The Chimes of Midnight

"She was being haunted by herself."

Writer: Robert Shearman

Format: Novel

Released: October 2025

Series: Big Finish Novelisation 02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley

Synopsis 

"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house not a creature was stirring..."

But something must be stirring. Something hidden in the shadows. Something which kills the servants of an old Edwardian mansion in the most brutal and macabre manner possible. Exactly on the chiming of the hour, every hour, as the grandfather clock ticks on towards midnight.

Trapped and afraid, the Doctor and his companion, Charley, are forced to play detective to murders with no motive, where even the victims don't stay dead. Time is running out. 

And time itself might well be the killer...

Verdict

The Chimes of Midnight was an outstanding novelisation of one of the very best Big Finish audio dramas there is! I was so excited when these novelisations were released because it's just such a wonderful idea and a whole new way to enjoy a story that's as good as this one. I would go as far as saying that this is a perfect Doctor Who adventure across any format. It really is astonishingly good and I was intrigued to see how it would fare in prose, but it absolutely succeeds just as well which is a huge compliment! That strange and eery feeling was very much present which is a magnificent feat without any complimenting sound effects. I also thought the characterisation of the Eighth Doctor and Charley was tremendous and it's wonderful that this pairing get a full length book together. I think it's great that in what are hopefully just the first Big Finish novelisations that we get pairings exclusive to Big Finish. If this is a reader's first time introduction to Charley as companion then it's a great one! Sure, it would be beneficial to know the backstory of what happened in Storm Warning with her being saved from the R101 despite history recording her as dead, but I feel that was more than explained here which was magnificent. The titular story is actually one of very few audios that I have listened to more than once and that's down to the Covid Tweetalong so the story elements were certainly familiar, although I completely forgot that Edward Grove being alive was referring to the Edwardian house! I feel like I remembered just before reading the word that served as the revelation and I was kicking myself for forgetting. Twice! It's just an incredible setup and the story does a better job than any other in being suited for the Doctor and companion that feature. The Eighth and Charley are the epitome of Edwardian so the staff here were fantastic characters to go alongside them. Mr Shaughnessy as the butler is quite someone with how committed to the role he is and the bluntness everybody had towards Edith (or sometimes Mary) as the scullery maid actually became a tad say. They really did see everybody as just the sum of their role in the house, and the murders occurring was not a sad occasion to them but more so an inconvenience to the running of the household. Especially at Christmas! Despite the published date, I read this two weeks prior to Christmas so I was feeling festive which I do think would have helped enhance my enjoyment of what is already a classic! Mrs Baddeley is a fine character and it just wouldn't be the novelisation without it not being Christmas without her famous plum pudding! I think that's become such an iconic phrase and I just love it. The description of her murder with her being stuffed full of her own plum pudding is definitely the most gruesome of the bunch! Well, either that or Mary with her knitting needles stabbed into her head and her walking like antennae. I think the emotion that comes from the paradox breaking as Charley remembers Edith and her being saved and therefore Edith not committing suicide to join her in death is incredible stuff. It was presented so strongly in prose which was impressive. Charley professing her love for the Doctor throughout the book is a stark reminder of her feelings early on in her travels and the way she was teased throughout for him not feeling the same way provided a lot of sympathy. I could say so much more but I'd probably just be repeating previous feelings on story elements from the two blog entries I already have published of the audio format of this story. But just what a joy to read. Quite simply divine. It absolutely works in prose just as well as it did on audio and that might just be the biggest compliment I can give it. A perfect story. 

Rating: 10/10

A Ghost Story for Christmas

"They need a medium."

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: December 2025

Printed in: DWM 624

Featuring: Fifteenth Doctor

Synopsis

The Fifteenth Doctor arrives at the BBC in the 1970s amidst a walkout in the wake of something paranormal at TV Centre. 

Verdict

A Ghost Story for Christmas was a good little story to serve as the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip Christmas special! I think it's a very good move to go festive with this one and not just have one part of a much bigger adventure. It feels Christmassy and that's good despite it being more of a ghost story which is something I personally associate more with Halloween. It only feels like yesterday since it was Halloween so to now be right into the festive season has been sprung upon me! I'm writing this blog entry nearly a month prior to the published date which is a little funky but it's good to get ahead. I do find the continuity for the Fifteenth Doctor comics to be a little all over the place at the moment as we're jumping around from a companion to no companion which means the timeline is constantly shifting either side of Joy to the World. It's not the biggest issue in the world but I just think the comic strip format is being a little wasted and to be honest that's felt like the case for a number of years now with the exception being Liberation of the Daleks. That showed what the format and placement can be used for in carrying the current adventures of the Doctor for over a year! Now, after the events of The Reality War we don't really have a current Doctor which is strange but I don't see why we wouldn't stick with Belinda as the latest companion? She could certainly do with some more stories off screen and the Vindicator would definitely need the extra readings! I thought the characterisation of the Fifteenth Doctor here was strong and that's actually quite difficult to achieve without a companion in my opinion. His enthusiastic and bubbly nature means he's best when bouncing off somebody else in discussion. His dubbing of the paranormal investigators here as Fred and Daphne was great because who doesn't love a Scooby Doo reference? I thought the story had strong Hide vibes which is a big compliment and I absolutely adored the reference to Shada with the strike at the BBC and the Doctor landing in something looking very much like Professor Chronotis's room. That was magnificent and really niche which I appreciated an awful lot. That's where this format is wonderful and that was also seen with the flashback to the Eighth Doctor and Izzy. A little more on that would have been welcomed. At its heart, the story is a pretty simple one really and I think that's why it doesn't quite get a higher rating from me because it was almost too simple! That's certainly the case when it comes to the resolution as I thought that was far too quick and I was flicking through the pages I was almost getting excited that we may have a much needed two extra pages for the story as I was thinking there's no way the adventure can conclude in one page from the fifth onwards! But alas it did with the Hunter being returned to the mirror with the Doctor simply recapturing it within at the push of a button. That made sense but it was just very quick. Something alluding to that being the way to defeat it earlier on would have been beneficial. The Doctor taking the mirror image away was fun and I loved the legend behind it of the creature coming out at moonlight, but with it now in the Time Lord's hands I don't think it'll be seeing moonlight again anytime soon! Overall, a good little comic strip adventure for sure that would have benefited from a few more pages to add depth to the resolution. 

Rating: 7/10

Dare You

"Even aliens can fall on hard times."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: December 2025

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.03

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Something or someone is playing truth or dare with the people on the Powell Estate. And it's dangerous to play games with a Time Lord. 

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can REALLY hurt you.

Verdict

Dare You was an outstanding audio adventure to continue my way through the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! This really does seem to have rounded out a Powell Estate trilogy rather nicely and whilst that does serve as a great reintroduction to the era of Series 1, I do hope we can now take the Ninth Doctor and Rose beyond Earth which barely happened on screen. Now's the chance with the nine episodes remaining over the next year and a half to really push the boundaries, but this was a solid start in doing that in a familiar setting! I'm loving the emphasis on Jackie because she really is a fun character and injects charisma and humour into a story with ease. I thought the performances of Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper once again were mesmeric in bringing back to life their characters of two decades ago and it really does feel incredibly authentic. Touching upon the events of Father's Day here as well was brilliant in terms of chronology and the emotional state of Rose. The insinuation that she might subconciosuly blame the Doctor for him being dead despite him always having died in 1987 is quite incredible. But the mind plays tricks and gets us questioning and that's where this episode excelled. The concept behind the Hellion was really impressive and it definitely had vibes of being part of the Pantheon that would challenge the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors. It was a cosmic mischief maker and that's got great potential but I think the fact it was also immature added a lot. For Rose it was actually something of an emotional leaver which I admired and showed why she's a very good companion. The discussion on those internal desires that could become a consumption was marvellous and I loved the idea of the fear of falling actually being a desire to fly. That's somewhat beautiful. Digging deep into the Ninth Doctor being a Time Lord here felt good because that wasn't exactly always at the forefront on screen, but for him he would be incredibly dangerous without filters. The Hellion taking away his natural restraints and throwing him into the Void was really fascinating stuff. I enjoyed how the curiosity of the Doctor got the better of him in being consumed by the words and the desire to explore what might happen when the Hellion got what it wanted. The fact all of the desires of those on the Powell Estate were linked to silly things was quite amusing and I couldn't blame Jackie for wanting to topple the impressive display of baked beans in a supermarket! And touching upon the urge to step off a platform at a train station really resonated with me as I use that mode of transport a lot and I can confirm that urge absolutely exists! The way the Hellion spoke the title of the episode was freaky and worked really well in highlighting it as something evil. But Rose was on hand to show compassion and she would be the filter now for the Doctor that the mischief maker had taken away. I thought that was a lovely touch. I also liked exploring what Rose may be scared of and the Bad Wolf reference there was a delight. That just enhanced the authentic feel. I liked how the Doctor had to go back into the Void once he was pulled out and he was going to be ruthless to the Hellion, but Rose had a made a promise and with some companion convincing the mischief maker was grateful for the mercy that was shown. The Doctor still has a dark side as was clear here despite his filter being removed and Rose describing him as the scariest man she knew only perpetuated that which I loved. Overall, easily the best of the series so far and sets things up further moving forward which really excites me! A marvellous listen. 

Rating: 10/10

Hellion = cosmic mischief maker

Deadly Strangers: The Gloaming

"Just a little girl lost in a dream."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle 

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 14.03

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Audacity 

Synopsis

The Doctor, Charley and Audacity arrive on Gloaming, a luxury sleep clinic in orbit around a dead world. Gloaming is filled with wealthy Sleepers, dreaming through the dark ages of their world in suspended animation.

But something is growing here, creeping into minds and poisoning dreams. Something the Doctor fought long ago...

Verdict

The Gloaming was an excellent audio to conclude the Deadly Strangers series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was certainly the best in the boxset and it coming in the finale is a great thing. I'm going to jump right ahead and dive into the surprise return of the Mara which was fantastic! I didn't see it coming and whilst I did work it out once the first hint was provided within the story, I really should have been paying more attention to the cover artwork for the boxset! Except, was this really a return at all? The Doctor referencing the likes of Kinda and Snakedance when it comes to his previous encounters with the Mara was magnificent, but this wasn't quite the same creature he'd fought and defeated before. That was a really intriguing element which I really enjoyed. This was a newborn Mara which was exciting but also convenient for the Doctor in that it became considerably easier to defeat. It almost feels like the Mara is being cheated on when the companion is not Tegan because her relationship with the creature was deep to say the least. The focus was firmly on Charley here who became possessed by the Mara and having the setting of the Gloaming where the wealthy came to sleep was excellent. That's a place rife for the Mara to have some easy pickings in digging deep into their desired prey's subconscious. I thought the story had strong Sleep No More vibes which is a big positive and I was worried whilst writing the synopsis that it would be a bit of a knock off. Thankfully, it was far from it and exploring the Mara as a nightmare was marvellous. I thought Audacity improved here as companion and it was good for her to be the one that realised she and Charley had been drugged into sleep through the tea by Meryl. She was an intriguing character who was clearly also going through a lot in her current predicament. Dekkar was a bit of a snobbish character which was absolutely the intent and it sold really well alongside Franz just what awful people the trio made. The fact they had abandoned their entire people and planet to burn whilst they came to just sleep it out and pay their way into the future was terrible. It's an incredible concept and did represent that kind of rich-kid stereotype very nicely. I definitely had a raised eyebrow opinion of them all. I thought exploring deep sleep was good and I love the potential that comes from it because as humans are we ever more vulnerable than when we're sleeping? That's quite scary to consider as well and the presence of the Mara invading from within is dark stuff that I really enjoy exploring. I thought the Doctor standing up to the Mara was really impressive and the discussion they had about regeneration and linking that to the snake form and how he shedded his skin was brilliant. That was really strong stuff. I was impressed with his confidence in saving Charley and freeing her of the Mara's pull and I feel like her love for him also played a part, but it also allowed for some tremendous references. Getting throwbacks of early Main Range adventures with the likes of Sword of Orion and The Stones of Venice getting mentioned as good times for Charley to draw back on was fantastic. I also liked the logic behind the newborn manifestation of the Mara dying out without a host. That makes sense and also develops the background of the species a little which I can appreciate. Another mention of the Causeway in the form of an investment peaked my ears as that's the title of the next boxset so I'm keen to hear how things play out from here. Overall, a fantastic finale! 

Rating: 9/10

Deadly Strangers: Women's Day Off

"Hey, hey, it's women's day! Equal say and equal pay!"

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 14.02

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Audacity 

Synopsis

Iceland, 1975. Charley and Audacity are thrilled to discover that the women have gone on strike. All of them. With potentially disastrous consequences for a girl called Kyla – and everyone she comes into contact with.

Verdict

Women's Day Off was a great story to continue my way through the Deadly Strangers series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! This was just a really solid story from start to finish that had a very strong historical setting. One thing I love about Big Finish is the fact that budgets are no issue so we can very easily have a story set in Iceland. It's a country that is firmly on my bucket list and I shared the same thoughts about the Northern Lights as Charley and Audacity. They were both giddy at the prospect of seeing them in person for themselves, but the Doctor had a different idea of course. The fun that came from the TARDIS being the one to decide was good and thankfully for the companions (and the listener!) it was indeed Iceland in which we arrived. I was surprised we didn't come to the capital of Rekyjavik but I don't think it really mattered on the day in 1975 in which the TARDIS had landed. The situation was the same everywhere and I thought that was just magnificent as this was not something I was aware of having occurred. I'm sure I would learn about when I do eventually get to Iceland as I tend to visit the National Museum of most capital cities I visit! But the very idea of the entire female population going on strike was incredible. Not just from work if they did so but from being a mother and cooking in the kitchen. I applaud them all. Some of the men's comments about how hard it was to look after children and them not even knowing how to cook chicken showed how reliant the male population were on their female counterparts. I'm a big advocate of equality and women's right and during my History degrees I highlighted the role and underrepresentation of women in the likes of the Great Famine in Ireland and the Death Walks within the Holocaust. So Charley and Audacity getting involved in the strike marches was good fun, although I was less a fan of the latter getting a bit too involved when it came to her fire lighter being mistaken for a gun. That could have changed all of history right there! Kyla was a strong character who built a good relationship with the Doctor and whilst it was clear what was happening with her telekinesis, the build up to it being brought out into the open was good. It was pretty simple in that she had been exposed to what Jefred was out searching for, but he was a bit of a useless character in all honesty. The story was all about her and I liked how she sought comfort in her English teacher Mrs Gunnar. She was another strong character who had a lot of patience and understanding. She may even be better placed being a therapist than a teacher in how she was able to calm and reason with Kyla! Her making things happen just by saying them put her in a vulnerable position that she really didn't want. It wasn't power she desired and she just wanted it all to stop which became rather emotional. I thought the ending was good in just basically calming everything down, but it was a little bit of a shame to put the historical significance of the day to one side. Overall though, a really strong story. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Deadly Strangers: Puccini and the Doctor

"Love has so many definitions."

Writer: Matthew Jacobs

Format: Audio

Released: December 2024

Series: Eighth Doctor Adventures 14.01

Featuring: Eighth Doctor, Charley, Audacity 

Synopsis

Inspired by his friends, the Doctor takes Charley and Audacity to Milan to meet Puccini and hear the music of love.

But the Doctor is not the only alien entranced by humanity. The mysterious Tura is setting riddles, and for those who answer, the experience is transformative...

Verdict

Puccini and the Doctor was an excellent start to the Deadly Strangers series of Eighth Doctor Adventures! I think this might just be the best story of the bunch since Audacity came aboard the TARDIS and I hate to say it but I think it's because she became a bit more of a background figure. When she wasn't the focal point as the main companion I think she was actually utilised much better and complimented Charley who is undoubtedly the main attraction. She's still having lingering feelings following on from Storm Warning which is fascinating and I must admit I didn't have Charley down as someone who would be drawing. Audacity stumbling upon her artwork of the Doctor was fascinating stuff and I was surprised a little in how open the Edwardian adventuress was in admitting she had a crush. Some of the locals in Milan though were claiming that Charley was in love and that does seem a step too far from my memories of the early Eighth Doctor stories in the Main Range. Has it just been too long in listening to them that I forgot Charley was besotted with the Doctor? That doesn't quite feel right. It presents an intriguing dynamic within the TARDIS though and Audacity being there as a third wheel certainly adds to it. I find the title of this episode a little misleading as you would expect everything to be centred around the Doctor's relationship with Puccini, but that wasn't actually at the forefront for the most part and that's because of the brilliant Princess Tura. I thought she was a mesmeric character and I loved her obsession with love. She wanted to learn from the human race and in particularly their aspect of creativity. Everything they did seemed to be for love and she was very open in expressing that. The Doctor knew immediately that she wasn't of Earth and he didn't hide the fact he was of a similar elk either which was good. I liked the policy of honesty there. I was entranced by her riddles but she was clearly not used to being challenged or having someone of a similar footing taking her on. She was one who had power and reduced people to blossom trees if she fancied, even with that aftershave scent! She had a garden of former people that were now trees which is not the typical outside decoration! The Doctor solving all of her riddles in front of a live audience was excellent and whilst he wasn't after the prize of marriage, he didn't exactly want the loser's fate of being thrown overboard with the promise of being turned into a fish as a courtesy. It sounded in jest but knowing what we did this was very much an actual prospect! I thought Elvira was a strong character to compliment a really strong guest cast and I also liked how Charley had a love interest in the form of Massimo. I thought the way things ended were pretty neat and simple with Tura accepting the fate and love still being something she didn't quite understand. And it was also incredible to think that her species had not yet experienced death! Overall, a very strong start to the series! A terrific listen.

Rating: 9/10

Capricorn: I Was a Monster!!!

"She can taste my ecstasy."

Writer: Joseph Lidster

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 10

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

I Was a Monster!!! was a great story to continue my way through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! This was probably the best adventure to come out of the book so far and it really is a long time coming. I’ve made no secret that my enjoyment of this collection has been varied and I’ve found everything to be pretty inconsistent. Not many have even bothered touching upon the overlapping Zodiac theme, but here we are in having the Capricorn Killer! It’s certainly that Joseph Lidster got the memo of what was required here with the collection which was terrific. I thought the focus on the unnamed murderer was really interesting and he quickly developed some rather sadistic tendencies. The format of the story in the view of both almost being a diary extract and also a fictional script scene was certainly unique and I appreciated that. It was rather refreshing and certainly gave a new perspective to this story that others in the book probably didn’t have or execute efficiently. I really liked the moment that the Capricorn Killer was bitten by the supposed Vampire and my only qualm was that we didn’t get more information on who this beautiful woman was. Is she still at large? I thought the story basically just staying with the Killer and his lust for fame was definitely intriguing and I don’t think the adventure could be any more representative of 2002. So much Big Brother! Even the day 36 extract in the story just referenced that it was inside the Big Brother house. Amusing stuff. All of the pop culture references were a nice little throwback to my childhood which provided some nice nostalgia. The killer’s annoyance with not getting to the height of fame was pretty disturbing as was the description of him killing. He was doing it for the fame now which is not the usual motive! The lines about the victim or the murderer wasting time with lipsticks or hair gel on their last day was really powerful and a stark reminder of how quickly things can end in life. The Capricorn Killer represented that perfectly. I found the internal thoughts and obsession fascinating and it almost felt like a documentary on paper! It was an incredible insight. It almost felt out of place then when the Fourth Doctor and Romana showed up for the final couple of pages. They weren’t really missed which is testament to the quality of the story but one incarnation or another needed to show up! I thought the ruthlessness of the Doctor was a bit of a surprise but with Romana present it’s impossible not to draw parallels with State of Decay and touching upon the war between Time Lords and Vampires. Romana was apologetic for the actions of the Doctor, in which he incredibly just put the spear through the killer's heart to round things out, but it was business as usual for the Time Lord! Overall, a really strong and original character piece that didn't need the Doctor or a companion at all which says everything about its quality. A great read!

Rating: 8/10

Doctor Who and the Pescatons

"Fish who can build a spacecraft and fly off to other planets."

Writer: Victor Pemberton

Format: Audio

Released: July 1976

Series: Radio Play 01

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane

Synopsis

The Fourth Doctor and his companion Sarah battle against some of the most heinous foes to emerge from the outer universe: The Pescatons. The Doctor finds himself in the capital city of London, where the popultion is bewildered and trembling beneath the violent onslaught of a merciless invader. 

Who or what is the mighty Zor, whose green slanting luminous eyes glare out from the dark of night like giant emeralds? What is the powerful alien force that is bringing Earth's civilisation to a standstill, threatening to annihilate everything in its path?

This is the story of a dying Planet, of a Deadly Weed, and the merciless Creatures themselves. It is a Challenge to the Doctor – a frightening race against time...

Verdict

Doctor Who and the Pescatons was a bang average audio adventure, but one of those that feels like a privilege to listen to given that it's nearly five decades now since it was first released! I've known about the existence of it for a long time now as it's fair to say that it has a reputation amongst fandom and I've even read the novelisation over a decade ago, but it was delightful to actually dive into a Classic era audio that was released during the peak of the television run for the Doctor and companion that feature. It's a weird quirk but I can remember the exact train journey where I read the novelisation but I'd be lying if I said I remembered a huge amount of the book's details! So in that regard it did largely feel like a new story which is a good thing, especially as the audio came before the novelisation. It was wonderful to hear both Tom Baker and Elisabeth Sladen in their prime taking on the roles of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith for audio, but it's clear that this is one of the first efforts from Doctor Who in doing the audio format. I think the decision to have a lot of narration is a flawed one and that made the story very descriptive which I don't think was beneficial at all. When we have basically a full cast adventure, that amount of narration should not have been necessary. Sure, it was good to have things from the perspective of the Doctor as that's actually quite rare but it just became overboard. After reading the novelisation, I was pretty surprised to find that this story was barely forty-five minutes long. It's clear that it's trying to be a two-parter in the vain of an on-screen serial and we had a decent cliffhanger to boot, but the very concept of the Pescatons is just a bit meh. It doesn't strike me as the best design and it certainly feels more tailored to a younger audience. That's not anything I have a problem with as I'm sure the story was catered more for the young fans, but for me personally it just wasn't it. Their being somewhere of a cross between fish and humans sounded fascinating but I'm not sure it actually was. It's barmy and ludicrous which is fun in its audacity, but it doesn't feel like a heinous foe as the synopsis describes! I'm not the biggest fan of when the Doctor has an unseen or unheard history with somebody important in the story and that's the case here with Zor as the leader of the Pescaton pack. I think the reliance of the rest of then species on him is good but it did make the resolution incredibly predictable which isn't the best! The scale and speed of the Pescaton invasion was unexpected and I think the incidental music could have been a little more impactful in selling the desperation of the situation. It was planet wide! I think the nature of the Doctor's narration meant there was little for Sarah to do which was a shame. It also felt a little out of place for her to question the Doctor's age because he'd encountered the Pescatons in the fifteenth century. They literally travel in a time machine together and have done for some time by this point! That felt like a glaring mistake. The Doctor playing the piccolo to bring about the accidental resolution in defeating the Pescatons with sound was amusing and I think something this incarnation in particular can get away with. Sarah's confidence in going against the Doctor's wishes and ensure he played again to test her theory was great, even if then the ending was already established as predictable. Overall, an intriguing listen more than anything to a story that sadly did leave a decent amount lacking. 

Rating: 5/10

Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman?

"Grandfather claimed that he knew what was best for me."

Writer: Adrian Mourby

Format: Audio

Broadcast: 09 July 1994

Series: Whatever Happened to... 05

Featuring: Susan, Ian, Barbara, Jo

Synopsis

A researcher interviews Susan Foreman, and various people connected with her, about the true history of her travels in time and space, and how she went from there to her current, rather unexpected position as EC Commissioner for Education. 

Verdict

Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman was a pretty abhorrent yet incredibly fascinating and intriguing story to listen to! I don’t think this is like anything I’ve ever listened to before and I don’t think anything will ever come close to being similar to be honest. I’m not even entirely sure if it is assumed to be part of official continuity, but given the glaring errors within the story I would say that it isn’t. But the fact it’s released as part of the BBC Radio Episodes Collection alongside other stories that a firmly official, this is a fascinating interpretation of what might have happened to Susan after the events of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. She was clearly angered by her grandfather’s decision to leave her behind with David and her comments about being in love were actually quite surprising. But at the same time she was sixteen snd it was understandable why she was saying at that age you’re always in love with somebody. I thought the story did an interesting job in humanising Susan which didn’t sit right with me. I thought the way she referred to her home planet in such a nonchalant way as Galley was shocking and almost derogatory! I liked the line about her parents and the suggestion that the Doctor retired before leaving Gallifrey with Susan was again really interesting even if things don’t entirely line up with established continuity. One thing I was really annoyed about in the story was the representation of Ian and Barbara. The way The Chase was essentially completely ignored or just altered to be wrong in suggesting that Ian and Barbara returned to Totter’s Lane immediately after they departed in An Unearthly Child was baffling. Rumours circulating around Ian being involved in Susan’s disappearance was also uncomfortable. I wasn’t against her thinking he was dashing, but suggesting that he and Barbara weren’t together was rubbish. They are destined to be a couple! I thought the inclusion of Jo was a little strange given she has no connection with Susan, but I liked that she was on hand to defend the image of the Doctor. Susan accusing her grandfather of always travelling with a young woman and having sexual implications for that choice was just dreadful. There’s no need for that as we know the Doctor, at least up to the point of his seventh incarnation as was the case when this story was released, is anything but romantic! I’d almost describe him as asexual. Susan having knowledge of each her grandfather’s subsequent incarnations is intriguing as I like the idea of her still having a relationship with him and knowing that he did come back to 2164 following the Dalek invasion. Barbara living in Mid Wales was humorous for me personally as that’s where I was born and I could actually see her settling down there, but the representation of her character was very poor. Susan now being a part of the European Commission was a little strange but I could see her being involved in politics. To he honest though, I think that opinion comes from me knowing her from other stories later released as being older and more mature, but the essence of the character is there. I am dumbfounded by the suggestion that other aliens and people from other times were running the EC though. The story felt unnecessarily political there even though it is intended to be satirical. I am shocked that Susan didn’t really consider herself a Time Lord as it’s often easy to forget that Gallifreyans don’t all fit that definition. It’s fun to ponder on even if I disagree with it! Overall, I thought this was a bit of a mess. Susan shouldn’t know about the Menoptera or Ian being knighted as The Web Planet and The Crusade came after her departure! The representation of Susan’s fellow companions was very poor and the image painted of the Doctor was terrible. I firmly disapprove of this interpretation and I don’t think this is what happened to Susan at all! Still, a really intriguing listen at the same time partly because of how bad and wrong it was. 

Rating: 4/10

Saggitarius: Five Card Draw

"He'd forgotten how his other personalities could clash."

Writer: Todd Guerrier

Format: Short Story

Released: March 2002

Printed in: Short Trips: Zodiac 09

Featuring: Fifth Doctor, Peri, Sixth Doctor, Third Doctor, Second Doctor, First Doctor

Synopsis

Take a TARDIS trip through the constellations, as the Doctor travels to twelve thrilling tales inspired by the mystical zodiac. 

Telepathic fish, miniature lions and twin planets are the least of his problems, as the Doctor – all eight of him – faces the Capricorn Killer, endures a mind swap with the Machiavellian Master, and dances with Death herself. 

And that's not the half of it – as the two K9s can attest.

Verdict

Five Card Draw was a very fun little story to continue my reading through the Zodiac edition of Short Trips! This was a very quirky adventure and whilst I’m usually a sucker for a multi-Doctor story, this did become a little bit of a mess at times. But it was a fun mess! I found the choice to include the Sixth Doctor was exciting in meeting different incarnations, but for the Fifth to be considered the current Doctor and the story be told from his perspective was a little strange. It’s usually the latest incarnation of the Doctor that has that role so it was a little weird at times for the Fifth Doctor to be the only one referred to as the Doctor. The nicknames assigned to other incarnations were interesting to say the least, but it did feel a little harsh to refer to the First Doctor as old man. I did like the caveat of that though with it being clear that the events of The Tenth Planet and his regeneration were very near. The Second Doctor being called a hobo is something I’ve always found a bit strange but the aristocrat description of the Third feels right. As does calling the Sixth a jester! The hatred that his attire gets never ceases to amaze me as it just screams the Doctor with how audacious it is! I thought the interactions between the Doctor were quite fun but the descriptions did make it a little difficult to follow at times. I liked that the First Doctor was the one to take the lead and insinuating that he wasn’t brought there but came by choice was terrific. The use of the titular card game to see which incarnation would set things right outside of the TARDIS was quite fun, but it always felt that the Fifth was going to be the one to get the nod. I’m surprised no incarnation volunteered! I enjoyed the discussion about regeneration and the deep conversation about whether a decapitation would prevent renewal was fantastic. They all seemed to be in agreement that with the head detached from the body the brain couldn’t trigger cell regeneration. Not the nicest of prospects! I thought the role of Peri in the story was interesting with the Doctor keen to basically keep her away. The predecessor wasn’t quite ready to tell her about regeneration yet which is ironic given what happened at the end with her seeing the Fifth Doctor and being shocked. It said a lot to the Fifth Doctor that he would regenerate with Peri at his side and it was coming very soon indeed. I thought the prospect of the Fourth Doctor declining arrival was a fun dig at The Five Doctors, and it also worked in them not wanting the Seventh around because of how he would manipulate things. And the Eighth Doctor not answering the call was of interest for sure. Talk about that hair! I sensed some jealousy for sure. Overall, some fun interactions and certainly a unique adventure! A good little read. 

Rating: 7/10

Last Christmas

"It's time to start living in the real world."

Writer: Steven Moffat

Format: TV

Broadcast: 25 December 2014

Series: 2014 Christmas Special 

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor, Clara

Synopsis

The Doctor and Clara face their last Christmas. Trapped on an Arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures, who are you going to call? Santa Claus!

Verdict

Last Christmas was a pretty average Christmas Special which is a big shame to say as the first festive episode for the Twelfth Doctor. This serves as part of the sporadic modern era rewatch I'm currently having alongside my partner Gemma that we've slowly been getting through for over four years now. This is the first time we have watched this episode together and I went into it fully with the knowledge that this was my least favourite Christmas Special, and by some distance. I remember at the time of broadcast and my only rewatch in the year following that one of my main qualms was how on the nose the story is in referring to Santa as fiction. I really don't like that and it took less than five minutes for us on the sofa to turn to each other and state how we wouldn't want our four-year old son Albie watching this. It's such a shame because he's slowly starting take an interest in Doctor Who. He was engaged with The Robot Revolution this year and sat through Aliens of London which we put on because of his insistence on removing my Slitheen and Space Pig figures from the collection room I have, but I just couldn't put even the idea of Santa not being real into his head. The magic of Christmas is so special at this age and imagine spending Christmas Day with your young one considering that it might be just his mum and dad putting presents under the tree! That really upsets me as this is the first time watching the episode since becoming a parent. There's no way I would want him watching this whilst he still believes! I think the reunion between the Doctor and Clara after them both lying to each other at the end of Death in Heaven was a bit rushed and should be something more focused given that it literally led to them departing. The Doctor didn't have time to consider how Clara had been grieving knowing that Danny didn't actually come back and Clara could barely react to the Doctor describing how Gallifrey wasn't where he thought it was. That deserved more focus. I think Nick Frost actually plays a decent Santa and I do enjoy some of the interactions he has with the Doctor. On paper, a meeting between the Doctor and Santa is a bucket list item so it is nice that we do get some strong moments. There's a loose competition between the pair which is fun to play around with. It's also lovely to get Dan Starkey in a role that's not a Sontaran! I think the Dream Crabs are a strong monster and they look rather disgusting which is certainly the aim. Imagine one of them over your face as you sleep! No thank you. But the whole dreams within dreams and then oops no there's one last dream is not a format I enjoy. In parts it was also so obvious that they were within a dream and whilst it is fun to explore the subconscious, it's also strange watching things you know aren't real. And enough with Danny Pink now! I have never been a big fan of his and just when he goes and dies here he is again popping up. The internal conflict he has with the Doctor was strong stuff though. I thought the ending was good on an emotional level with the Doctor and Clara being reunited, but the moments where Clara was an old woman were honestly terrible. The makeup was shocking and it just doesn't work with the original actor because you could see Jenna Coleman's youth shining in her eyes! And she wasn't all that great at sounding elderly. But the Doctor failing to see age in his companions is a lovely sentiment. Overall, a strong villain and some fun interactions, but a lot to bring this one down unfortunately. I won't be rushing to watch it for a fourth time! 

Rating: 6/10

Lionesses in Winter

"My baby boy died but his ghost grew up."

Writer: Lisa McMullin

Format: Audio

Released: November 2025

Series: Thirteenth Doctor Adventures 1.03

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz

Synopsis

England, 1183 – The court of Henry II. The Doctor and Yaz gatecrash a right royal – if terrifyingly dysfunctional – family Christmas as Henry's estranged wife Eleanor returns to spend Yuletide with the fam. The Doctor and Yaz uncover an imposter amongst them, but who are they really? And what do they want?

Verdict

Lionesses in Winter was another great audio to continue the bimonthly releases of Thirteenth Doctor Adventures! There's definitely a theme of vampires floating around which is intriguing and I wonder if that's just gentle continuity making a nod to Vampire Weekend as the series opener, or if there's something more at plat with a long term arc? Either way I like it and the concept of Yaz not having a reflection feels like something we must be coming back to. Whether we will or not is yet to be determined, but it's something for me to look out for in the next release. One thing I must say is that despite the high quality of the series so far and how absolutely delightful it is to have Jodie Whittaker and Mandip Gill back in their roles as the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz, the repetitive nature of the cover art is now becoming a little strange for me. They have all followed the same format and even colour schemes aren't too far removed which makes them really lose a sense of identity for me and that's a bit of a shame. Still, it doesn't impact my listening but is just more of a general comment now that the fourth episode cover has also been revealed. The story at hand was definitely a fun one as having the Doctor and Yaz at a royal gathering is always going to be fun, especially when the former introduces herself to the monarch by sitting on his throne! Now, I like the idea of doing a festive episode especially for this incarnation of the Doctor as we never got it on screen, but I'm not sure how much Christmas would have been celebrated in the manner we know it today back in the twelfth century! That was a little bit unbelievable with Eleanor mentioning to Henry II about Christmas decorations. They're seven centuries too early! That was a tad off-putting in terms of historical accuracy as it felt more modern than medieval, but I guess you can get away with that a little with no visuals? Regardless, one thing that this episode was above anything was just fun. Inserting the Doctor and Yaz into the family dynamic of the royals was amusing and them reflecting on their pasts together was hilarious. They had lost two of their three children which must obviously be heartbreaking, but it was their discussions about family infighting and turmoil that had a comic feel. It was obviously a serious matter for a child to try and usurp their father from the throne, but even Eleanor had gotten in on the act at some point as well! That was quite something and it made for an intriguing dynamic at the dinner table that's for sure. Henry trying to reconcile with Eleanor despite numerous affairs was admirable and it was clear there was still an affection there between the pair. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to study this period of history across my degrees so I was learning as well which I thought was done very well. The threat from the mirror dimension and the threat of Prince Philip supposedly returning from the dead was strong. The infiltration and using the grief of parents was a powerful topic, especially when they had both seen the ghost of their lost boy growing up. That was deeply disturbing! He of course didn't sound like Philip but Henry believing it being a gift from God showed how much of a stranglehold religion had on people at this time. I thought the way the fake Philip was repelled back into its own dimension was good and I like the idea of this universe rejecting him. Alys getting to travel in time when they went back to 1267 was also a nice touch and I loved her reactions. Overall, a bit of a quiet one for Yaz but that's no bad thing. She'll have plenty of time to be the focus. A great listen! A fun festive episode.

Rating: 8/10

Grandfather Time: The Voord Alliance

"I am looking at my corpse."

Writer: Andrew Smith

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Susan's War 3.02

Featuring: War Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

When a Time Lord operation goes wrong, Cardinal Rasmus sends in Susan and the War Doctor. The mission's leader was his daughter, and he needs to know if she survived.

On the ocean moon of Sarros Minor, they fin unlikely allies against the Daleks. But how far can Susan really trust the Voord?

Verdict

The Voord Alliance was a great episode to conclude the Grandfather Time third series of Susan's War! I'm really loving the partnership of Susan and this war-torn version of her grandfather and it's good that he really does feel grandfatherly. It's probably the gravelly voice and the appearance in my mind of looking like a stereotypical grandfather, but it's clear that he cares for her in a very paternal way. I didn't quite get that sense with the Eighth Doctor and that's because he's a dashing and younger incarnation I imagine. The dynamic here works brilliantly and it's wonderful to have Susan stand up for herself, even where the Doctor disagrees. She's her own woman and at this point she's very firmly grown up! It's good to evolve the character beyond what we saw on television without losing the essence that makes Susan a wonderful character. Tapping into her past here by having her meet the Voord again was brilliant although I was expecting her memories of meeting them to be more focused on The Keys of Marinus than Domain of the Voord so that Early Adventures audio getting some love here was most welcomed. It's a fantastic story and rightly made an impact on Susan. I thought the Sarros Minor setting was really strong and I was intrigued by the extent Cardinal Rasmus was going to in order to send the Doctor and Susan there. It was a mission that was firmly off the record with the High Council not even knowing about it. Rasmus had a familial connection with his daughter heading the operation that went mysteriously wrong there. He needed the Doctor and Susan to find her, with the latter very much in favour of offering her services. And that of course meant the former was not going to let his granddaughter go it alone! The concept of the Eradicators was strong and I liked the threat that came from the entire planet being removed from time. That wouldn't go down well with the continuously popping up voids. Their connection to the space-time continuum and the potential wiping out of the entire galaxy if the Time Lords got their way was pretty strong, if not a little vague in the scale. I thought Karita was a really good character and she certainly had companion material alongside the War Doctor. Her fate at the end of the episode in following the Doctor through back to his own time in the future of the Time War was terrific. Might we see her pop up in the War Doctor range? Maybe she already has as I'm considerably far behind there. I thought the alliance with the Voord was intriguing and it really is incredible how much this species has been extended through Big Finish. I loved the mystery of the battle that had clearly taken place between Daleks and Voord, and the confusion surrounding the fact the place looked like it had been drowned but wasn't wet in the slightest was good. I liked how time changed and the Daleks slowly returned to life and the battle then ensued in not quite the right order. I love the confusion that comes with the Time War, even if it is a bit of a head warp at times! The Daleks harking back to The Dalek Invasion of Earth in wanting to pilot the planet was another great throwback and I think more could have been made of that. It felt significant but it's such an audacious plan to have a planet-sized time machine! The way Susan played a huge part in closing the voids was good and I like how she was properly instrumental in the resolution in her own series. With the War Doctor returning to his own timeline now I wonder if the range is finished? If it is, it's been wonderful! Overall, a great episode to conclude the series.

Rating: 8/10

Grandfather Time: The Last of the Kaleds

"The old rules of space and time are being torn to shreds."

Writer: David Llewellyn 

Format: Audio

Released: March 2025

Series: Susan's War 3.01

Featuring: War Doctor, Susan

Synopsis

Using his deniable asset, Rasmus takes Susan along with the War Doctor to a mysterious enclave to seek an alliance. As Susan comes to terms with her grandfather's future persona, they uncover plots and counter-plots. Kaledon is a splinter of Skaro's own distant timeline – but some histories are inevitable.

Verdict

Last of the Kaleds was an excellent start to the Grandfather Time this series of Susan's War! I'm obviously yet to hear how this series ends but I really do hope this isn't the last of the spinoff range because it really is marvellous. It may go down as the best exploration of the Time War across the numerous ranges which is certainly saying something given the numerous Eighth and War Doctor series along with Gallifrey, but this really does stand out on its own and that's marvellous to be able to say. The episode title alone is enough to get me really excited for this one and it didn't disappoint. The concept of a breach into an alternative timeline that was isolated and had a world called Kaledon where some of the Kaleds fled Skaro prior to the Daleks being created. They saw the threat that was coming and the ultimate fate of their race on their home world so found a way off it. The Doctor reminiscing on Genesis of the Daleks where he encountered Kaleds was good stuff because as he saw there, the species weren't exactly scientifically advanced to the stage where they could perfect space travel. They didn't even have much knowledge of other worlds and races, but here they were. I thought the mystery surrounding the Mechanic was actually excellent and the Duke being the only one who could communicate with him immediately felt like a warning sign. I must admit I didn't see it coming that they were one and the same and he was suffering from a Dalek mutation that saw him slowly becoming the Mechanic. He had a plan that was devastating but actually probably not the bad for the wider universe! The concept of the decoys in the form of fake Daleks was very good and with them looking like Daleks but registering as Kaled in origin, they would be a very useful weapon against the Daleks for the Time Lords. And that's where Cardinal Rasmus came in with the Gallifreyan interest at hands. Sure, they wanted an alliance and were willing to grant Kaledon protection, but they were no charity. I thought Susan's relationship with the War Doctor here was brilliant and I'm enjoying the dynamic. The Doctor is clearly a veteran of the Time War by this point but his granddaughter being present is definitely bringing a softer side to this war-battered incarnation. It's almost refreshing. He wasn't even all that pushy about being referred to by name. It was a lovely moment for him to learn of some of Susan's diplomatic missions in the Time War and he was genuinely impressed by all she had done. It was good for him to realise that not everything was fighting on the front line. The Mechanic wanting to take on both the Time Lords and the Daleks was audacious to say the least, but the way he was favouring the latter side was never going to end well. Susan being on hand to distract while the Doctor changed the settings of their device to actually turn on themselves was very good. I thought it was impressive to round things out but even Rasmus was duped which is always fun. Susan was still there to help her grandfather which was rather lovely. Overall, a fascinating use of the Time War that almost felt like it was venturing into Unbound territory which is no bad thing. A fantastic listen! 

Rating: 9/10

The End of the War

"All the water of the world will be set free."

Writer: Russell T Davies

Format: TV

Broadcast: 21 December 2025

Series: The War Between the Land and the Sea 1.05

Featuring: Kate, Barclay

Synopsis

Barclay stands alone, Salt is lost, UNIT is powerless, and the oceans rise as the war reaches its climax. While traitors conspire, can Barclay find Salt before it's too late?

Verdict

The End of the War was a bit of a disappointing ending to what has turned out to be a pretty average series of The War Between the Land and the Sea. With a special reedited edition of The Sea Devils and double episodes in the lead up to Christmas, this series had all the ingredients to be really strong but I think it has slightly fell short unfortunately. I do get the feeling that the story is a strong one but it just kind of felt rather rushed into five compact episodes. I mean, we didn't really see much of an actual war between humanity and Aquakind. Sure, we got the dropping of all the plastic in Plastic Apocalypse and we did get some action here with Homo Aqua eating all of the dogs, but the rest has just been diplomacy. I'm very much fine with politics being in play but I think we needed to see more action and conflict. Instead the focus was on the love story between Barclay and Salt which just felt random and got even more so here. I still feel like I'm waiting for an answer as to why they have become so close other than Barclay showing a little compassion when going off script at the early diplomatic meetings. It doesn't make sense to me and makes the intense focus all the more random. The highlight of the episode is undoubtedly Kate Stewart as she copes with losing Colonel Ibrahim and trying to prevent nuclear strikes into the ocean. It's incredible to think that there's even a chance of the nations of the world cooperating if this kind of planetary wide scale problem occurred, let alone them leaving Kate in charge! I did love how she utilised her knowledge from being UNIT's head to get the prescription she required from her therapist. She wouldn't want her marriage broken with her daughter not actually being her husband's! That was sublime. I thought the threat from Aquakind here in wanting to melt the ice caps was fantastic and probably something that should have come earlier in the series. It felt very real and a fine use of their natural habitat of water. The line from Tide about ice just being water in the form of land was fantastic too, but he was killed off far too soon. Barclay falling into the Severance trap was brutal as he thought he had people onside but they just wanted to extract Salt's DNA from him to concoct their virus. I think that could have been made a little clear as to what was actually happening but it was still good, but it just felt incredibly sudden to me. In an instant the virus had wiped out 90% of Aquakind with corpses all over the coastline. It was a brutal image. Salt declaring the war lost and accepting the offer of a protected island perhaps leaves things open for revenge, but the line about them being terrified of humanity hit hard. I much prefer Salt as a diplomat than a love interest! I thought the ending was pretty rubbish in all honesty with Barclay faking his death and getting to run off into the oceans with Salt in full The Shape of Water fashion as he suddenly had gills. I thought that was awful. How can he just run off and leave his daughter behind? That's unfathomable to me. Kate waving them off showed courage after her own lover was killed in the conflict, but the insistence of her telling the jogger to pick up his plastic bottle on the beach was incredibly on the nose. Talk about a political climate message! It was far too on the nose. Overall, some strong bits and Kate was marvellous, but as a whole a disappointing finale. Regardless, I'm glad we got more of the Whoniverse and I hope this isn't the last of the spinoffs! 

Rating: 5/10

The Great Sontaran War

"I am not your pet."

Writer: James Goss

Format: Audio

Released: October 2021

Series: Torchwood Monthly 55

Featuring: Ianto

Synopsis

The Great Sontaran War has raged across the cosmos for millennia and finally it is coming to the Earth. 

Major Kreg has been dispatched to carry out a strategic assessment of the planet. He will learn about the dominant life form, decide what the world has to offer, and discover the ultimate value of the human race.

For Torchwood, there is only one place to put him. Welcome to the Mumbles Bay Caravan Park. 

Verdict

The Great Sontaran War was a great episode to continue my way through the monthly range from Torchwood at Big Finish! I was very excited by the prospect of this story because the Sontarans are a huge favourite of mine and whilst this was a little different than I anticipated, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable listen! I didn't actually read the synopsis prior to listening and I hadn't really paid much attention in detail to the CD cover art, so the prominent role of the cat was sensational. I have a cat myself and definitely consider myself a cat person, so the way Major Kreg was growing attached to his newfound pet was hilarious. The way Sontarans see and think of everything in terms of war and tactics was marvellous when it came to the cats. He knew they were by far superior and he couldn't understand the problem when Mrs Betty's bird was eaten by his cat who was comically dubbed as the Group Marshall. That was pretty marvellous and I find it pretty surprising that he went with a rank above his own! Ianto being there to basically look after Kreg was funny when the Sontaran made his own analogies of being treated like a pet. It was hard to argue against it! Putting him in a perception filter and calling him Craig was just really good Sontaran humour. The way he took everything so literally as well was a delight. One thing I think missing from the episode was a bit of action. I almost wanted Ianto to provoke Kreg a little to get him in the mood for war, but the slow burning pace in which he invited the Rutan Host to take them on singlehandedly was very admirable! He had accepted his fate as dying and bypassing the Torchwood network defences on the laptop he was provided with to reach out to the old enemy was marvellous. I loved his discussions with Ianto regarding the Great Sontaran War and how it first started with nobody entirely sure on the origins. I feel like that's a story that has to be told one day (if it hasn't been already in a format I'm yet to discover)! Mumbles Bay is a pretty nice place and is not a bad destination at all for a caravan park. Kreg learning about capitalism and finding the concept ridiculous was amusing and it's a fun and subtle way for political commentary. Ianto sums it up well though in stating it's the best system they've got at the moment. Kreg as a Marxist is a fun concept though! I thought Kreg caring for his Group Marshall was actually rather sweet and he wasn't exactly happy about having to sleep lying down because he was a source of warmth. Nothing else of course. Definitely not compassion. Kreg not being a fan of Mr Higgins because was using his landlord privileges to assert control and prevent hot water access to the park residents was fantastic and he was going to take it up with the man himself. Breaking his jaw wasn't quite the way to go though! A swift apology later pretty much sorted things though and I liked that Kreg was standing up for what was fair. It wasn't the farmers fault that their boss didn't pay the rent out of the wages when they weren't paid themselves. Kreg luring the Rutan Host in was fantastic and initially it was the way he chose to die in accepting his fate and not getting the report back to Sontar regarding the human race. But he achieved a huge victory which was terrific! I liked how in his departure he wanted assurances that his cat would be looked after, and now here he was protecting a caravan park. Sensational. Overall, a little bonkers but a great load of fun. A terrific listen.

Rating: 8/10

Friend of the Family: The Isle on the Shore

"I will haunt you for years to come."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Diary of River Song 11.04

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River Song decides to investigate a temporal anomaly after a Luna University expedition makes some odd discoveries in an old Earth house – pages of her own diary with an inscrutable riddle written across them.

However, her investigation goes badly wrong when she is transported back into the past of the house and gets trapped within its grounds.

The house is the home of the Mortimers and with a limited ability to travel back and forth in time across eighty years and multiple generations she finds herself witnessing key moments in their family history.

If she wants to escape, the words in her diary are not the only riddle she has to solve. But not everyone in the house will survive what's coming. And not everyone is on her side.

Verdict

The Isle on the Shore was an excellent episode to conclude the Friend of the Family eleventh series of The Diary of River Song! I thought this rounded out what was a very strong story across the boxset that has seem River go on quite an emotional journey as she got to know numerous generations of the Mortimer family in their Hideaway residence. It really has been quite the adventure for River stretching from 1936-2014 and bringing both bookends of her time travelling ability here together in the form of Maddie Mortimer was really quite nice. To follow on from the cliffhanger finish of The Bird from the Nest, I was pretty shocked that Maddie threw herself in front of River when she was shot at by Henry. He was devastated and disappointed in himself for what had happened but River had little sympathy despite his PTSD from the First World War. She was slightly understanding that he was suffering and needed help but she absolutely did not accept it as an excuse. She demanded that he get the help he needed immediately and with her attitude towards him, I was surprised River was so willing to have Henry not tell anybody about what had happened. She knew that this was the end for Maddie and Henry would have to live with that which I guess is punishment enough, but she also needed him to ensure that history fell on the right track. I liked how she basically set up her own past from the past with instructions for Henry on what she had already lived through. The entire series basically becoming a bootstrap paradox is a fun little quirk but it does feel like a little bit like cheating in giving an answer regarding the trap River found herself within. Injecting more mystery into the Cook was intriguing and I like the idea of her syncing up with Hugo to become a more fuller version of a different programme. She's not quite Hugo, but she is at the same time and that's really fascinating to hear her fulfilling her life at the Mortimer residence. It's a long old journey she's gone through and it seems like she's sticking around as custodian for the family. I think that's a nice touch. I thought the focus on Harry and Vinay was marvellous and they're a really nice couple. It feels right to conclude with them tying the knot and River being the one to officiate the wedding is glorious. I like how she has the power vested in her from the President of Earth and alluding to her own marital ceremony being rushed was a nice nod to The Wedding of River Song. Carla's interactions with River were great and it was fantastic that she was basically jealous. Thomas didn't exactly help himself in saying that he loved her, but he was keen to make sure she knew it wasn't in the same way he loved her. She had saved his life after all! I thought the connection there was strong. I loved the humour that came from River interrupting another proposal but it was nice to know that she declined in a way that was understood and expected. She was pregnant though and the way Carla revealed that regarding the little person inside her was touching. A special moment. River being the one for George to come clean about Remy was really good stuff and I loved that she also discussed openly with Maddie about her own sexual orientation. River using the echo gun to preserve Maddie for one final day of life at her descendant's wedding and a gay one at that was really nice and it was powerful stuff that she got one final day with her babies. I'm not sure how I'd react if I knew my death was imminent, so I respected how well she dealt with it. River ensuring that everything would go as planned was very good even if the Mortimer legacy was a bit of a mess now! But she'd solved the family riddle so that was something. It was nice of her to catch up once all was set and done in an epilogue kind of moment that felt needed. Overall, a brilliant finale to a really strong series! 

Rating: 9/10

Friend of the Family: The Bird from the Nest

"He couldn't be himself."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Diary of River Song 11.03

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River Song decides to investigate a temporal anomaly after a Luna University expedition makes some odd discoveries in an old Earth house – pages of her own diary with an inscrutable riddle written across them.

However, her investigation goes badly wrong when she is transported back into the past of the house and gets trapped within its grounds.

The house is the home of the Mortimers and with a limited ability to travel back and forth in time across eighty years and multiple generations she finds herself witnessing key moments in their family history.

If she wants to escape, the words in her diary are not the only riddle she has to solve. But not everyone in the house will survive what's coming. And not everyone is on her side.

Verdict 

The Bird from the Nest was another very strong episode to continue my way through the Friend of the Family eleventh series of The Diary of River Song! This really did feel like it moved the story along nicely with quite a few answers regarding the situation River has found herself in. I think it was good to explain how she came to be able to call herself from her own personal future in the past (yes that is a fun little quirk that almost becomes a head scratcher if you think about it too much) and the use of the echo gun in order to get River into the past from Hugo was very good. It's always fun to play around with time and I usually enjoy adventures that do that, so the little twist of River calling from 1963 when she has only been able to visit 1962 was terrific. That meant she would have to play the long game and wait around for at least a few months and that wasn't something she was exactly willing to do. But knowing that she was conversing with her future self, she didn't have any other choice! I thought the focus on George Mortimer was really impressive and him being in the 1960s meant it was rather troubling for him given his sexual orientation. I liked how he was discussing that subtly with his wife as she was also talking about similar feelings that couldn't quite be resolved or answered. The way Harry and Vinay were helping River in 2014 by tracking the past through the diary was good and it was clear that he was talking about being gay but it was the 1960s and that meant he couldn't be open about it. It's scary to think there are people who were adults at that time and still around now in how close that attitude was to today. It's a horrifying thought! I thought the revelation regarding the cook and Hugo was extraordinary and really not something I saw coming. That was quite audacious to say the least when it comes to time, but it certainly explains why she could see Hugo the entire time! She was him! I didn't see that coming and I really ought to with how the foundations were laid. He could go incognito and could take any form. In hindsight it all seems so simple and obvious! But here we are. Hugo taking the form of the cook because him appearing out of nowhere in 1936 and causing her to have a heart attack is just incredible and in order to keep history on track he had to stick around for nearly a century in the guise of another! It's no wonder he grew to resent River Song, although that does feel a tad harsh as far as she's concerned. I thought the way River got to solve the riddle of the titular bird in the nest was impressive and her reaction and urgency when she heard how Thomas was dressed up as an ostrich was marvellous. He was being swarmed by wasps and he was allergic as well which was particularly worrying. Kudos must go to the wasp sound effect in the headphones when listening because crikey they're annoying! That bloody buzzing was relentless but I'm glad it served a purpose. She was though able to transport him to the future and use an epipen to save him which was clever! I thought that was a good way to solve that and Harry rewarded her with the key to the locked door that has been so mysterious and enigmatic across this series. He instructed River to go to 1936 to use it but there she was met with a threat from a troubled Henry who seemed to shoot at her believing she was having an affair with his Maddie! That is not the cliffhanger I was expecting but it was certainly a shocker to lead into the finale. I'm excited and very intrigued to hear how things finish from here. Overall, another great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

Friend of the Family: The Key to the Door

"I wish the ice would thaw again."

Writer: Tim Foley

Format: Audio

Released: January 2023

Series: Diary of River Song 11.02

Featuring: River

Synopsis

River Song decides to investigate a temporal anomaly after a Luna University expedition makes some odd discoveries in an old Earth house – pages of her own diary with an inscrutable riddle written across them.

However, her investigation goes badly wrong when she is transported back into the past of the house and gets trapped within its grounds.

The house is the home of the Mortimers and with a limited ability to travel back and forth in time across eighty years and multiple generations she finds herself witnessing key moments in their family history.

If she wants to escape, the words in her diary are not the only riddle she has to solve. But not everyone in the house will survive what's coming. And not everyone is on her side.

Verdict

The Key to the Door was another great episode to continue my way through the Friend of the Family eleventh series of The Diary of River Song! I thought this was a really strong continuation of the story that is arguably one concurrent adventure and whilst it did lose a little bit of the mystery that is natural to the opening episode, this was still really solid and did a good job in moving things forward. I thought it was good to get a lot more Hugo interaction and the timeframe for this story in River's timeline is fascinating. It's also something that is going to bring a lot of emotion as River's famed diary is running out of pages and that means the end of her travels with the Doctor, and ultimately the end of her life as seen in Forest of the Dead. That's a daunting prospect and it really sells the concept of River not wanting to use the pages in her diary to jot down the timeline of her bouncing around the Mortimer residence. I liked how Hugo was initially confused about her reluctance to use the pages in her diary, but he soon understood the significance of it. I thought the timeline being established as 1936-2014 was good last time out, but now the intervals were even at 26 years which is intriguing. What is the significance there? It's enough time for a whole generation of the family to grow up but it feels like there might be something more there. I liked the mystery of the locked door in the house and the family members not really being bothered by it was intriguing. How could you live in a house and not be interested or concerned by a room that was always locked? So it made perfect sense towards the end when the mysterious cook was inside it cooking up who knows what. I was a little surprised that we learned a bit about her and the fact she was the Kontron Crystal inside River's vortex manipulator, but that doesn't really tell us a huge amount at the same time because what does that even mean? I don't know the science behind it but I like the idea a lot of the manipulator itself causing chaos. It makes sense as to why the manipulator is limited in the times River can travel across and also spatially. This is very much a trap and River is at the heart of it. I thought Maddie was quite dark in this episode and purely just from the birthday gift of emptiness she wanted River to wrap. Talk about heartless and symbolising! I thought that was pretty spectacular in its message and being as part of its time. River forging references based on those she had already seen to get the job as governess was funny because she had to argue with Hugo about the bootstrap paradox. I love one of those. River being flung to 2014 was exciting and I found her interactions with Harry and Vinay very amusing. It's a good jump forward to see how quickly times have changed with them wanting to potentially get married but at least they were open about being in a relationship. As they mentioned, it was legal now! And it's scary to think just how badly that would be viewed upon at the different points in the Mortimer timeline that River has access to. I thought the humour that came from her watching Pride & Prejudice was good although the prospect of six hours of Jayne Austen does not sound ideal to me! I liked how her opinion changed on things before watching compared with after. The cliffhanger finish with River calling herself from the 1960s was exciting and with her seemingly stuck in 2014, I'm very intrigued to hear where things move from here! I'm certainly interested and look forward to exploring more mysteries. Overall, another great episode! 

Rating: 8/10