Russell T Davies Creates Aliens Vs Wizards for CBBC

Genre-crossing show will also feature Sarah Jane Adventures stalwarts Gareth Roberts, Joseph Lidster and Phil Ford in the writing team

After having to deal with the sad and tragic all-too-early end for the marvellous The Sarah Jane Adventures , Russell T Davies and writer-in-cohorts Phil Ford have created a new show for CBBC: Aliens Vs Wizards .

The show, which will comprise 26 half-hour episodes, will be produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises. The series is expected to premiere in the UK in the Autumn.

According to the press release: “From the dark side of the moon, aliens are scanning the Earth searching for magic and are prepared to destroy everything in their path to get it. All that stands in the way of Earth’s imminent destruction are two 16-year old schoolboys, Tom and Benny. It’s ray guns vs wands; science vs magic and aliens vs wizards.

“Tom Clarke lives a seemingly ordinary life with his dad and grandmother. However he hides a deep secret – Tom’s family are wizards and when the Nekross arrive, hungry for magic, they find themselves on the menu. The Nekross may be equipped with ray guns, teleports and high-tech robots but they haven’t reckoned on Tom and his friend, science super-brain Benny. They form an extraordinary duo, using Tom’s magic and Benny’s science to battle the Nekross and save the Earth.”

Russell T Davies says: “Writing for children is the biggest challenge of all and I think CBBC stands right at the heart of broadcasting. So I’m delighted to launch this show, a true nationwide collaboration – a Salford commission from a BBC Wales team. We’re joining genres too: the show’s a wild, funny, thrilling and sometimes scary collision of magic and science fiction… Wizards have never met aliens before, and when they do, the result is spectacular! The mysterious Nekross know exactly what to do with magicians. Eat them! Let battle be joined!”

Phil Ford then tweeted the following, which gives some clues about who else will be writing for the show: “I'm VERY excited about AvW. About working with RTD @OldRoberts953 @joelidster @claytonhickman and the whole BBC Wales team again. Magic!”