‘Doctor Who' Will Return… as an Animated Kids Show
When Doctor Who came to the controversial climax of its latest season recently, it did so with an uncertainty the series hasn't faced for 20 years: there was then, and still is, no official news if the series will return. But while that's still case, the BBC has announced news that should give some reassurance that Doctor Who will have some form of future on TV. It's just perhaps not the way most fans would've hoped for.
This morning the corporation confirmed that a new Doctor Who series was in the works: an as-yet-untitled animated series set to broadcast on CBeebies, the BBC's pre-school focused programming platform. A production company has yet to be found for the series, which will the Doctor adventuring through time and space alongside 'their companions and other friends', solving mysteries and problems across the universe.
'Everyone is welcome at CBeebies, including the Doctor,' the BBC's Director of Children's and Education said in a statement provided via press release. '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. '
No specific incarnation of the Doctor was confirmed for the series, or whether or not the show may follow multiple incarnations of the Doctor from the series' past. Also of interest is the fact that the series' announcement makes no mention of an involvement from Disney and its own vast array of children's programming networks, and that the series will run independently of the main TV show.
The fact that, at the very least, the BBC is commissioning new Doctor Who spinoffs, gives some glimmer of hope that there's still a chance for Doctor Who to continue–regardless of how its deal with Disney to distribute the series internationally goes. But funnily enough, it wouldn't be the first time the Doctor has showed up in kid's TV after the main show faced a dire fate. A year after Doctor Who was cancelled after the broadcast of 'Survival' in late 1989, Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred reprised their roles as the Seventh Doctor and Ace for a special episode of the BBC educational series Search Out Space, taking part in an interstellar quiz show where they were tasked with answering rudimentary questions about space.
We'll bring you more on the BBC's plans for Doctor Who's future as and when we learn them.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Not Invited to King Charles' Birthday Parade amid Harry's Claim Dad ‘Won't Speak' to Him
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were not invited to King Charles' birthday parade for the third year in a row The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last attended Trooping the Colour in 2022 — but were kept out of the public spotlight Harry recently said Charles 'won't speak' to him amid their ongoing rift and legal battles over securityFor the third year in a row, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have not been invited to Trooping the Colour — King Charles' official birthday celebration and one of the royal family's most high-profile annual events — set to take place this Saturday, June 14. The decision continues a pattern set after Charles became monarch in 2022. The last time Harry and Meghan attended Trooping was during Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 — where they were noticeably kept out of the public spotlight, watching the parade from a separate room alongside other non-working royals and not joining the traditional balcony appearance. Their ongoing absence comes as the family rift deepens. The Duke of Sussex, 40, recently lost a legal bid to reinstate his state-funded security in the U.K. and admitted in a BBC interview last month that he cannot envision bringing his wife and their two children — Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4 — back to Britain under the current circumstances. 'I can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,' he said. The lack of an invitation to Trooping follows a series of strained moments between father and son — including Harry's statement that King Charles is not currently speaking to him. Despite the silence, Harry has continued to express hope for a reunion. "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point in continuing to fight anymore," he told the BBC. "Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has," he continued. "He won't speak to me because of this security stuff, but it would be nice to reconcile." Meghan, 42, had been scheduled to attend a museum gala in Los Angeles on the same day as Trooping, before the event was canceled earlier this week amid ongoing protests in the city. PEOPLE confirmed that the King, 76, will travel by carriage at Trooping the Colour for the second year in a row (instead of riding on horseback) as his treatment for cancer continues. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex joined the Trooping the Colour celebrations twice as a couple following their 2018 wedding, riding in the royal carriage procession and making balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace in both 2018 and 2019. Like most large-scale events, Trooping was significantly scaled down in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. The tradition was brought back in 2022, but the royal event is one that Harry and Meghan's children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have never attended. Prince Archie, 6, was just a few weeks old when his parents went to Trooping in June 2019. Meanwhile, his sister Princess Lilibet, 4, was born in California in June 2021 after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties. Both Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet traveled with their parents to the U.K. in June 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations commemorating Queen Elizabeth's record 70-year reign. The Queen likely met Lilibet, who was named after the monarch's childhood nickname, during that trip, which doubled as Harry and Meghan's only trip to the U.K. with their kids after stepping back from their royal roles. It's understood that a sticking point in the rift between Harry and King Charles is the issue of automatic state-funded security while in the U.K. Prince Harry maintains that this essential protection was unfairly stripped when he and his wife stepped back in 2020, and a judge dismissed his latest legal appeal to restore this security on May 2. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! "The things that they're going to miss is, well, everything. I love my country. I always have done. Despite what some people in that country have done," Harry told the BBC. "I miss the U.K., I miss parts of the U.K., of course I do," he continued. "I think that it's really quite sad that I won't be able to show my children my homeland." As the distance between the Duke and his father the goes on, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith tells PEOPLE in an exclusive cover story, "The underlying issue is trust." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
‘If you're a fascist, then get a Tesla': Neil Young's new album takes potshots Elon Musk
After weighing in behind Bruce Springsteen in his internationally reported takedown of President Trump's government onstage at Manchester Arena last month, this other left-leaning giant of American rock from the 1970s voiced fears that he, having been a consistent critic of Trump, chiefly over the issue of climate-change denial, may face problems regaining entry to his home nation following his European tour this summer. At this febrile moment, one might've expected Young, now 79, and as outspoken as ever – he made headlines last year after apparently refusing to sign up for Glastonbury 2025 on account of its BBC-driven corporatisation (he now appears to be headlining on Saturday night!) – to fill his latest long-player, his 46th studio outing, with polemical rantings, but as any long-standing fan knows, Young remains creatively wilful, and rarely serves up what might be expected of him at a given time. In recent years, he has been deluging the collector's market with archival releases, many of them 'new' old albums which he shelved years ago. In amongst all that, however, interested parties may be forgiven for not having noticed that Young had found a productive groove with a reconstituted line-up of his beloved, amps-on-11 backing band, Crazy Horse, releasing three new records with them, culminating with 2022's Rick Rubin-produced World Record. There, on Chevrolet, this unflagging automobile enthusiast wrung his hands about lusting after a vintage gas-guzzler. Further back, around his investment in a hybrid-electric model Lincoln, he wrote at length about the driver's responsibility to their children's health and survival on 2009's Fork In The Road, and perhaps the most immediately ear-catching moment on Talkin To The Trees arrives on Let's Roll Again, where, against clanging electric guitar chords, he urges America's automobile manufacturing giants, by name – Ford, GM and Chrysler – 'to build us something useful, something that won't kill our kids – come on America, let's roll again…on down the highway'. Alongside that responsible, depoliticised messaging, Young suddenly seems to find it hard to avoid needling at the Trump administration. 'China's way ahead, they're building clean cars,' he adds, knowing the mention of China will not be music to the president's ears. 'C'mon America, let's cover our backs, protect our children,' he goes on, before taking a clear potshot at Elon Musk. 'If you're a fascist, then get a Tesla: if it's electric then it doesn't matter. If you're a democrat: then chase your freedom, get whatever you want and taste your freedom.' Behind those words, of course, Young easily could've ramped up explicit themes of political dissent. Instead, his mind seems to be focused on enjoying the natural wonders of his ranch in Northern California, as well as, in the track Family Life, the domestic happiness he finds surrounded by his children and grandkids as he writes songs, and sings them for their approval, ' and also 'singing for my best wife ever, the best cook in the world' – a great review, indeed, for Darryl Hannah, the movie actor and activist, whom he married in 2018. Though second track Dark Mirage finds his 'new' band The Chrome Hearts – a mutation of his other one of late, Promise of the Real, with master soul keyboardist Spooner Oldham added – squalling into fierce feedback, as Young momentarily dips into lingering anger from his mid-'10s divorce – by and large, The Chrome Hearts are entrusted with summoning the kind of golden country-rock sound usually associated with Young's Harvest series – rustling acoustic guitars, blissful ivory-tinkling topped with Neil's wheezing harmonica, which light up rustic gems like First Fire Of Winter, the exquisite title track and the warm-hearted Thankful, As such, there's so much to enjoy here for long-standing fans – a mellow soundtrack perhaps for the four-wheel pilgrimage down to Glastonbury, with some fittingly thought-provoking messaging on automotive responsibility going forwards. In a week that has seen the passing of two of Young's West Coast peers, it's great to hear him sounding invigorated, domestically happy and creatively on song. Andrew Perry Prior to a brace of covers albums in 2023, it's fair to say that Belfast singer Van Morrison was in his 'late life super-grumpy' phase. Railing against everything from lockdown to scientists, he didn't hold back. My personal favourite from this era was a 2021 song called Why Are You on Facebook?, which contained the lines 'Why do you need second-hand friends? … Get a life.' And this from the sage who gave us Into The Mystic. Well, Van the Man is back doing what he does best. Remembering Now, his 47th album, is 14 songs of beautiful and reflective music addressing aging, romance and a sense of yearning for the landscapes and landmarks that made us who we are. It's 64 minutes of soulful blues and country folk, augmented by string arrangements by Fiachra Trench, who wrote the string parts for The Pogues' Fairytale of New York and worked with Morrison on his 1989 classic Avalon Sunset, to which Remembering Now can easily be compared. Folk star Seth Lakeman adds violin to three tracks. The album opens with Down to Joy, which soundtracked Kenneth Branagh's 2021 film Belfast and was nominated for a 'best original song' Oscar (Morrison lost out to Billie Eilish's Bond theme). Once In A Lifetime Feelings is one of three tracks with lyrics by Don Black, who's written for everyone from Meat Loaf to Michael Jackson. The song finds Morrison driving down to Monte Carlo with 'so much to say' to a loved one. It's fantastic. Stomping Ground sees the 79-year-old pleading to return to Belfast, while the closing nine-minute Stretching Out is simply swooning. The highlight is Haven't Lost My Sense of Wonder, which has touches of the awe that late songwriter Bill Fay saw in the world as he aged. 'Had my fill, 'cause I've been through the mill/ Now I'm saying 'Peace, be still,'' Morrison sings over lavish gospel-tinged soul. Under (hopefully) sunny skies, these songs will sound a treat when Morrison supports Neil Young in Hyde Park next month (along with Yusuf/ Cat Stevens). A lush return to form. James Hall Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
Raye And Mark Ronson Team Up For New Single ‘Suzanne'
Raye and Mark Ronson Acclaimed British songstress Raye and superstar producer Mark Ronson have joined forces for a new single, 'Suzanne,' marking the first time the two powerhouses have worked together on new music. The summer-ready single, 'Suzanne," is a fitting entry into both Raye and Ronson's catalogs with a blend of jazz club instrumentals and a poolside pop sensibility. The song was released in celebration of Audemars Piguet's 150th anniversary as part of the watchmaker's AP x Music program, anchored by ventures like Ronson's ongoing 'Syncing Sounds' series, which in the past has included another R&B singer collaboration: Lucky Daye's 2022 single 'Too Much." Raye sings to the 'Suzanne' in question over Ronson's instrumentation as she shares honest thoughts about their budding relationship. 'Time gives way to the magic hour, sunset at the bar / You rest your left ear on my shoulder and I wonder if that's just how you are / I whisper to the waiter, 'A glass of something strong' / 'Cause I'm about to finally tell you how I've been feeling all along,' she sings on the track. 'Eyes are like the ocean, nails are painted green / And I know this sounds like a lie, but I swear you're the prettiest I ever seen / Now I can't tell you if you into me, so I'ma say it out loud / Things I never say, the things I should've said, I couldn't, and I guess I'm telling you now.' Reflecting on the song and the feelings it sparks, Raye said "For me, it's just joy,' according to Elle. 'The song makes me so happy — I find it so infectious.' Getting to work with Ronson especially was a dream come true for the 'Escapism' crooner given her time working in his London studio as an up-and-coming songwriter. 'I've always been a Mark Ronson superfan,' she confessed. 'Mark is a king of timeless music — music that outlasts trends, that outlasts phases.' Ronson, for his part, acknowledged the song's emotional underbelly, calling it 'slightly melancholy, but still joyous.' Despite working on myriad songs in the past with some of the biggest names in music, Ronson holds 'Suzanne' in especially high regard. 'This is one of my favorite pieces of music I've worked on in a long time,' he said. Raye is set to take the stage at Bonnaroo Festival on June 14 and will perform at music festivals across Europe this summer.
