Wizards vs Aliens

Wizards vs Aliens
Titlecard of Wizards vs Aliens
Genre
Created by
Starring
ComposersSam Watts, Dan Watts
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes36 (list of episodes)
Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox television with "list_episodes" parameter using self-link. See Infobox instructions and MOS:INFOBOXPURPOSE.
Production
Executive producers
  • Russell T Davies (Series 1–2)
  • Bethan Hunt (Series 1–2)
  • Nikki Wilson (Series 3)
  • Phil Ford (Series 3)
Producers
  • Brian Minchin (Series 1)
  • Peter Bennett (Series 2–3)
Editors
  • Will Oswald
  • Tim Hodges
Running time
  • 28 minutes approx.
  • 54 minutes approx. (Series 3 premiere)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBBC
Release29 October 2012 (2012-10-29) –
25 November 2014 (2014-11-25)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Wizards vs Aliens is a British science fantasy television programme produced by BBC Cymru Wales and FremantleMedia Enterprises for CBBC and created by Russell T Davies and Phil Ford. The series focuses on the exploits of 16-year-old wizard Tom Clarke (Scott Haran) and his scientifically gifted best friend Benny Sherwood (Percelle Ascott) in their fight against the Nekross, a magic-consuming alien race who have arrived on Earth with the intention of hunting down wizards and feasting on their magical energies.

Production-wise, Wizards vs Aliens was created to fill the schedule gap left by the Doctor Who spin-off The Sarah Jane Adventures after its cancellation due to the death of the programme's lead Elisabeth Sladen.[1][2] The show however is set in its own separate continuity, taking place in a separate universe and having nothing to do with Doctor Who.

Two series were originally commissioned by the BBC in late 2011. The programme premiered on 29 October 2012 with a first series of 12 episodes (6 two-part serials). Series 2, made up of 14 episodes (7 serials) aired between 28 October to 10 December 2013, while a third and final series of 10 episodes (5 serials) was broadcast between 27 October to 25 November 2014.

Co-creator and former executive producer Russell T Davies stated that the programme could "easily run for ten years",[3] but by January 2015, the series had been placed on hiatus due to budget constrictions.[4]

  1. ^ "What we know about Russell T Davies' and Phil Ford's Aliens Vs Wizards". Den of Geek. 5 March 2012.
  2. ^ Bluebox podcast No. 126 "Dan and Phil"
  3. ^ "Russell T Davies SFX Interview". 28 October 2012.
  4. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (16 January 2015). "CBBC's Wizards vs Aliens on hiatus, may not return for fourth series". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 January 2015.