9 Doctor Who Characters Who Can Return In RTD’s Confirmed New Spinoff

Summary

• Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land and The Sea could bring back classic characters like Jo Grant, Vastra, and Martha Jones.
• The return of UNIT could set the stage for a clash with the Sea Devils that doesn’t revolve around the Doctor.
• Villains like Icthar and The Master could also make impactful returns in The War Between The Land and The Sea.

The newly announced Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land and The Sea could be the perfect place to bring back some notable classic Doctor Who characters. As explained by Russell T. Davies during the Doctor Who panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, the spin-off will force humanity to contend with the returning Sea Devils — without the aid of the Doctor. Screen Rant was in attendance during the event, which confirmed a few of the major players in the upcoming series.

Important members of UNIT like Jemma Redgrave’s Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Alexander Devrient’s Colonel Ibrahim are confirmed to be returning for the special, along with Doctor Who alums Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Russell Tovey (who Davies teased will be playing new characters). However, there are plenty of previous characters who could make a return to the new spin-off, which will also bring back the classic series villains known as the Sea Devils. Here are some of the previous Doctor Who heroes and villains who could easily factor into the Sea Devils’ return in the Doctor Who spin-off The War Between The Land and The Sea.

9 Jo Grant

Played by Katy Manning

While so far it’s only been confirmed that Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Colonel Ibrahim will return for the Doctor Who spin-off, they could be far from the only returning faces from prior entries in the series. One of the most potentially exciting would be the Doctor’s old compaionon Jo Grant, which could give the spin-off a direct connection to the events of the Sea Devil’s debut story. Jo was a companion of the Third Doctor. Jo was introduced as a bubbly and sweet-natured assistant for the Third Doctor, replacing Liz Shaw at the behest of UNIT.

Quickly developing a bond with the Doctor, Jo appeared in over seventy episodes of classic Doctor Who, including the original Sea Devils arc. The presence of UNIT in the spin-off makes Jo’s return a logical one, as she could be brought back as an expert on the creatures given her past experiences. Katy Manning has also previously reprised the role in The Sarah Jane Adventures and 2023’s Tales of the Tardis, setting up a precedent for the character’s return.

8 Icthar

Played by Norman Comer

In bringing back the Sea Devils, it’s likely the new spin-off will pull some elements from the prior stories featuring the aquatic cousins of the Silurians. This could include Icthar, who was a key player in the Fifth Doctor story “Warriors of the Deep.” In that arc, Icthar was the leader of the Silurian Triad and was one of the primary antagonists of the Sea Devils and Silurian storyline. Seeking to retake the world from humanity, Icthar led a crusade against humanity and helped take over Sea Base 4.

He was a compelling villain in the story, with a compelling and tragic element that makes his ruthless actions somewhat understandable. Although the character was seemingly killed at the conclusion of his adventure, Doctor Who has reversed plenty of other villainous deaths over the years. It likely wouldn’t be hard to justify a return for the character, and a replication of his original motivations would likely justify the kind of global conflict that is set to erupt in The War Between The Land and The Sea.

7 Eldane

Played by Stephen Moore

The connection between the Sea Devils and the Silurians could set up TThe War Between The Land and The Sea to quietly be a sequel to the Silurian story from the 11th Doctor’s adventures. Eldane was the leader of the Silurians in that episode, who sought peace between his race and humanity. Proving far more understanding than characters like the war-hungry Restec, Eldane ultimately agreed to bring his people into extreme hibernation to avoid an escalating conflict.

Although his race was set to wake in a thousand years, it’s possible that complications like the events of The War Between The Land and The Sea has brought Eldane and his people out of their suspended animation. This could even be the impetus for the conflict at the heart of the spin-off. It’s possible that his connection to the Silurians could allow Eldane to be a crucial peace broker in the conflict. Either option could bring back a likable minor character from early in the 11th Doctor’s tenure.

6 Shirley Bingham

Played by Ruth Madeley

The natural inclusion of Doctor Who‘s UNIT at the core of The War Between The Land and The Sea means it’s likely that the newest recruits to UNIT will factor heavily into the spin-off. This could include Shirley Bingham, a scientific advisor for the organization that was introduced in “The Star Beast.” A genius in her own right who quickly developed a rapport with the Doctor while combating the Meep and the Toymaker, Shirley has proven herself a capable member of UNIT and a likely asset if she factors into The War Between The Land and The Sea.

Having already worked alongside Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in the 14th Doctor’s adventures, Shirley would be a natural player in any prospective UNIT-focused story, capable of lending her technical expertise to any efforts to counter the Sea Devil’s prospective attack on the surface. She could even take center stage in the absence of the Doctor, which seems to be a solid source of tension for the spin-off’s premise.

5 Morris Gibbons

Played by Lenny Rush

Another prospective member of UNIT who could appear in The War Between The Land and The Sea is Morris Gibbons. Introduced in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday,” Morris Gibbons is another genius member of UNIT. Established as a genius scientific advisor for the orginization on par with Shirley, Morris was crucial to the investigation into Ruby Sunday’s origins. Similar to Shirley, his brilliance could make him a crucial ally in the conflict between the humans and the Sea Devils.

With the Doctor absent, there will need to be other genius inventors and technicians capable of dealing with the inevitable sci-fi dangers inherent to the franchise. This could also prove to be a great showcase for Morris and underscore his potential, building off his active role in “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” and “Empire of Death” to make him a more consistent presence in the franchise going forward.

4 Gwen Cooper

Played by Eve Myles

The prospect of a global conflict could also justify bringing back other experienced agents from across the franchise, like Gwen Cooper. A key player in Torchwood, Gwen was one of the most consistent characters over the course of the long-running Doctor Who spin-off. Her experience with global threats like the events of Torchwood:Children of Earth and Torchwood: Miracle Day would make her an incredibly important ally during the global conflict set off by the return of the Sea Devils.

All of this could make her an ideal character to bring back as a field agent, working on par with the more strategic and cerebral characters to organize a response to the Sea Devils and their plans. It would also give fans of the character a chance to see Gwen again, who was last seen in the cliffhanger ending of Miracle Day. Although Gwen’s story continued in the Big Finish audio stories, it’d be exciting to see the character get a proper goodbye in another Doctor Who spin-off.

3 Martha Jones

Played by Freema Agyeman

The second primary companion for the Doctor in the 21st century, Martha Jones would be a perfect fit for The War Between The Land and The Sea. Given her experience with the Doctor and the kinds of conflicts she’s been involved in, Martha is a natural fit for large-scale events in the world. She’s also got an established connection with UNIT, as her reappearances in subsequent storylines confirmed she’d found work with the organization.

Like Gwen, her experience carrying major storylines could make her an ideal figure to take a lead role in the storyline. UNIT taking the lead in The War Between The Land and The Sea could be the perfect excuse to bring Martha back into the franchise, and it would actually make sense given her previous guest appearances in other spin-offs like Torchwood. Martha is a fan-favorite character, whose importance in the franchise would make her a potentially perfect addition to the next entry to the overarching franchise.

2 Vastra

Played by Neve McIntosh

Vastra is a fan-favorite character from the recent Doctor Who storylines, and would make for a perfect addition to The War Between The Land and The Sea. A skilled warrior who became an unexpected ally of the 11th and 12th Doctor, Vastra is a Silurian who the Doctor forced to find redemption. Alongside her lover Jenny, Vastra became a dedicated hero in the Victorian era. However, her extended life-span means she’s potentially still alive in the present day and could play a role in combating the Sea Devils.

As a Silurian who overcame her hatred for humanity and even came to love one, Vastra could be an important figure in trying to seek peace with the Sea Devils. If that fails though, her combat skills would make her an ideal character to focus on in any battles against her cousin species. It would also be a welcome return for Vastra, who quickly became a fan favorite among the Doctor Who fandom.

1 The Master

Played by Various Actors

One of the Doctor’s most iconic foes, the Master has returned time and time again to bedevil the entire universe. The Fourteenth Doctor’s adventures set up the potential return of the Master following an unseen battle with the Toymaker, which could come to light in The War Between The Land and The Sea. The original Sea Devil’s storyline featured the Master in a central role, as he was the one to make contact with the otherwise forgotten race and bring their attention back to the surface.

If the purpose of the spin-off is to challenge the Doctor’s earthbound allies without his aid, then pitting Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and the rest of UNIT against arguably the Doctor’s most personal foe might be the ultimate test. It would also ensure the Master’s return is at the center of a huge story, reflecting the story synopsis that suggests it’ll shake the Whoverse to the core. Considering “The Sea Devils” was a vital story that established the Master in Doctor Who, using The War Between The Land and The Sea might be a great place to reintroduce the Master.

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