Doctor Who legend hints beloved character could die 12 years after debut

Doctor Who legend hints beloved character could die 12 years after debut Alistair McGeorge Published December 1, 2025 1:54pm Updated December 1, 2025 1:54pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments A Doctor Who star has weighed in on her character’s future (Picture: BBC Studios/Disney/Bad Wolf/Latoya Fits) Key Points summary__ai-icon

• Jemma Redgrave hints her Doctor Who character Kate Lethbridge-Stewart might not survive the upcoming UNIT spinoff.
• The War Between the Land And the Sea sees UNIT facing the Sea Devils, focusing on environmental themes.
• The series has a definitive ending, with a post-credits scene promising a memorable performance by a cast member.

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A Doctor Who legend has hinted her beloved character might not make it to the end of The War Between the Land And The Sea.

The Whoniverse is getting an epic spinoff on BBC and Disney+ this month, as UNIT faces the prospect of an attack from the sci-fi show’s classic villains the Sea Devils.

There’s no Doctor in the five-part series, and instead Jemma Redgrave is the focus as her commander-in-chief character Kate Lethbridge-Stewart tries to tackle the threat.

Humanity it at risk with the sea dwellers furious by the impact the pollution and climate change has had on the oceans.

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Asked if everyone can make it out alive, Jemma admitted nothing is certain, as she suggested her character ark may have nowhere to go by the end of the spinoff.

‘If she survives this series, I don’t know where she can go next,’ she told RadioTimes.com.

Jemma Redgrave has hinted Kate Lethbridge-Stewart may not survive The War Between The Land And The Sea (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon) She is reprising the role for the Doctor Who spinoff (Picture: Alistair Heap/Bad Wo)

Kate was originally played by Beverley Cressman in 1995, with Jemma taking over the role in 2012’s The Power of Three.

If it is indeed time for fans to say goodbye to Kate, the 60-year-old actress – who hopes her stint on Doctor Who can keep going – is grateful for the journey she’s been on.

She described every callback for the programme as a ‘gift’, and one she would always accept.

‘I’ve had a most extraordinary time and journey with this character and through different series of Doctor Who and now through this series,’ she added.

She first played the role in 2012’s The Power of Three (Picture: BBC)

The War Between The Land And The Sea writer Pete McTighe described Kate as a ‘legacy character’ and someone who remains popular with fans.

However, he admitted even longtime Whovians will be ‘very surprised’ by the journey she’s taken on in the spinoff show.

He teased: ‘Her character arc, in particular for Doctor Who fans, is probably the most surprising.’

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As well as Kate, the show will also feature UNIT’s Christofer Ibrahim (Alexander Devrient) and Shirley Anne Bingham (Ruth Madeley), while Colin McFarlane reprises his Torchwood role as General Austin Pierce.

With the organisation hoping to avoid an international incident, Kate and the team bring in everyman operative Barclay Pierre-DuPont (Russell Tovey) to try and negotiate with the Sea Devils.

Meanwhile, showrunner Russell T Davies recently weighed in on the future of the series, and confirmed the story has a ‘very, very definite ending’ while encouraging everyone to watch every moment.

Russell T Davies has promised a ‘definite ending’ to the spinoff (Picture: Ray Burmiston/BBC Studios) The War Between the Land and the Sea kicks off this weekend (Picture: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon)

‘It is a limited series because there is a very, very definite ending, and I would say to people stay tuned for the very end [post-credits],’ he told Metro at the premiere.

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‘That doesn’t mean the Doctor appears; it stays within its own universe, but the credits start to roll, and you get one of the best scenes ever recorded in the last seconds.

‘It’s a stunning performance from one of the stars of the cast that I’m very proud of.’

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The War Between the Land and the Sea premieres the first two episodes on BBC One at 8:30pm on Sunday, December 7.

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