Yahoo News Doctor Who confirms spin-off show return
Doctor Who has announced the return of a spin-off documentary series, now called Doctor Who: Unleashed.
The behind-the-scenes series will follow every new episode of Doctor Who starting with its 60th anniversary in November, much like Doctor Who Confidential used to do in producer Russell T Davies' first stint on the show.
However, unlike Doctor Who Confidential's fly-on-the-wall documentary style, Unleashed will feature former BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat presenter Steffan Powell. He'll be on set checking out the filming process first-hand.
Unleashed is set to air 30-minute episodes on BBC Three and the BBC iPlayer, and will feature Powell interviewing key members of production and the cast to show Doctor Who is made.
"When you’re told Russell T Davies is asking for you to present a show, you say, ‘When does he want me?’ Doesn’t matter, I’ll be there," Powell said.
"There’s a really fun and fascinating group of people bringing Doctor Who to life — I can’t wait for the audience to meet them. I’m so chuffed to have been trusted to help tell, in all its glory, the story of what goes into making the magic happen."
Producer Davies added: "Over the years, I meet so many people who were inspired to find careers in TV, because of the behind-the-scenes material the BBC would show. And now it’s back, in the grand old tradition of Doctor Who Confidential, but in a brand new form, Unleashed!
"So a whole new generation – and faithful fans of old – can see what the stars and the crew get up to behind the cameras."
The announcement of Doctor Who: Unleashed makes good on Davies' promise to bring back spin-offs for this new era of the show.
During the five years when Davies first ran Who, he not only had Doctor Who Confidential but also adult-focused drama Torchwood and kids show The Sarah Jane Adventures on air to complement the main series.
"I thought – with no criticism whatsoever towards the people who were running it at the time, because they were running it within the BBC's measures – it was time for the next stage for Doctor Who," he told GQ.
"I thought the streaming platforms are ready, the spin-offs are ready; I always believed in spin-offs when I was there. I did Torchwood as a spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures as a spin-off.
"Those spin-offs declined when I left, and I can see why. And I very much left after 2008, when the money became scarce. I think that's fair enough for the public service broadcaster that the money is spent on other things."
There have been rumours of a UNIT spin-off starring Jemma Redgrave being in the works, but the actress denied knowing about any such project earlier in the year.
Doctor Who returns later in 2023 on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Meanwhile, in the US, the show airs on BBC America, with series 1-12 available on Max.
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