The first episode of the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, The Star Beast, premiered on Disney+ this weekend. Not only did it bring back the beloved pairing of David Tennant (Good Omens) as The 14th Doctor and Catherine Tate (Monster Family 2) as Donna Noble, but it also introduced the most adorably fluffy villain we’ve ever seen on the small screen – Beep the Meep, as voiced by Miriam Margolyes (The Windsors).
The Meep is Here
As exciting as Tennant’s return to the long-running British science fiction series may be, fans were more concerned with the crazed little fluff ball known as “the supreme Beep of all the Meeps!” First introduced in a 1980s comic, the Meep is an alien species with illusions of grandeur and a serious dislike of their cute appearance.
In The Star Beast, the alien creature first comes across Rose Noble, Donna’s daughter, who agrees to protect them. The Meep even tricks the 14th Doctor into protecting them from the Wrarth Warriors.
What Are the Fans Saying?
Unsurprisingly, since the episode aired, fans took to X (you might remember it as Twitter) and turned Beep the Meep into a bonafide trending topic. Most people fell in love with the cute little alien, and many even took to demanding a Meep plushie from the BBC in time for Christmas.
One person hilariously compared Beep the Meep’s dual nature to owning a cat. Cat owners are sure to relate to the dual nature of their furry friends.
Another compared the Meep’s popularity with Marvel making the likes of Thanos into a household name. Perhaps it’s no surprise that many Doctor Who actors did end up taking on roles in MCU movies.
Many social media users were quick to praise the set designers and Margolyes’s voice acting for bringing to life the best on-screen alien ever. After the less-than-brilliant Chibnal era, it seems Doctor Who is back in full form.
The Star Beast is the first of three Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials written by Russel T. Davies. Also appearing alongside Tennant and Tate are Jacqueline King (The Duchess) as Donna Noble’s mother, Karl Collins (The Flash) as Donna’s husband, Yasmin Finney (Heartstopper) as Rose Noble, Jemma Redgrave (Dracula) as Kate Steward, Neil Patrick Harris (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) as the Toymaker, and the late Bernard Cribbins as Wilfred Mott. Ncuti Gatwa (Sex Education) will make his debut as the 15th Doctor.
The Star Beast is now streaming on Disney+, with two more specials, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle, scheduled to premiere every Saturday until December 9th.
