Russell Tovey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Jemma Redgrave, Alexander Devrient, Colin McFarlane, Francesca Corney, and Patrick Baladi star in The War Between the Land and the Sea
The War Between The Land And The Sea BBC trailer
The War Between the Land and the Sea is the latest series to land on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The new show, which is from Doctor Who showrunner and executive producer Russell T Davies, kicks off on with a double bill on Sunday, December 7.
The War Between is a Doctor Who spin-off, although Russell has said that you don’t need to have watched Doctor Who to enjoy the new series, which showcases how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean.
And while The War Between the Land and the Sea is part of the Doctor Who universe, meaning there will be character crossover, there is no Doctor in this world.
Writer Russell explained: “It’s little bit tougher than Doctor Who, it takes on tougher themes, and people have tougher reactions in it, again, because there’ no Doctor. Normally the Doctor has a magic blue doorway they can take everybody safely through, that safety net has gone. You very much find these characters up against the wall and pushed to the limit.”
The series follows Barclay, played by Gavin & Stacey’s Russell Tovey, whose ordinary life becomes a world of terror when an ancient species rises from the sea. He stars alongside Gugu Mbatha-Raw, in the role of mysterious Salt. The series will also feature UNIT from Doctor Who, with Jemma Redgrave returning to her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. Here’s what you need to know about the cast.
Russell Tovey is Barclay
Russell plays Barclay, “the most ordinary man in the world” who finds himself in the middle of a great big worldwide crisis by accident.”
Speaking about his character, Russsel said: “Barclay is a very regular guy who books taxis for very important people. He’s a drifter, he’s a divorcee, he’s a single parent. He’s slightly numb and going through the motions. We find him at the beginning just suddenly thrust into a situation he wasn’t expecting, and that ricochets through the trajectory of his life.”
Viewers will know Russell from Years and Years, Him & Her, Plainclothes, Gavin and Stacey and Being Human.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw is Salt
Gugu is Salt, a fearsome character, who lives under the sea. Speaking about her character, Gugu said: “Salt is a part of a species that lives under the sea that have been dormant for many years called Homo Amphibia.
“We initially meet her because she has come to represent her species as an ambassador, to defend their rights, and expose the human race for what they have done to the oceans. She’s quite a fearsome character. She comes with a posse of a Homo Aqua and other species from the sea, and they’re incredibly intelligent.
“I think what I’ve loved throughout the series is that you get to see so many different sides of her. She is in this ambassadorial role and has this formal and regal quality to her, and as the series goes on, she becomes more human.”
Fans will recognise Gugu for her roles in Belle, Surface, Loki, and The Morning Show.
Jemma Redgrave is
Jemma returns as Kate in the Doctor Who spin-off, a much loved character in the world of Doctor Who, and according to Russell gets “free reign” in the new series as she “takes that character to areas you’ve never imagined.”
Jemma said of where Kate is at in the spin-off: “An unknown species has been brought up in the net of a fishing trawler off the coast of Spain and is killed. This wakes the entire species which has hibernated for many years and they demand redress, which sparks an international diplomatic and potentially existential crisis. It threatens a World War.
“Kate and UNIT are the centre of the crisis, managing the very complicated competing political factions and countries jostling for supremacy, keeping the human race safe, maintaining the peace, and keeping their chosen ambassador Barclay on message – all without the Doctor.”
She added: “Kate faces challenges that test her to the limits. Told over five episodes, it allows the characters the time to reveal complexity that the one-hour story arc often doesn’t allow. She reveals strength and vulnerabilities not explored before.”
Jemma has also starred in The Beekeeper, Grantchester and Holby City as Bernie Wolfe.
The War Between the Land and the Sea will also feature Ruth Madeley as Shirley Bingham and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce, and Alexander Devrient as Colonel Christofer Ibrahim as they return Whoniverse.
Other star-studded cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.
The War Between the Land and the Sea starts with a double bill on Sunday, December 7 from 8:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.