The TARDIS is ready for its youngest crew yet! After an extensive tendering process, that prompted numerous bids, a the BBC has announced Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, a brand-new animated preschool series.
Debuting in late 2027/early 2028 on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in late 2027/early 2028, the all-new show, the first “season” comprising 52 eleven-minute episodes, is being produced by creator owned Blue Zoo Animation Studio and is currently in production.
Bringing the wonder, adventure and endless possibilities of the Whoniverse to younger audiences, Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew aims to blend the imagination and excitement of Doctor Who with the playful, trusted storytelling of CBeebies. A whole new generation of fans are about to begin their own adventure!
“The TARDIS is ready for its youngest crew yet,” says Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning for CBeebies. “Packed with imagination, humour and adventure, Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew will inspire children to be curious, courageous and kind as they explore incredible worlds across time and space.
“It’s everything families love about Doctor Who, wonder, excitement and endless possibility, reimagined for CBeebies’ youngest explorers.”
Who are Blue Zoo?
A creator-owned studio, Blue Zoo has excelled at storytelling, creating unforgettable characters for their own IP and globally recognised brands for over 25 years. Their dedication to crafting compelling narratives and endearing personalities has been the cornerstone of their success, and their passion for creating iconic characters and enchanting worlds continues with no intention of stopping.
Founded in 2000 by university classmates studying animation, Blue Zoo have grown organically to become one of the UK’s leading character animation production studios. They say they aim to produce joyfully compelling stories packed and full of character by creating beautiful animation.
“Since our studio was born, we’ve always experimented and explored our way to success, not just for ourselves but for our entire industry, from founding AnimationUK to helping run many progressive industry initiatives.
“Furthermore, our commitment to fostering a positive working environment is unwavering. We strive to create a space filled with talented, happy artists crafting content they are genuinely proud of, routinely achieving over 95% staff and client satisfaction scores.”
In September, they launched a Kids Content for Good Manifesto, hoping to demonstrate that a studio can be commercially viable while holding firm to creative integrity and social responsibility. “Our commitments include rejecting dark patterns and exploitative monetisation and upholding absolute transparency in our craft and AI usage,” they stated. “In doing so, we are mapping out how Blue Zoo lives these principles daily. Crucially, we see our studio’s longevity as inseparable from the health of the broader creative ecosystem; that is why we dedicate company time to educational outreach, mentoring, and positive lobbying to help nurture a thriving talent pool across animation, VFX, and film.”
Meet the Series Director, Dominic Minns
Dominic Minns, who’s worked in the animation industry for over 20 years, is serving as Series Director, who previously directed acclaimed CBeebies series including the first season of Mojo Swoptops for Blue Zoo and Tararaboom, the series distributed by Aardman, available on BBC iPlayer, and via its own YouTube Channel.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the exceptional, hilarious yet highly classified work being done by the incredibly talented Blue Zoo Crew!” he says of his latest project. “VWORP VWORP!!”
He was previously Series Director of Supertato, starring the world’s first potato superhero, inspired by the hugely successful book series created by British creators Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, the animated series also produced by Blue Zoo, in collaboration with Plug-in Media. Supertato is one of CBeebies’ consistently highest-rated shows and also airs on BBCiPlayer and has its own dedicated YouTube Channel.
He also created BAFTA-winning Tee and Mo, a digital-first intergenerational brand.
Dominic was appointed Creative Director at Blue Zoo in August, moving into the role from the company’s sister studio, Brighton Zoo, where his leadership as Co-Founder and Creative Director was instrumental in fostering a culture of artistic innovation and excellence in children’s media.
Beyond his work as Creative Lead on BAFTA-winning projects like Get Well Soon Hospital, Zingzillas, and Big and Small, Dom is a respected global voice in the industry and is a frequent fixture on panels at Annecy, Kidscreen, and The Children’s Media Conference.
“Dominic has a brilliant instinct for what makes children’s content resonate with audiences,” said Adam Shaw, Blue Zoo’s Co-Founder in August. “His track record of blending heart with high-energy storytelling is second to none. We are hugely proud to have his creative vision at Blue Zoo, and specifically on our exciting next project, an animated Doctor Who for CBeebies. We can’t wait to see how he breathes life into this show.”
“Having worked within the Zoo family for several years, joining Blue Zoo as a Creative Director feels like a huge and exciting next step,” says Dominic. “I’m especially thrilled to be working on the CBeebies Doctor Who animation. My goal is to fully utilise the full talents of both Blue and Brighton Zoo to capture the epic scale and wonder of the series, while making it delightful, funny, and relatable for preschoolers. It’s an honour to be here.”
But will there be a comic, too?
Time will tell if we’ll get a Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew comic or magazine, but preschool books and magazines remain a strong sector, despite the difficulties for publishers in terms of distribution as the leading high street news and publications vendor TG Jones continues to implode. And while it isn’t a given Panini would also gain a license for a tie in title alongside Doctor Who Magazine, let’s not forget, either, that current DWM editor Jason Quinn was also editor of Panini’s Doctor Who Adventures, and has plenty of experience creating material for younger readers.
Booksellers still have a strong presence and both Mojo Swoptops and Supertato, the latter beginning as hugely popular books, have a successful licensing identity outside of their animation success.
The fact that Series Director Dominic Minns is aware of Doctor Who’s signature “VWORP VWORP!!” in its spinoff comics is surely a positive sign though, yes?
Head downthetubes for…
• Read the initial announcement about Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew here on doctorwho.tv
• Blue Zoo Animation Studios are online at blue-zoo.co.uk
• Read Blue Zoo’s full Kids Content for Good Manifesto and join them in shaping a healthier future for the animation industry
• Watch Supertato on BBC iPlayer | YouTube
• Supertato Books (Official Site)
• Buy the first Supertato book on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Meet Supertato! He’s always there for you when the chips are down. He’s the supermarket superhero with eyes everywhere – but now there’s a pea on the loose. A very, very naughty pea. Has Supertato finally met his match?
The much-loved character from Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet, the bestselling, award-winning creators of Barry the Fish with Fingers, I Need a Wee and Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell.
• Supertato Books and Toys on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
• Watch Mojo Swoptops on BBC iPlayer | YouTube
• Mojo Swoptops Books and Toys on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: Animation, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television
Tube Surfing: Bleep and Booster, and Doctor Who, too! 
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That looks so not who, if this fails then could put generation of who and hence zero funding for proper who, if succeeds proper who is gonna be so not who.
Just looks like another cheap horrendous american kids show that no one remembers and people who enjoyed are embarrassed to admit it.
Kinda of show that is actually better muted.