Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - celebs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Doctor Who’s robot dog K9 is set for a comeback in a new TV series for children.

The much-loved metal mutt, who first appeared in 1977 alongside fourth Doctor Tom Baker, will be the “standalone hero” in a major new project.

The series will see a re-designed K9, who appears to be a bit battle damaged, taking part in a space war.

A source revealed: “He’s going to look more industrial and be covered in rivets.”

K9, a play on the word canine, was originally created by Dave Martin and Bob Baker.

(Image: BBC)

He has already featured in several spin-offs including K9 and Company in 1981.

He was revived for the 21st century reboot of Doctor Who with David Tennant in 2006 and appeared in The Sarah Jane Adventures from 2007.

An independent K9 series voiced by original actor John Leeson was produced in Australia in 2010 and shown on Disney XD and Channel 5.

Two companies are bidding for the latest spin-off, which will be produced in the UK.

Unless it is picked up for broadcast by the BBC, it is unlikely that any Doctor Who references will be permitted.

Meanwhile, Doctor Who will continue battling plastic in the new series... but this enemy won’t be the shop-dummy Autons - rather, something far deadlier.

(Image: BBC)

Jodie Whittaker will wage war on plastic choking the world’s oceans.

Writer Chris Chibnall covered racism, gender politics and British imperialism in the last series, leading some viewers to moan the sci-fi show, aimed at kids, had become “too PC” with its messages.

But it averaged 8.6million viewers, making it the most popular since David Tennant’s third run as Doctor in 2008.