London’s Blue Zoo Animation Studio has won a contract to produce the first-ever animated Doctor Who preschool series for CBeebies and iPlayer. 

The prodco behind Alphablocks, Numberblocks and Mojo Swoptops (all BBC commissions) got the greenlight from BBC Children’s and Education to make two seasons (52 x 11 minutes in total) based on its compelling pitch. Production is set to begin in early 2026, and BBC Studios Distribution will distribute the series. 

The BBC put out an open call in June for production companies to submit concepts aging down its iconic Doctor Who character (pictured) for the CBeebies audience. The criteria was that the good doctor should: travel through time saving individuals and planets, be an alien with two hearts, and appear with his iconic gadgets and time-traveling TARDIS machine. The BBC also noted that in lieu of physical combat, he should use intelligence, humor and diplomacy to solve problems. Blue Zoo’s pitch scored the highest out of all of the concepts that were received.  

Blue Zoo doesn’t know the specifics of the BBC’s decision-making process, but says it was the most competitive process the studio has ever been involved in, according to a spokesperson. Company co-founder Adam Shaw, who led the pitch, brought multiple teams together—IP development, digital and production—to develop it. 

“We can only think that it was our immense experience in preschool, both visually and narratively, [and] having a very strong track record of making content that stands out in a very crowded space,” the spokesperson added. 

The process was indeed “exceptionally competitive,” confirmed BBC Children’s & Education director Patricia Hidalgo in a release. “This new series further strengthens our commitment to the British animation industry by championing homegrown productions with the potential to travel the world and, perhaps, even through time and space.”

Image courtesy of the BBC.