thirteenth Doctor. It has previously been announced that Redgrave will reprise her role in Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as Fifteenth Doctor.

A series based around UNIT has been talked about a lot over the last few months. Earlier this month, ‘Torchwood’ writer Phil Ford, who is promoting his new book based on his 2009 episode ‘The Waters of Mars’, commented “I’ve always wanted to see more done with UNIT. I’ve always thought there’s stuff we could do with UNIT there.”

Whilst Davies himself hadn’t said anything specifically about a UNIT spin-off, he has made it clear that he does want to bring spin-offs back into the ‘Whoniverse’ now he has the keys to the TARDIS once again. Davies previously created the spin-offs ‘Torchwood’ and ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’.

As for Redgrave herself, back at Wales Comic-Con in December last year, the actress was really pushing the idea of a UNIT series, much to the delight and encouragement of the audience. You can see the whole of that wonderful panel below, which also featured Doctors Sylvester McCoy and Peter Davison, alongside companions Janet Fielding and Sophie Aldred.

We should stress, this news has yet to be officially confirmed by the BBC or RTD, however, numerous usually reliable sources have confirmed a ‘UNIT’ series is in development. We’ll let you know more when we have it.