Russell T Davies jokes calling classic Doctor Who creatures Sea Devils is ‘racist’
Opening up about his new spin-off show from the sci-fi franchise, Russell T Davies has joked calling the classic Doctor Who creatures “Sea Devils” is “racist”.
Russell T Davies has joked calling the classic Doctor Who creatures Sea Devils is “racist”.
The sci-fi series’ long-time showrunner, 62, made the quip as he revealed new details about his forthcoming spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.
He told the Radio Times about the new BBC series, which reimagines the amphibious villains first seen in 1972, with the production featuring actors in full aquatic prosthetics portraying a sea-dwelling species once known as Sea Devils.
Russell said: “It’s racist to say Sea Devil,” before explaining that in the context of the show, the race prefers to be called “Homo Aqua”.
He added the spin-off reframes the creatures not as monsters but as victims of human behaviour.
The Radio Times said the new show arguably portrays humans as the villains of the piece, not the sea creatures.
Russell’s spin-off storyline explores tensions between humans and the Homo Aqua after years of ocean pollution, with violence threatening unless peace can be achieved.
The series stars Russell Tovey as human negotiator Barclay, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, as aquatic ambassador Salt.
Their characters are tasked with preventing war between humanity and the underwater civilisation.
Russell added: “I think every writer in the world is thinking, how do you write about the climate crisis?
“We’re already in a climate war. This just dramatises it.”
He explained the idea for the series dates back to his return to Doctor Who in 2021, saying: “When they first approached me about coming back to Doctor Who in 2021, this was the first bit of my pitch.
“I had this idea separately first. But weirdly, it needs the Doctor Who setting. If I just go and pitch this cold, saying, ‘There is a race of creatures that live in the sea…’ they’d say, ‘Really? You sure?’
“The pre-existence of the Sea Devils takes all the problems out of it.”
Despite the inclusion of elements from Doctor Who, such as characters from UNIT led by Jemma Redgrave returning as Kate Stewart, Russell said the tone of the new show will be markedly different.
He added: “It’s deliberately tougher. There are things here that would never happen in a Doctor Who story.
“It’s in the same universe, but just a different slant. I’m really pleased with it.”
The War Between the Land and the Sea continues the expanding Doctor Who universe under Russell’s revived leadership, following his return as showrunner in 2023.
The BBC’s long-running sci-fi series, first broadcast in 1963, has seen a resurgence with new spin-offs and streaming releases.
Doctor Who and related series are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
