'Doctor Who' launches podcast spin-off series 'Redacted'

Doctor Who is set to open up a new dimension to its universe with a podcast, Redacted, set to launch on BBC Sounds alongside the Easter TV special.

The podcast will include appearances from Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor and some other familiar characters and villains, but will mainly feature a brand-new cast trio.

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Cleo Proctor (Charlie Craggs), Abby McPhail (Lois Chimimba) and Shawna Thompson (Holly Quin-Ankrah) are three university drop-outs based across the UK who keep in tough through their shared paranormal conspiracy podcast, The Blue Box Files.

Abby's favourite conspiracy theory is about the mysterious blue box, a police public call box that crops up throughout history and that is thought to be an alien ship.

But anyone who comes into contact with the blue box - which, of course, we know as the Tardis - or the Doctor, whose identity the friends are unaware of, goes missing or is "redacted".

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Their podcast is so unsuccessful that the trio are the last people left who haven't yet been redacted after studying the blue box, although Cleo's brother Jordan has been and they're racing to find him as well as uncover the mystery.

Cleo is also dealing with having been kicked out of home as a teen for being trans and having a dad who disappeared, while believer Abby and sceptic Shawna are grappling with a will-they-won't-they romance and Abby's controlling boyfriend.

Redacted is set in the Doctor Who universe and pulls in strands of previous and current storylines, as well as featuring the Doctor herself, familiar monsters, and characters Rani Chandra, Kate Stewart, Petronella Osgood and Madame Vastra.

The first episode will be available on BBC Sounds after Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils, the new special episode which sees Whittaker back in her role as the Doctor, airs on BBC One on Easter Sunday.

Watch: Jodie Whittaker reveals pregnancy at BRIT Awards