The War Between the Land and the Sea release schedule: When do new episodes of the Doctor Who spin-off drop? 

The Doctor Who universe is going to expand with the spin-off titled "The War Between the Land and the Sea", focusing on the conflict between humanity and the long-hidden Sea Devils, also called Homo Aqua. The story is about what happens when a water species, which has been sleeping for so long, unexpectedly rises and wreaks havoc.

Will humanity be able to fight this creature? Well, it's not going to be that easy, and just as the title suggests, a war is bound to happen. So, make sure that you catch up with all episodes of The War Between the Land and the Sea, as the first two chapters are already out.

The series only has five episodes and follows the Sunday release schedule. This means that fans can tune in to BBC One every Sunday evening and enjoy this new spin-off, featuring a new story with returning and new characters.

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The War Between the Land and the Sea full release schedule explained

The War Between the Land and the Sea debuted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, December 7, 2025. BBC One aired two episodes back-to-back that evening, and the entire five-part set was released at once on BBC iPlayer immediately afterward.

International audiences will be able to watch the series on Disney+ in 2026, with the exact date still to be confirmed. However, we do know the confirmed release schedule for those watching through BBC One:

The War Between the Land and the Sea comes from Russell T Davies, who created the project and oversees it as both showrunner and executive producer. While talking about the miniseries, Davies said:

"It's a really beautiful, brilliant, compelling show. You can watch Doctor Who, or you can never have seen it."

The showrunner worked on the scripts with Pete McTighe and all five episodes were directed by Dylan Holmes Williams. Production was handled by Bad Wolf in partnership with BBC Studios, with Disney Branded Television also involved.

Also Read: Who is the new Doctor Who companion? Everything to know about the actress

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Exploring the cast and characters of The War Between the Land and the Sea

As mentioned above, the miniseries features stars from Doctor Who and some new faces. So, here's a look at the main cast and the character they play:

Russell Tovey as Barclay Pierre-Dupont: Barclay is an everyday UNIT worker who ends up becoming the spokesperson for all of humanity.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt: Salt leads the Sea Devils. To bring this character to life, Mbatha-Raw wears heavy prosthetics that completely alter her look.

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart: Back as UNIT’s top commander, Kate is trying to keep governments, soldiers, and civilians under control as the world reacts to the Sea Devils’ sudden rise.

Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christofer Ibrahim: A senior figure within UNIT and Kate’s partner, he plays a key role in managing military operations during the emergency.

Ruth Madeley as Shirley Anne Bingham: The UNIT's advisor, who plays one of the most important roles in helping the organization identify new threats.

Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce: He's from the high-level American military.

The supporting cast includes Adrian Lukis (Jonathan Hynes), Francesca Corney (Sergeant Hana Chakri), Mei Mac (Min Tso), Vincent Franklin (Prime Minister Harry Shaw), Waleed Hammad (Tariq Hashim), and more.

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Also Read: I think I’ve figured out who told the Doctor about Belinda in Doctor Who (& it makes the plot underwhelming)

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