Benjamin Cook
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benjamincook.bsky.social
Benjamin Cook
@benjamincook.bsky.social
Writer • Journo • TV/video/podcast editor. Business enquiries: ninebrassmonkeys@gmail.com
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LIVE NOW on @BBCiPlayer! THE SEA DEVILS – our 90-minute 2025 re-cut, with new music by Lorne Balfe, fresh sound by @markayresrws.bsky.social, and a few surprises. 👀 Perfect Sunday-morning viewing, before its TV debut on BBC Four tonight at 7pm. 🌊😈 GO, GO, GO!!! www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...
Doctor Who (1963–1996) - Season 9: The Sea Devils
A re-edited, feature-length version of the classic 1972 Doctor Who story that introduced audiences to the formidable aquatic species the Sea Devils.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Benjamin Cook
In a few weeks, Tess Daly will be revealed as the Secret Traitor, and the takeover will be complete. #TheTraitors
January 1, 2026 at 9:27 PM
“Mr Whatsit, you have received the most votes…” #TheTraitors
January 2, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Well, I enjoyed the Stranger Things finale.

Mostly, though, I’m grateful for the reminder that Doctor Who fans are – and I can’t believe I’m saying this – comparably sane.
January 1, 2026 at 12:28 PM
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What did I get up to in 2025? The year started and ended with charting the edits for two omnibuses on TV. First The War Games cut down to almost a third the length but now IN COLOUR!
December 31, 2025 at 4:36 PM
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Current deal - 15% off!

Doctor Who: The War Games in Colour Steelbook Blu-ray

Currently only £15.16!

(cheaper than the regular blu-ray edition, which is currently £16.99)

amzn.to/4qwANgi #ad
December 30, 2025 at 6:04 PM
December 28, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Beatles boffins! What can you tell me about this photo of Ringo? Found in a box of ’60s things (!) in my parents’ attic. It’s from – I think? – A Hard Day’s Night, but is it a well-known shot? Or something a bit more obscure? (I’m betting @samiraahmed.bsky.social will know.)
December 27, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The single greatest piece of acting in Doctor Who history, and I profoundly regret cutting it from our 2025 “The Sea Devils” omnibus. 🌊😈 Merry Xmas, everyone.
December 24, 2025 at 8:18 PM
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Glad to see the new edit of The Sea Devils still passes the Bechdel Test.
December 16, 2025 at 11:09 AM
The incredible Paul MC Smith has made this infographic of all the edits we made to “The Sea Devils” for its 2025 omnibus. wonderfulbooks.co.uk/data I am in awe (of him, not us. Although, also us)…

🧵 The rest of the thread is amazing too.
If you've enjoyed @benjamincook.bsky.social's snappier re-edit of Dr Who and the Sea Devils on BBC iPlayer, know that there's more involved than just trimming the fat. See my chart of what did and didn't make the cut, and how what is there isn't all in the same place! www.wonderfulbooks.co.uk/data
December 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
For everyone asking whether our 2025 cut of “The Sea Devils” 🌊😈 is getting a DVD/Blu-ray/Steelbook release (yes, it is, on this)…
Cover and release date reveal!

Coming 23rd February 2026

The War Between the Land and the Sea
Blu-ray/DVD

The UNIT spin-off series is now available to pre-order

Steelbook Blu-ray: amzn.to/4gaNfOQ
Blu-ray: amzn.to/3VyWWgo
DVD: amzn.to/42dNS4e #ad
December 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
“The communist who turned Doctor Who into an eco-warrior.” A great article on Malcolm Hulke by @0tralala.bsky.social in yesterday’s Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2025/12/1...
The communist who turned Doctor Who into an eco-warrior
Malcolm Hulke spent seven years writing subversive episodes for the show. Now his creatures are being re-awoken
www.telegraph.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
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It knows what it did.
December 14, 2025 at 10:22 PM
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Warriors of the Deep, sulking in the corner.
December 14, 2025 at 10:21 PM
“The Sea Devils” (1972) and “The Underwater Menace” (1967) getting primetime BBC One promos in the space year 2025. 🫡
December 14, 2025 at 10:20 PM
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My thoughts on the Sea Devils Re-edit.🐵🌊😈
Honourable shout out to @benjamincook.bsky.social and @markayresrws.bsky.social, who I don't mention in the vid but also worked on this mighty fine re-working of an old classic.
Doctor Who & The Sea Devils RE-EDIT - My Thoughts
YouTube video by The Chosen Chimp
youtu.be
December 10, 2025 at 1:48 PM
“They’ve gone, sir. Everything’s gone.” Nice Easter egg in #TheWarBetweentheLandandtheSea: Corporal Jane Hart (played by Catherine Garton) takes her name from “The Sea Devils” power couple 3rd Officer JANE Blythe (June Murphy) and Captain John HART (Edwin Richfield)! 🌊 😈
December 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
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REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Sea Devils - a nostalgia powered magic trick, this is The Sea Devils as you think you remember it, full of fast paced action and moments of charm.
@benjamincook.bsky.social @bbcdoctorwho
#DoctorWho #TheSeaDevils #TheWarBetween
Full review:
REVIEW: Doctor Who: The Sea Devils
The Sea Devils wage war upon the land for the first time, in a fresh new version of the 1972 original The opening salvo of The War Between the Land and the Sea have been fired. But really the conflict began half a century ago when Homo Aqua first stood up out of waves off the Isle of Wight. Back then, of course, humanity knew them as the Sea Devils, debuting in the story of the same name.
www.blogtorwho.com
December 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Well, this is a pretty special way to start the week: a gorgeous email from the great Michael E Briant (director of “The Sea Devils” in 1972!), with some very kind words about last night’s omnibus edit. What a gent. I’m very aware we’re only here because of the work of people like Michael. 🙌
December 8, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Turn on BBC Four. RIGHT NOW! Can’t believe I’m tweeting this at 2.30am. But some Doctor Who I’ve edited is on the telly. Um, again. 🌊 😈
December 8, 2025 at 2:30 AM
My favourite meme of the evening. ⬇️ 😏

Thanks for watching “The Sea Devils", everyone. It’ll be on iPlayer till this time next year: www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... And on TV – yes, AGAIN! – at 2.30am tonight/Monday morning, on BBC Four! Shall we knock back the scotch Pertwee-style and rewatch? 🥃
December 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
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Feel a bit sorry for the sea devils, being all shot up

#DoctorWho
December 7, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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They changed the Sea Devils music?! Sacrilege! Malcolm Clarke will be whirring in his grave. And clanking, bleeping, and making sort of eerie ambient wails.
December 7, 2025 at 1:47 PM
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“A CD 💿 … Best of Cliff Richard. Those Bastards.” #TheSeaDevils
December 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM