The Doctor Goes Preschool: First Look at ‘Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew’ Introduces Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE
The Whoniverse keeps expanding, and its newest corner is aimed at the youngest audience yet. A Doctor Who animated series for preschoolers has been in the works for more than a year, and fans have been waiting to see what the TARDIS would look like through a CBeebies lens.
The BBC first announced the project in June 2025, when it went looking for a production company to make it. British studio Blue Zoo won the contract in December 2025, and production was set to begin in 2026. The BBC described the show as inspired by the Whoniverse, which left some fans wondering whether the Doctor would appear at all.
That question now has an answer. BBC Children’s and Education has unveiled the first look at ‘Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew,’ and the show follows the Doctor, a young Time Lord, with his friends Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE. The first look landed on October 5, and a first-look image began spreading online the following day.
First look at a new ‘DOCTOR WHO’ animated series. The series – intended for pre-school children – follows the Doctor and his friends Hannah, Beastie and Toast-IE as they embark on adventures through time & space. https://t.co/XnCzigqeqS
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) October 6, 2026
Together, the group travels through time and space aboard the TARDIS. Along the way they meet incredible creatures, discover new worlds and face legendary Doctor Who foes, including the Daleks. The series is built around curiosity, courage and kindness, with stories that encourage young viewers to solve problems and embrace the unexpected.
The first-look image captures that tone well. It shows a blue-haired Doctor in a green jacket holding a glowing green device aloft, alongside a young character in a pink cap. Bronze Daleks fill the background, and the TARDIS tumbles through a bright purple space setting.
The look is a far cry from the live-action show’s usual tone, and it feels deliberately cartoonish and colorful. The Daleks, in particular, are rendered in a way that looks far friendlier than their usual reputation suggests.
The series is produced by Blue Zoo Animation Studio and is currently in production. Dominic Minns serves as Series Director, and he previously directed the CBeebies series ‘Mojo Swoptops’ and ‘Supertato.’ Blue Zoo has also worked with the BBC on ‘Numberblocks’ and ‘Alphablocks.’
The scale of the project is substantial. The series was commissioned for 52 episodes of 11 minutes each, spread over two series. BBC Studios will handle global sales as well as licensing, consumer products, digital and immersive experiences.
CBeebies’ Senior Head of Commissioning Kate Morton said in a statement on the official Doctor Who website that “The TARDIS is ready for its youngest crew yet.” She added that the series reimagines the wonder and excitement families love about Doctor Who for CBeebies’ youngest explorers.
‘Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew’ will arrive on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in late 2027 or early 2028. The 2 series of 26 episodes were originally planned to air across 2027/2028 and 2028/2029. That gives families plenty of time to introduce younger children to the franchise before the show launches.
The announcement comes at an interesting moment for Doctor Who. The main series is set to return with a Christmas special in December 2026, written by Russell T Davies, after Disney+ exited its partnership with the BBC. The spin-off ‘The War Between the Land and the Sea,’ starring Russell Tovey, has also aired on BBC One and iPlayer.
Against that backdrop, a preschool series serves a different purpose. It gives the BBC a way to introduce one of its most iconic brands to a new generation, and to keep the TARDIS in the spotlight while the live-action show finds its next chapter.
Are you excited to see Doctor Who get a preschool makeover?
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