Bizarre Bazaar!

"The antiques are doing the robbing!"

Writer: Alan Barnes

Format: Comic Strip

Released: September 2026

Printed in: DWM 634

Featuring: Tenth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

When Rose's vintage phone is in need of a battery upgrade, the Doctor takes her to one of the only places in the universe that might have the part. But something sinister is at play at the Garazone Bazaar...

Verdict

Bizarre Bazaar! was a fun little comic strip adventure! I am very intrigued by the current direction of the comic strip in Doctor Who Magazine because with no clear indication of when the show will return on screen, and there technically being no confirmed current Doctor, it feels right to dip into the past and go for a bit of a nostalgia appeal. We had that massively with The Daleks' Master Plan interlude last time out with a black and white comic strip, and now we have something different altogether here! The style of the comic was instantly recognisable and it felt like a return to the Tenth Doctor era of Series 2 in a massive way. That really helped it feel authentic and honestly the style was perfect. You could slot this onto the end of The Betrothal of Sontar graphic novel with absolute ease. It would be a seamless follow on. I was also impressed with how the story captured the essence of Doctor Who Adventures comic strips as well. I wasn't actually a fan during this era as I didn't discover the wonderful world of the Whoniverse until the broadcast of The Lazarus Experiment, but I can appreciate what was trying to be achieved here. I am in favour of paying homage to that and I do plan on purchasing the recently released Save the Humans! graphic novel collecting the first batch of DWA comic strip stories. I am sure I'd have appreciated the artwork on this one even more if I had covered that already. The story itself is pretty basic and that's no bad thing when you only have six pages to play with. I do question the Doctor arriving at the Garazone Bazaar to replace Rose's dodgy phone battery because even if it was rare in 2007, surely you could just utilise the fact the TARDIS was able to travel in time and go to a year when it wasn't? That felt a bit of an oversight but the Garazone Bazaar was almost certainly a more interesting place. Rock cakes that were actual rocks for a start was a bit of a shock, not just to me as the reader but also Rose when she knocked somebody out with one! The irony of the antiques coming to life and being the thieves was amusing and the resolution with Jeanie being found by the Doctor in an old oil lamp was fine for this kind of adventure. It's not one I'm going to take too seriously because that would be doing it a disservice. It's just a bit of fun and I think that's also reflected in the cliffhanger finish in having Rose on a flying carpet and being whisked away to who knows when and where. The idea of it being created by the very fabric of space and time is a wonderful play and words and it seems this little DWA nostalgia tour will continue for at least another issue in the comic strip! That's good and exciting, and I've waited until now to read this one because I thought it was a part one. It very much isn't which is great because the more content we get the better! Overall, this was just lighthearted fun and a good little read. The artwork and what it represents was the highlight for me. I hope this kind of bouncing around of nostalgia continues for a long time to come yet.

Rating: 7/10

False Friends

"This is the planet of the Autons."

Writer: Timothy X Atack

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Ninth Doctor Adventures 4.08

Featuring: Ninth Doctor, Rose

Synopsis

Minnie and Gary are trapped on a planet of robots, a fake Earth, and they're the only humans. Hoping no-one spots their humanity, they summon the one person they know will answer their call for help.

But can the Doctor and Rose save Gary and Minnie from this false Earth – and who has built this very bad copy of human civilisation in the first place?

Verdict

False Friends was a great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of Ninth Doctor Adventures! I am loving the bimonthly release schedule with this series alternating with its Thirteenth Doctor counterpart and it's just so good to really max out the time the Ninth Doctor and Rose spent travelling. It's incredible to think that by the time this series concludes we'll be at nearly fifty episodes of Ninth Doctor Adventures which is just staggering but I am so thankful for it. I am sure this won't be the last for Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper together, but even if it is I am so happy we got a returning monster for them to face. I remember reading in the Doctor Who Magazine preview interview when the Ninth Doctor Adventures were announced by Big Finish that the Autons were returning, but I'm sure then it was stated that it was in the seventh episode. Of course, that didn't come to be last time out in Dark Tides so I kind of forgot about it. I thought the nature of the episode was building towards something familiar and it was clear from the hints that the reveal of the masters of the strange mirror planet of Earth was going to be something or someone we knew as the listener, but with talk of robots I was suspecting the Kraal! I thought things were oddly reminiscent of The Android Invasion which was fun and I wonder if that was done on purpose? Either way, the moment Rose and the Doctor realised they were on the planet of the Autons was superb. The Nestene Consciousness was out to conquer humanity once again, but this time around it was channeling its inner Monks and having a practice run. I like that as a concept even if the scale is so unbelievably huge because it is unique. I thought Billie Piper was excellent in once again capturing the younger Series 1 era of Rose as a character and considering she's playing that role over twenty years later, it really is continuously impressive. It really adds a lot and her reaction in learning that they were tackling the Nestene Consciousness again was fantastic. It really sold the threat as being a big one and her first encounter was always going to leave a mark! I thought Minnie and Gary as the supposed only humans on the planet were really strong characters and it was clear they were made for each other! Would they really be just friends after everything they had been through even if Gary had a fiancé back home? It would appear not if the hug at the end of the episode is anything to go by. Playing around with two versions of Rose as one was an Auton was done pretty well, but I do think the doppelgänger plot device is not best placed on audio. Minnie did her best in labelling the respective versions but we can't see the slight tear in the shirt and Piper has her voice so it's very hard to differentiate. The human Rose admitting that she couldn't prove she was human was proof enough and I rather liked that in its simplicity. Being honest in a situation like that wouldn't be easy but she did so and that saved her. I think the ending was a little out of nowhere in that exposing the facade was essentially enough, but Gary and Minnie were even Autons and they didn't know it. They accepted the fact which was intriguing and the Doctor being prepared to leave them behind was brutal but Rose was on hand to save them by convincing the Doctor to think otherwise. I like how he knows the Nestene Consciousness isn't defeated, but he's certainly provided a setback here! Overall, a very good listen to continue the seres along! 

Rating: 8/10

Office Space

"My brethren are not kind."

Writers: Georgia Cook & Fio Tretheway

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.03

Featuring: UNIT

Synopsis

It's Max's first night shift at the UNIT liaison call centre in Chester, screening emergency calls from the public for signs of extraterrestrial threat.

But tonight the calls hold something far deadlier, and soon Max and his colleagues find themselves fighting for their lives to survive against the night itself.

Verdict

Office Space was another great episode to continue my way through the second series of Halloween! If there was a monster made for a Halloween themed series then the Vashta Nerada were certainly it. I was delighted when the twist came revealing them as the mysterious Flesh in the shadows, and whilst I did work it out beforehand that didn't take anything away from the moment. Sometimes knowing a reveal like that is coming makes it better and this was certainly the case on this occasion. Before listening I was aware that this was just a UNIT adventure with no familiar characters from the organisation which meant it immediately went rather low down on my radar with anticipation low, but it was actually terrific. I found myself enjoying the dynamic of the UNIT call centre in Chester of all places with some really strong characters in the form of Max, Shelly, Carl and Clementine. It was Max's first day on the job so getting to learn about the emergency call centre of UNIT's through her was nicely done. I do question the point of the call centre being a middle man essentially between an emergency 999 call and sending someone out to deal with it. I do think that Max's first call was a prime example of the flaw in the system because if someone is in a situation bad enough or to the level of worrisome that they are dialling 999 then I would want to have the police sent out if that's what I asked for! I thought the delay in communicating with the Flesh as the kind of conscience of the Vashta Nerada was good and it allowed a decent chunk of time to build to the reveal. This was really good in capturing that darker theme, although I must have missed if this was explicitly set close to Halloween. I guess that's not hugely important but it would make sense if it was. The appeal of the Vashta Nerada is obvious though and the mystery calls coming from the babysitters was eerie to say the least. Carl getting more and more annoyed by that and not following protocol was nicely done because he shut off the phone supplies, and they still kept getting through! I thought that was good in highlighting the threat posed. Picking off the UNIT personnel one by one was fantastic and I liked that Clementine was eradicated almost from the off. The description of being eaten in particular was superb. I thought the desperation of Max getting deeper and deeper as the episode went on was great and whilst it was cliche for this to be her first day on the job, it just worked. I thought she was good and trying to destroy the box that would cause the Vashta Nerada to dissipate was intriguing, but Flesh had basically brought them all on a wild goose chase that would actually just anger her kind. Some moral conscience! I like the horror in the concept of an ambitious ending because the Vashta Nerada being at large is obviously tasty. Is there going to be a UNIT follow up? I doubt it, but I'd be well in favour of that. Overall though, a great listen to continue my way through the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Sirgwain and the Green Knight

"He knew that the armour he wore would offer no protection."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 15

Featuring: Ice Warrior

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Sirgwain and the Green Knight was a good little story to conclude my reading of the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! Now, it's no secret that I bought this book purely for The Doctor and the Three Witches as part of the Circuit Breaker multimedia story event, but I've really enjoyed the fifteen short stories that came before it in this collection. They're unique, random and certainly quirky so it was good that things concluded in much the same way. I knew from the title alone that this was going to feel more folky and certainly have a fairytale vibe as anytime we delve into Arthurian tales that is always going to happen. Sirgwain was certainly a character I could respect here and the titular green knight felt the same way. It took me much longer than it should have to realise that the Warrior who crashed and needed aid was an Ice Warrior! I was delighted when I realised though as I thought he was presented very well here. He was a fine representative of the Ice Warriors and whilst he was brutish, he was also respectful. I thought incorporating them into this kind of setting with the people around was great because it was a clash of two different systems of honour. It's important to both and touching upon that was nicely done here. It was also crucial to Sirgwain's survival. I thought King Harthur (ha! Could it be any more on the nose?) was a decent character but I'm not sure he quite respected honour in the same way as his knight. As far as he was concerned, they had supplied the Ice Warrior with the men and materials needed to repair his ship (or temple as they saw it) and that meant honour remained intact. It was the King who made the agreement, but still Sirgwain had to see it through as he felt honour bound. I thought that was admirable and showed he was certainly a strong knight. I liked that a lot and with a month to dwell on it while the Warrior was going through with his repairs, it must have been agony. As far as Sirgwain was concerned, going to the Ice Warrior was his day of death. There was no doubt in his mind and that can't be a fun thing to have weighing on your mind. I liked how the Ice Warrior respected Sirgwain for seeing through his part of the agreement and he was actually nothing but complimentary. He appreciated the materials and the hardworking nature of the men that helped repair his temple, and now they could be freely returned to the King. Sirgwain was ready for the final part of the bargain when it came to the blow to be reciprocated, but the Warrior knew he was an honourable man. He anticipated and accepted death, so he didn't actually need to die. I thought that was a nice way to finish things and he had one last trick with the take off of his ship now it was in full working order. A Warrior of the stars indeed. Overall, a nice way to finish the collection and just a really solid story. I'm all about stories concerning honour! 

Rating: 7/10

The Three Brothers Gruff

"Every race has its weaknesses"

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 14

Featuring: Sontarans

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Three Brothers Gruff was a fun little story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! I'm a sucker for a Sontaran adventure so to get a second one in this book is a big positive for me. I knew right from the off with the arrival of a spherical ship that it was going to be them and once black armour was described, there was only one race it was going to be. I like the simplicity of having Commander Starn return from The Three Little Sontarans as it just keeps things moving from a continuity perspective and it makes sense that if there are fairytales about a Sontaran, then it would be the same one. I thought the story clearly took inspiration from The Sontaran Experiment which I'm absolutely okay with as that is one of the first Classic era serials I ever watched. I loved the impact the Sontarans made in The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky so I remember being very excited receiving the DVD of that story for Christmas 2008 and catching up on their past encounters with the Doctor. Having Starn here reporting on a planet and testing the local population felt familiar and I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much. The threat posed to Starn from his higher in command was good in that if the report of the feasibility of the planet wasn't provided within a day, then the Sontaran invasion would not be risked and therefore not commence. As far as the three brothers were concerned, that was music to their ears and they knew what needed to be done. The humour and almost comical way in which Starn revealed his own weakness and that of the entire Sontaran race was just gloriously perfect of this race. He thought he was boasting and showing strength in explaining that even in having a weakness, theirs was on their neck in the form of the probic vent which meant that they had to face their enemies. Starn was almost beaming with pride on the page in explaining this but it brought his downfall. I thought Naze was the best of the Gruff brothers and it was good that he realised not to showcase all of his intelligence when it came to the testing in place by Starn. Even when a wrong answer provided a significant electric shock, he knew not to appear too clever as the Sontaran might not want him. The way he saved and then enlisted his other brothers for what was needed to take out Starn and prevent their planet from being invaded. I don't think they should have been able to carry the Sontaran over to his ship but at the same time the gravity of the planet was never established. I'll let it slide. I thought their plan to smash up anything they could see in the ship to prevent the report getting back to Sontaran Command was excellent and felt right to just cause chaos. Overall, a really fun little tale to continue my way through the book! Just one to go now. A great read.

Rating: 8/10

The Grief Collector

"She had no more tears left to cry."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 13

Featuring: Tenth Doctor 

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Grief Collector was a really strong adventure to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection of short stories! I'm nearing the end of the book now with just a couple more stories to finish things off so it's inevitable that the Tenth Doctor would show up in some form! He was actually the incarnation that was explicitly named here which felt like a big deal for the stories in the collection so far and if it was going to be anyone, it just had to be him. He didn't feature much other than a few cameo appearances but his presence was felt and that was all that was needed. I was surprised he did get named as he was easily identifiable by the description of his pinstriped suit and I actually think it would have been better to keep going with just giving clues and hints as to his identity. As the reader, we can easily work out who it is and which incarnation, but given this is supposed to be a Time Lord fairy tale I'm not sure how it works chronologically with the Tenth Doctor featuring. There can't really be a fairytale created after the Time War considering all of the Time Lords were dead. The Doctor was just on hand as more of a guiding hand though when it came to helping Melina. She was a really strong character as the lead for this story and her meeting with the Grief Collector was pretty brutal. He was offering unfathomable amounts of money seemingly in return for nothing at all. She was just required to give up the tears of her wedding day which didn't sound like a lot on paper. Of course, she was thinking that it would be the happiest day of her life so why would she cry? Except the Grief Collector was one step ahead of the game. He had prepared to make the most special day of her life actually the most miserable. I did suspect the Trickster would be at play when it came to the wedding day and Varan had seemingly vanished off the face of the Earth, but his memory still lingered so that ruled him out. I think he'd get on with the Grief Collector rather well though if I'm being honest! He just seemed to have a storage problem. I thought the concept behind the Grief Collector was excellent and I think the only thing holding this story back from a higher or even a perfect rating was a bit more background on his purpose. Does he feed on the tears? Where does he get the money? And just what is he, exactly? I understand this is a short story so there isn't a huge amount of room to play with, but just a line or two would have helped in my opinion. Melina taking it upon herself to find others impacted by the Grief Collector was great but I must also say the scale being so contained to her locality felt a tad off. I liked that she got into his residence though and found Varan and the tears she had cried for him along with thousands of others. It was a daunting image and I don't think the illustration quite did it justice. Her screams actually resonating with the glass to the point that it fractured them to free the prisoners and the tears that were cried for them was a nice touch and seems like the right kind of resolution for this format. It's quick and easy. Victoria would be proud! Melina should be proud and I'd say she had strong companion capabilities, but she had her place. Love conquered all. Overall, a great read to continue the collection! 

Rating: 8/10

Andiba and the Four Slitheen

"We Slitheen have never shied away from doing what we must to secure a profit."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 12

Featuring: Slitheen

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Andiba and the Four Slitheen was another great story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! This was a short story that was pretty much exactly what it said on the tin. It is a simple title but it works effectively. I'm not sure it fit the fairytale all that much but the Slitheen are a strong familiar element to go along with the collection. Andiba was a nice character and I admired her right from the off to be honest. She was obviously clever and used her surroundings to her advantage. She was quick to gather information and use it when it came to opening the door. She heard the plan of the Slitheen which was brutal in their efforts to mine yet more material for their own profit, but more importantly she quickly deduced what the Slitheen weakness was. I thought that was really good and whilst it does make it predictable how things are going to end, is that not always the case where the Slitheen are concerned? We know vinegar is their weakness as established in World War Three and beyond into the Sarah Jane Adventures but the way it was obtained here was really good. I liked how vinegar was logically incorporated into the surroundings of the setting with the distillery. The Slitheen knew the town was the right place to obtain the madranite they were after, but they were also wary that the distillery near where they had landed needed to be destroyed first. I thought that was really good as whilst wine was the primary offering, vinegar is a less luxurious item produced at these kind of places so tapping into that with the Slitheen present was terrific. Andiba knew that it was the vinegar that was the weakness over the wine which might be a tad presumptive, but I could understand it. Sometimes you just get that gut feeling and she had it here. I liked her backstory with Vash and how she longed for him to come into her place of work, but with everything that was happening in the town after she heard the Slitheen plan, hers had to change and that meant not seeing him at the usual time and place. So when she bumped into him she was pretty delighted and it was nice that after telling him her story he had no reason to think she would be lying. He believed her and wanted to help. They were destined for each other and honestly considering how they acted in each other's company I'm surprised they weren't already a couple! It was nice to incorporate Vash's father though as the distillery owner and by the end of the day Andiba had a new fancy job there! Now she would see Vash everyday which was obviously something that pleased her. I thought the Slitheen hiding in the barrels feigning as literal wine was pretty amusing and showed how desperate they were for eradicating the vinegar threat. I also liked the vulnerability of them only having one skin suit to use. For a group of four that meant they wouldn't be able to blend in well at all, especially when Andiba knew the disguise anyway! She was a big thorn in their plans and was basically the sole reason they didn't get their madranite. The illustration was also really good to accompany this story and showed a Slitheen but also Vash and Andiba together in full focus amongst the barrels. It did the job required. Overall, a great little read to continue the collection!

Rating: 8/10

The Song of the Reed Man

"I feel the tremors on the great web of life."

Writer: Katharine Wheeler

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.02

Featuring: Third Doctor, Jo

Synopsis

When the Doctor and Jo land in the marshes of Essex, in 1562, they find themselves at the dawn of England's witch hunting mania. 

But lurking beneath the waterways, there lies an ancient evil, ready to hunt and feast. Can the Doctor help an isolated coven see reason, before it's too late?

Verdict

The Song of the Reed Man was another great episode to continue my way through the second series of Halloween! I think the title was more than enough to feel like a kind of horror adventure so it was an added bonus when this was revealed as the Krynoid story of the set! I think The Seeds of Doom has made a profound impact with the Krynoid being an instant classic of a monster, but their spinoff range at Big Finish with Planet Krynoid means they were made for this boxset. The vibe of the two series we've had pf that so far has been incredibly dark and whilst we never reached those heights here, there were definite similarities which I appreciated. I thought it was good to not name the Krynoid until a good half an hour or so in and I realised that with talk of tendrils and the like that they were going to arrive. I think in terms of Third Doctor Adventures continuity this episode was set quite a bit ahead of where I'm currently at with the Third Doctor travelling alongside an older version of Jo here, but I don't think I was jeopardised by not being up to date! It was nice to hear Katy Manning perform a little closer to her natural and current self whilst maintaining that youthful charm Jo is famous for. She's such an iconic companion and I'll be very intrigued to catch up on her return to the TARDIS alongside her Doctor in her older age, especially thinking how that will tie into Death of the Doctor at all. I thought the sixteenth century setting here was really good and I liked going down the witch route. That feels perfect for a Halloween release on paper but I'm not actually sure going into the past was the best way to represent that. The Doctor was insistent that there was no magic at play which was true to his reaction in other witch stories like The Shakespeare Code and The Witchfinders so I appreciated the consistency there. The Third Doctor feels like a strong incarnation to take on the Krynoid too and I like that it's clear he knows them well despite their first television appearance being some way off chronologically. His line about them being a glorified bramble was magnificent too and perfectly in line with what I would expect of this incarnation. Tim Treloar was sublime to be honest here in capturing the essence and likeness of the Third Doctor. The religious element of the episode was fascinating stuff and I thought Mother Ada was a really strange and intriguing character. Her fate at the end of the story as she was taken over by the Krynoid but fought from within was admirable stuff and you could sense the kind of appreciation the Doctor had for what she did. Godith was a really strong character too even if I constantly kept thinking of her as goddess with the way people were saying her name in their respective accents. I don't think they'd be any good with Welsh names. The Marshall was an amusing character in how quickly he was fooled by the Doctor into thinking he was part of Her Majesty's Privy Council because that's exactly what he suggested and the Time Lord just ran with it. The Krynoid going more than just plant life consumption was really good and I think this might have actually benefited from some more time. Still, it was a really good hour or so that was just dark enough whilst feeling like a traditional episode. A great listen to continue the series! 

Rating: 8/10

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor

"Tell me what you fear."

Writers: Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle 

Format: Audio

Released: October 2026

Series: Halloween 2.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

In the 1980s, four physics students find themselves drawn to a strange mirror, seemingly haunted by a ghastly figure carrying a distinctive umbrella...

As they experiment with the mirror, they begin to lose themselves in its mystery, as the entity within seeks to break into their world.

Verdict

Doctor, Doctor, Doctor was a great start to the second series of Halloween! I was delighted when this was announced and I do hope that it now becomes an annual tradition on the Big Finish release calendar. I think it was a little too expensive but I've bought it so I guess the corporate win this time around. It does look to be a strong variety of stories and eras with the cover looking particularly reminiscent of the scary theme of October's final day. This had an eery feel and it was always going to be a success with the writing duo of Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle. They're really impressive and they captured an enigmatic and mysterious feel almost immediately. I would have liked more of the Seventh Doctor featuring here as I feel that when travelling solo he excels in these kind of episodes. I recently completed The Doctor and Carnacki series where that was perfect for this incarnation but this did kind of become a Doctor-lite episode. It was essentially a Seventh Doctor version of Blink and I will not accept any answer other than that Tenth Doctor episode being a direct inspiration. Why not take advantage of such a successful formula for an adventure? The moment the Doctor on the recording from 1914 seemed to react to those in the 1980s about moving the dial to change the recording or turn it off was especially reminiscent. It worked a treat. I thought the quartet of Pat, Mark, Hamish and Hazel were really strong and it was clear they had a kind of clique feeling amongst themselves. They went back a long time together and that was important in establishing all of their respective relationships to the listener. I think Hazel was the standout and the Doctor reacting to her name and likening it to the eyes was a nice comment. This was definitely a softer side of the Seventh Doctor which is ironic given his tendencies and the theme of this release. It was obvious that at least one of the quartet was going to go south and that turned out to be Mark who was possessed by the entity in then mirror. He became a little obsessed with the artefact before that and even transferred it to his house which felt a bit mad! I thought Pat was a really nice character and the fate that befell her was pretty grim but I strangely liked that given the Halloween theme. I thought it was quite tongue and cheek given this release came out at the start of October for the first episode to mention how it wasn't even Halloween yet but the story wasn't far off in terms of days! It was single figures away from the big day. The Doctor emerging from the mirror after being pulled out was unexpected but the scale of his time trapped in the pocket dimension was rather extraordinary. Over half a century! No wonder he had lower back pain. I thought the Doctor tapping into his knowledge of the entity and how it left survivors on a particular planet was good, but a tad vague. The focus on fears was magnificent though and really should have been at the forefront for the episode's entirety. I was a big fan of that and hearing in particular the quietness of night and thinking someone would come out of the wardrobe was a pretty dark fear! I don't remember being scared of that but it's definitely not something I would say to get in my children's head. Bedrooms are supposed to be a safe space but that wasn't presented as such here! The Doctor using a Time Lord's fear against the entity was nicely done and I think the ambiguity there was needed. Still, it's tantalising to think exactly what that might be. Overall, a great listen and a very strong start to the series! 

Rating: 8/10

The Janus Deception

"You're a survivor."

Writer: Robert Whitelock

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.03

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

Tula is under investigation by the Company – for fraud, industrial espionage and conspiracy. She knows she's innocent... so who is impersonating her? And why?

Liv, meanwhile, is nearing the finishing line of her trail, a meeting with the survivors of Storm Mine 4, in person. But will that really be the end... or a new beginning?

Verdict

The Janus Deception was a great episode to conclude the fourth volume of The Robots! I have really enjoyed this boxset and we're really getting into the nitty gritty of things now. We finally got the meeting at the end between Liv and Toos that we had been building towards, so I must say I was a little surprised to find that this was the end of Toos and Poul in this spinoff range. It doesn't feel like this should be the end of the story especially considering Liv had been wanting a meeting for so long and jumped through hopes to get it with Toos here. I really wish I hadn't read that this was the end for them because it did put a different shift on how things concluded for me which is a shame, but at least now I won't be expecting them to show up in the final two volumes of the spinoff. I thought the story here was good and Tula being used as a scapegoat and set up was really intriguing. The tensions between the Chenka sisters and the Company are extremely high and I like that despite Tula's position and dilemma of her familial predicament, she was the target. She was an easy one to be honest but the hacker was really setting her up for failure. Her name was used as the username and the link that Deep Blue gave Liv with the binary pattern just being an anagram of her own name was spectacular. Liv defending Tula was good and I really thought she would make a strong lawyer with the quick defences she was providing, but the evidence was mounting and things really didn't look good for her sister. The charge was carried and that meant her security clearance and access was revoked at the Company which wasn't ideal! Skellen was on hand again here as a troublesome figure and the twist of him being the hacker all along wasn't exactly surprising but it was fitting. When a villain is good, it's okay to be predictable and I thought that was the case here. What I wasn't expecting was for his usefulness to be deemed eradicated by the end and him shot dead! The AI computer was brutal in logic and fulfilling its goal and whilst there would be an inquiry into his death, it was confident that nothing would be traced back. It had severe control and that was fun to explore. I expect this will have ramifications moving forward and Liv being in prime position as a potential culprit is going to do her no good! I'm enjoying her pairing with Vash Sorkov and that's working really well having him assist her. The potential brutality of the Company was admirable here in placing them as a corporate monster and even if they knew Tula was innocent, perception was reality and she would be dealt with in then upmost severity. Sorkov calling up Liv telling her to look at the news as it revealed Skellen was found dead was a strong moment and her reaction to him naming the hacker was marvellous. It wasn't quite a wild goose chase though. Her banter with him about hooking up was wonderful but she would never get that chance now, even if she was mostly teasing. I liked that she got her meeting at long last and I'm excited to hear what she gains from that to take forward. Overall, a great episode to conclude things and I like how things feel like they're reaching an endgame. A strong finale to another very good boxset! 

Rating: 8/10

Off Grid

"The Company does not tolerate terrorists."

Writer: Sarah Grochala

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.02

Featuring: Liv, Tula

Synopsis

When a Supervoc is found on the streets, claiming responsibility for a recent explosion, it's clear to Liv and Tula that the Sons of Kaldor are attempting to frame robots for their murderous attacks. But where are they? And how to stop them?

As they try to smuggle the Supervoc out of the city, it's clear that finding the enemy will be the least of their worries as tonight... the lights are going out.

Verdict

Off Grid was a great episode to continue my way through the fourth series of The Robots! This was a really strong story and whilst they've been an ever-present across this spinoff range so far, I really liked how there was a firm focus on the Company here. Touching upon the history of Kaldor and how the Company asserted control from the Founding Families and them now wanting to get that control back was really intriguing and I'm very excited to hear how things tie together as we head into the finale. Liv got a glimpse of hearing the name Toos mentioned and it seemed to all make sense for her as things click into place. I think she's a great character and now questions are beginning to be asked of her presence on Kaldor. How could she get back when there is no record of her returning? I think that's fun to play around with and it put Tula in a pretty difficult situation as she could hardly reveal that she was back via TARDIS! I wonder if more will come of that moving forward. Tula being accused of being a member of the Sons of Kaldor was good and I thought Skellen filled the role of villain pretty well even though this didn't have a traditional bad guy plot. This was more of an exploration and story advancement episode which was absolutely fine. It was a thoroughly enjoyable fifty minutes on Kaldor and I'm loving the continuation of the world building here. It's ripe for growth and getting to learn more about during Liv's time there is excellent. I thought a Robot claiming responsibility for an explosion was good and was obviously designed to rile up anger and resentment against them, but Liv and Tula knew better and could tell that the message was preprogrammed. I wasn't expecting to hear Vash Sorkov once again and Liv's reaction said it all there but I loved that he returned here after an apparent demise. Jon Culshaw delivers his line with such poise and he really does draw you in as the listener. His consciousness survived in another body now and that was a theme that was very much present throughout. Robots literally replacing the organics is a big threat and I like that it's being brought to the forefront, albeit a little slowly. Pace is good in bringing the anticipation. I thought the smuggle mission was good stuff and Liv surviving on more than one occasion by explaining how the Robot was locked to her own voiceprint was nicely done. She was calm under pressure. Jadia accompanying her was a strong character too and I liked her role in exploring the position of the Company. Skellen having second thoughts was intriguing and I really like the political situation on Kaldor at the moment. The atmosphere is tense and there really is a lot going on with the Sons of Kaldor looming in the background. I thought the prospect of Tula getting her hands on the emergency power source was played out very nicely too. Was she playing for it? I liked that it could have gone either way as the situation was desperate. SV49 was terrific here and I just like the simplicity of the Robots. They are logical and that's that. The semi-cliffhanger finish in having Liv and Tula separated was good stuff and things are definitely heating up. A great listen as we head into the finale! 

Rating: 8/10

Closed Loop

"It's the very last place I need to be."

Writer: Guy Adams

Format: Audio

Released: June 2021

Series: The Robots 4.01

Featuring: Toos, Poul

Synopsis

Toos needs Poul's help on a mission so sensitive she won't even tell him where they're going. Needing to escape from his demons, Poul agrees. But he finds more ghosts waiting for him at their destination. 

Landing in the desert, Poul can't help but be reminded of his time on Storm Mine 4... and soon he's hearing familiar voices.

As he and Toos start to dig, they're about to discover that some secrets can't stay buried...

Verdict

Closed Loop was an outstanding start to the fourth series of The Robots! I'm still pretty far behind on this series but all I remember as I was catching up on the Eighth Doctor's adventures leading to Liv Chenka becoming companion and taking a year out on Kaldor here was just how good this spinoff range was. And it certainly isn't disappointing five years later! The world building is just terrific and I like the shakeup in terms of format for this boxset with us getting a Toos and Poul episode right away. We've usually been keeping up with the Chenkas in the first episode of the series so that was a nice little shift. I think the relationship between Toos and Poul was explored really well here and they're two veterans of life on Kaldor. Poul is still living everyday with his robophobia and honestly I do think he deserves a bit more sympathy. Imagine a whole society slowly integrating and becoming reliant upon the very thing that you feared? It's a pretty scary prospect so getting some insight into his feelings was presented very well here. He's troubled character that's for sure but despite his frosty outer shell, Toos brings out a more reasoned and softer element of his personality which is nice. I think the big twist here was so obvious in hindsight and I was honestly kicking myself when the truth came out! So many hints and the flashback sequence as Poul realised that he was in fact a robot was magnificent! He was almost appalled and again it just added to the need for more sympathy on him. He was now the very thing he feared! It was a pretty awful thing for the Company to do as a whole in making duplicates of those not sympathetic to the cause, but Poul in particular is a strong target who wouldn't fare well. It was so clear though as he had even question Toos based on her responses and actions that she was a robot, but then he didn't have his spacesuit helmet and D84 literally told him he was programmed. Of course, I like Poul thought he was speaking metaphorically but is that even possible for a robot? I'm not so sure as they speak with pure logic so why wouldn't he be telling the truth? I thought the continuity with The Robots of Death was excellent once again and whilst that's always going to happen in this spinoff range and especially with these two characters from that serial, the impact remains profound and I'm not tired of it yet. Placing Poul back on Storm Mine 4 was bold and pretty evil to be honest and him describing it as the scariest place around really did make me feel for him. He just can't escape the Robots. Toos having an ulterior motive and wanting to find information there was intriguing and I suspect this will be something we come back to as the series and spinoff range in total continues which I'm certainly looking forward to! The emotional impact of the episode was profound and that's what really took this into the perfect rating territory for me. This was such a strong character piece for Poul and it wasn't even the flesh version! The fact there's a robot of him at all is audacious and I look forward to Toos enacting her plan as she gets more confident and almost arrogant with how dangerous she can be too. Company, watch out. Overall, a sublime listen to start the series! 

Rating: 10/10

Helana and the Beast

"There is no one in this house apart from you and me."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 11

Featuring: Twelfth Doctor

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

Helana and the Beast was a good little story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! I think doing an adventure based on Beauty and the Beast is a good idea for this book and it took me back to having a Disney version of that fairytale on VHS! Crikey how the years have flown by as that must be over twenty years ago which is a terrifying thought as I'm still in my twenties. I shouldn't have memories that are this long! But it was nice to have a little bit of nostalgia even if the story was pretty simple. I thought it was absolutely fine and a more than enjoyable read, but I don't think I can give any higher of a rating due to the lack of threat or danger. Considering the word 'beast' is in the title that is rather ironic but the threat that came from the beast and his appearance was almost eradicated within an instant. That was a strange route to go down but I guess with only eighteen pages to play around with there wasn't much time to build him up just to come back down again. I enjoyed Helana as the lead character and I liked her inquisitive nature in following the footsteps of her father when he wasn't returning home or in contact for a few weeks. It was known prior that he would be away working and the finances were still going up, but that wasn't enough to convince her that her father was okay. I liked how she tracked down his place of work and found that he was basically entrapped. The fact he was hired to try and find the solution to the beast's very own beastly predicament and nature was intriguing but the technology and knowledge just wasn't there in anybody. The beast was surprisingly acceptant of that but he wouldn't allow his days to be drawn out alone. Initially he'd wanted Helana's father to join him for the rest of his days but she couldn't accept that. He was an old man now and needed to finish his life outside of captivity so she volunteered to take his place. Her father was distraught but the deal was brokered and that seemingly was that. Until an enigmatic librarian appeared on the scene. Once again, the Doctor was not named but the description of the eyebrows, his dialogue, and the illustration made it clear that this was the Twelfth Doctor. I thought that was fun and there's a lot of room for this incarnation be travelling solo and living life up as a librarian in the shadows so that was really nicely done. He played the role well and it actually ties in nicely with his role in Series 10 at St Luke's University as a professor. I like the idea of him shifting around the shadows working on the solution that the beast desired all along. I do question why he had to stay hidden if he was literally doing exactly as the beast wanted and what Helana's father was recruited for, but the Doctor works in mysterious ways. He'd eventually found the solution to the beast's condition in being caught in an apparition in time and reality to bend him forwards and backwards which really did sound pretty terrible! Helana sneaking the concoction into his drink was decent but again why not just present the antidote? It started off with an adverse effect before replacing the beastly features with those of a 'normal' person once again. The TARDIS blending into the library and then disappearing was written nicely to round out what was a solid little story. Overall, a good read to continue the collection! 

Rating: 7/10

The Doctor and Carnacki: The Institute of Forgotten Souls

"Do you believe, Doctor, that madness can ever become airborne?"

Writer: Jonathan Barnes

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 6.03

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

In the heart of England in 1936 there lies a home for wounded men. It is a strange, shadowed place, full of secrets.

Terrible beasts prowl the grounds, as if guarding something dreadful. Inmates are disappearing, picked off one by one, while a singular resident – a certain, now retired ghost finder – bravely staves off the darkness.

Yet tonight is the night when it's all going to end. For tonight is the night when the Doctor comes to call...

Verdict

The Institute of Forgotten Souls was a great episode to conclude The Doctor and Carnacki series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! This has been a thoroughly enjoyable series with the boxset being really consistent in terms of both quality and feel. I must admit that I barely knew anything about Carnacki before listening to this series but I now feel like I know him rather well after three different adventures spanning a large portion of his life. It's been a fascinating tale and this kind of thing was perfect for the Seventh Doctor. I was glad that the finale kept with the dark atmosphere and tone and I don't really think it had much of a choice given what was happening. The titular institute was very eery as a setting and given that we've had two episodes already with Carnacki, it makes his predicament and appearance here all the more painful. He's clearly not himself but neither is time and I thought that was great to play around with. The interwar period is a favourite of mine because the impact the Great War had on society was huge even here eighteen years after concluding, and little do the people know what's to come in just a few years with an even worse atrocity and conflict. Carnacki not being himself was intriguing but I loved his reaction to hearing that the Doctor had arrived. With the appearance confirmed, Carnacki was back in full detective mode and I thought that was good to explore. I was impressed with how this felt a little like Hide with the contained setting but with more of a darker theme. So it's quite ironic that the big surprise was the Actually as an agent of the White Guardian! Light amongst the darkness indeed. I thought that was nicely done and was definitely not something I envisaged happening. I thought the kind of continuity was good and with the taunting from the Actually it was clear that something familiar was going to be revealed, but I don't think I'd have ever guessed! The Doctor challenging it and communicating with his bravado familiar of this incarnation was wonderful stuff and I must say I don't think I've enjoyed this incarnation more than in this boxset. It really has been a sublime performance from Sylvester McCoy throughout and that very much continued in the finale. I thought the concept of the Actually being reprimanded by the White Guardian was a neat touch and showed that even on a scale as wide but as simple as good and bad, light and dark, that there are still elements that go rogue. And rogue he went! Taking Carnacki out of time and preventing his death in the First World War is a pretty big deal and definitely an example of going off perimeter for sure. I think the reprimand was very much deserved. I thought the last five minutes or so of the story felt like an epilogue and whilst I'm not always a huge fan of that, I understand why that happened given the timeframe of the series as a whole and the journey Carnacki has been on. And I mean, surviving your supposed death is a pretty big deal! He would need the Doctor to talk him through and guide him to where he will end up. Overall, an eery tale and a fine way to conclude what has been a thoroughly enjoyable trio of adventures! A great listen.  

Rating: 8/10

The Doctor and Carnacki: The House

"It's following me."

Writer: Georgia Cook

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 6.02

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

Awoken in the dead of night to assist his distraught friend Arkright, Carnacki finds himself unexpectedly thrust into a long-buried mystery from his childhood, and face-to-face with a man he hasn't seen in years: the Doctor.

But what is 'The House'? Why does everything Arkright touch transform into the same rotting furnishings and wallpaper? Can a man really be haunted by a building?

Verdict

The House was a good story to continue my way through The Doctor and Carnacki series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! This followed the feeling of The Haunter of the Shore very nicely in feeling very dark in terms of atmosphere. Everything just felt like it took place at night and I like that because it really does bring a different kind of feeling to an episode. It also helps to have the Seventh Doctor as the incarnation featured because of his enigmatic and mysterious nature. The reunion with Carnacki was a nice touch with him being older now and his reaction to the Doctor being the one to drag him out of bed at 1am in the morning! He was instantly quite okay with that even when he knew he would be dragged back into another tricky situation. And what we got was pretty different to say the least! A sentient house is not a new concept but that wasn't quite what we were dealing with here which was fascinating. What I wasn't expecting though was such a focal point on fungi! I thought that was pretty whacky in terms of the spread and whilst I did enjoy that fungi was notoriously difficult to get rid of permanently and that playing out here, it just seemed awfully random to turn people into a house! How does anyone even get the idea for that? But given the episode title I guess it shouldn't have actually turned out to be too much of a surprise? It was just strange and whilst it was perhaps a little too on the whacky side, I appreciated the absolutely ridiculous nature of it! The main appeal to me was the atmosphere and tone of the story. Arkwright played a strong role and his connection with the house was great stuff. He was clearly riddled with fear and that became quite emotional to listen to at times. His appeals were almost unheard but the house kept coming back. Having the Doctor and Carnacki on times to help meant he couldn't really be in any better company though with their problem solving capabilities. The Doctor admitting he shouldn't have left it so long before returning to see Carnacki again was a nice moment of vulnerability. Are we finally getting a softer side to the Seventh Doctor or is this eventually all part of more manipulation knowing there's another episode to come in the series finale? Either way I'm on board with it. I thought the story incorporating both a younger and older version of Carnacki again was cleverly done as we shifted between the present and the past in the flashbacks being extended. The Doctor describing how only the future could be changed didn't feel correct though as he is known to have altered the past on so many occasions, be that on purpose or not. I thought the dream-like resolution for Arkwright was good stuff even if it is a bit of a shame he will only think of the Doctor as being in his subconscious. But the toll everything took on him with the house was palpable so maybe that really is for the best. The Doctor and Carnacki seemed to think so. I liked how the detective was important in solving things and it justified him being called into action. I'm enjoying the dynamic between the Doctor and Carnacki, although I must say it is still difficult to differentiate Dan Starkey playing the older version from a Sontaran! Overall though, another really strong atmospheric episode to continue what is turning out to be a little gem of a series. A great listen! 

Rating: 8/10

The Doctor and Carnacki: The Haunter of the Shore

"We begin at goodbye."

Writer: AK Benedict

Format: Audio

Released: November 2024

Series: Seventh Doctor Adventures 6.01

Featuring: Seventh Doctor

Synopsis

1897. Young Carnacki investigates a case at Edgemere Manor where the skeletons of tourists are left on the shore of the lake. Carnacki must discard everything he knows when he discovers that the estate's hermit is the Doctor, and that time is being manipulated by an unseen force.

The Doctor and Carnacki must work together if the mystery of Edgemere Manor is to be solved, the house saved, and the haunted residents find peace.

Verdict

The Haunter of the Shore was an excellent start to The Doctor and Carnacki series of Seventh Doctor Adventures! I think it's great to have a boxset with the Seventh Doctor travelling solo because there is so much potential to explore this period of time in his life as we head towards his ultimate fate in The Movie and regeneration. The look that appears on the cover artwork would suggest this is the Seventh Doctor somewhere relatively close to that point and the atmosphere presented here lends well to that placement. It's a really dark story in terms of feel which I like. That feels right for this Doctor and also for the detective nature of the episode. The premise of this series in having the Doctor encounter Carnacki is fascinating and I must admit though I had to Google search who he was. I remembered him encountering the Paternoster Gang in The Screaming Ceiling but I blogged that four years ago now so I was in need of a refresher. I would say the episode did a good job in describing to you just who he was though which was appreciated. The Seventh Doctor feels made for a detective series so I hope that's something we get here with a couple of more adventures alongside Carnacki. Encountering him in both young and old age was good stuff and I liked how he was trying to aid Lady Firle with the mysteries happening around Edgemere Manor. That worked as an excellent setting and I quite enjoyed how she wasn't all that keen for Carnacki to provide his theories. She wasn't interested in what she was experiencing to be put down to science and she was really insistent that she wasn't suffering anything because of her grief. She was a strong woman who I admired and she just wanted to be with Mark once again. Who could blame her? I can't imagine losing my partner. Why wouldn't she want to follow any avenue that could see her reunited with him? The playing around with the here was really good and the ambiguous and almost incomprehensible nature of it was perfectly suited to the Seventh Doctor. I thought Sylvester McCoy was on top form here which is great as his incarnation is often my least favourite. Imogen was a nice character to complement the cast and she felt typically Victorian which was really good to incorporate. She was rather bullish and I think that was needed when things got as technical as they did here. She wasn't following along much at all with the discussion about time. The older Carnacki was good but I must say that I can only hear a Sontaran now where Dan Starkey is concerned! The pair interacting and almost predicting the fate of the other was good stuff though and they played it well together. The younger Carnacki trying to predict the future based on what he would as his future self was logical and almost so simple it could be bypassed! Wittins as the alien who crash landed felt a tad abrupt but I liked how apologetic he was for the situation and what came of it. The Doctor explaining the difficulties of literally moving through time was good and I love how it was presented as almost a physical treacle to break through. The struggle was real! I thought the ending was nice with Lady Firle meeting her Mark one last time to really end on a high note that was full of emotion. Overall, a good mystery and a really dark and intriguing atmosphere. A superb start to the boxset! 

Rating: 9/10

The Greatest Train Robbery

"I remember how they adored her."

Writer: Karissa Hamilton-Bannis

Format: Audio

Released: September 2026

Series: Thirteenth Doctor Adventures 1.08

Featuring: Thirteenth Doctor, Yaz

Synopsis

The Doctor and Yaz are sent on a mission of mercy – but who or what are they supposed to be rescuing?

On board a hijacked space train, the stakes get higher as the fate of the Maelin system hangs in the balance. As the Rebel factions and Sentinel guards join battle, time is running out. Will the Doctor discover the secret of the Maelin Anomaly?

Verdict

The Greatest Train Robbery was a decent episode to continue my way through the Thirteenth Doctor Adventures! We're two-thirds of the way through which feels quite crazy but I'm loving the continued expansion of the Thirteenth Doctor and Yaz's travels together. It feels strange that we barely got this on screen as they're just so natural together. Thasmin forever! I do love the pairing and it really is wonderful to have two female leads. I thought this one started off pretty fun with the Doctor and Yaz answering a call from the Tourist to help. I must admit I was a little put off by that as I figured that this story arc was finished in Aegis, but given the hint of what's to come in two months time as well it appears talk of a mid-season finale were premature! The story arc is going to run right through and I'm more than happy to give that a chance. I like that the pair were on the hunt for a woman and that seemed to connect more with them which makes sense. The comedy that came from the Doctor pouncing on the chance to get on an open door to a train going who knows where was fantastic. I thought that was strong characterisation for this incarnation and Whittaker plays it perfectly. I absolutely adore her. I liked the idea of them stowing away on a cargo train because their presence then was instantly more questionable. They dealt with that in a humorous way though as I'm not convinced Yaz claiming they were mystery shoppers was a valid reason to be on board! Especially in the carriage where live people shouldn't be. The fact they had to differentiate between live people was intriguing too and showed that things were going to get a little dodgy at the least. I thought the Maelin system was a decent setting for the train to be travelling within and it had a pretty disturbing history that we slowly learned as the episode rolled on. That was focused on the Maelin Anomaly which was a unique and emotional thing, if I can refer to it as that because it was actually a little girl. The concept behind the Anomaly was interesting in that despite her being a little girl, she wasn't the first Anomaly and therefore retained the memories and experiences of all of those that came before her. That was fascinating stuff and I found it difficult trying to wrap my head around the idea of remembering things you didn't do! It's like trying to comprehend infinity. I thought the action between the opposing sides of Rebel and Sentinels was decent but I must admit I found myself drifting out of the story towards the final third which is a shame. It started well and had a lot of promise, but I think something was lost when it came to really highlighting why I should care as the listener. That sounds harsh and I want to reiterate that this was a good episode as my rating shows, but I thought it was going to be better for the most part as I was listening! I'm not sure it really lived up to the title, although I did love the image of the Thirteenth Doctor on top of the train and catching the rogue signal where she overheard the true intentions. The selfishness of the many was evident in this story with the Maelin Anomaly being desired for power. Boz was a nice character throughout and the faking being pregnant was quite something! The audacity! Overall, a good episode to continue the series but I was hoping for perhaps a little before after forty minutes or so. 

Rating: 7/10

The Scruffy Piper

"It's all a question of finding the right frequency."

Writer: Justin Richards

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2026

Printed in: Time Lord Fairy Tales 10

Featuring: Second Doctor

Synopsis

We are all stories in the end...

Sixteen tales of ancient wonder and mystery, passed down through generations of Time Lords. 

Dark, beautiful and twisted, these stories are filled with nightmarish terrors and heroic triumphs from across all of time and space.

Verdict

The Scruffy Piper was an excellent short story to continue my way through the Time Lord Fairy Tales collection! I think this might just have taken first place as the best adventure in the book so far because this was just marvellous. I think it helps having the Doctor feature and I find it quite amusing to think that this might be a Time Lord fairytale without them ever realising that one of their own features. I mean, the Doctor is never mentioned by name but the fact he used the word 'TARDIS' at the conclusion of the story would indicate his planet of origin. I think that's fun and it almost works better for that to come at the end. It has a storyline beat as a reader who would be a young Time Lord as they find out that this mysterious and comical man is actually one of their own! I thought it was clever to not address the Doctor by his title and that just enhanced the quality of the description. From the clothes alone it was clear that the incarnation here was the Second Doctor but the noticeability didn't end there. I thought the writing of his actions was absolutely marvellous. It's no secret that Justin Richards is a fantastic writer but the way he captured the essence of the Second Doctor here was honestly sublime. From the jumping on the spot and hand clapping to his babbling and "oh my giddy aunt!", this was just superb. I loved how authentic that felt. I also really enjoyed that this story featured the Cybermen as they're the quintessential enemy of this incarnation in my opinion. They show up time and time again to do battle with him after causing the First Doctor to regenerate into him in The Tenth Planet, so I like that we get another battle here. Although, this one was more focused on the Cybermats which was great as they're a very underrated element of the Cybermen. I liked how this had similarities to The Wheel in Space and The Moonbase with the Cybermats infiltrating and just the outer space station setting. It just felt like a Second Doctor era story and that's important. I am unsure which pairing of companions were inside the TARDIS upon arrival but I struggle to believe Jamie would have accepted being told to stay put! But then if it was Polly and Ben they hadn't yet encountered the Cybermats. So where does this fit? It's fun to ponder and it's really not that important. It's just a fun quirk to think about. I thought the Doctor utilising his recorder when it came to finding the right frequency to draw the Cybermats to them was terrific in its predictable simplicity. I also must say that the illustration accompany this short story was absolutely glorious. Easily the best printed in the entire book so far. It looked reminiscent of The Tomb of the Cybermen which must have been the inspiration and having the Doctor imprinted there with almost a decorative line of Cybermen and Cybermats was just marvellous. It really added a lot to the tale which I appreciated. The Chief still not being trusting of the Doctor after thwarting the Cybermen felt a tad harsh but it was good humour to have him go into the police box and escape without being questioned and causing any further trouble. Overall, a superb little short story! A terrific little read. 

Rating: 9/10

Short Circuits: Get Rich or Die Trying

"My colleague here is looking for a new assistant."

Writer: Alex Hewitt (from a story by Natasha Siegel)

Format: Audio

Released: September 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #12.2

Featuring: Andrew

Synopsis

Meet Andrew – a young man with a good job, a mysterious benefactor and a painful past he wouldn't wish on anybody. Following a coded message to the Jurassic Coast, where a team of palaeontologists are digging up a dinosaur skeleton, Andrew encounters a stranger who gives him a so-called time-travel device. Before he knows what's happened, Andrew is plunged back through history, all the way to the Jurassic period itself. 

Why has he been sent here? Who is his anonymous benefactor? And is he the victim of a sinister experiment? Only time will tell...

Verdict

Get Rich or Die Trying was a pretty average story to conclude the Short Circuits set of Short Trips that brings the Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure to an end. It has been a terrific ride to follow the Fugitive Doctor on her journey of exploration at UNIT and interjecting with her future as objects from who knows when in her timeline were all part of a trap laid by a unique Sontaran in the form of the Conductor. I must say, I'm all for content and Big Finish puts out so much but I really do question the necessity of this release. I don't think the timing works well at all as whilst this does have the feeling of an epilogue, it's a prequel depicting how UNIT picked up Andrew to work alongside them. I feel like we had enough of his backstory revealed in Full Circuit so I was expecting more motive here but I don't feel like I got that. I thought the premise of using time travel for financial gains was excellent though and it's always been something I am fascinated by. I think it's one of the first things I would do if time travel ability somehow found its way to me and it would just be fun to pull off some audacious bets! I work in finance though so maybe investing in stocks like was happening here would be a more subtle way to get rich. I certainly wouldn't be risking anything that might involve me dying trying as the story title suggests here. I thought Dan Starkey was fine as the narrator and he always does a good job. He's engaging, but I'm just not sure he was suited to the roles in the adventure. Omari Douglas as the voice of Andrew would have been so much better. I just want to reiterate that this doesn't mean Starkey did a bad job by any means! He always delivers. I thought the link to the Jurassic period was fun stuff though and it's a little far from 1991 indeed! The image of an undiscovered dinosaur skeleton was intriguing and I'm actually semi-well versed when it comes to dinosaurs because my little boy is absolutely obsessed with them! He's always got the latest Jurassic World movie on the television and he loves to test us on the names of different dinosaurs. He's a little genius on that topic so anytime dinosaurs play a role I'm invested. I thought Andrew going backwards in history was sold more in the synopsis than actually occurred in the story which was a tad disappointing and it was just a reminder to myself of why I try and avoid reading story details prior to listening. The mystery of the benefactor was fine but it doesn't have the same mystery given that Andrew's story is already complete and the role of the Conductor is known. It serves as a good aid to somewhat understanding his personality, but again I just question the timing of the release. It is difficult to judge this in isolation when we already know what comes of Andrew and his role in the whole arc across so many different formats. I thought the scene at the end with Osgood and Kate arriving to recruit Andrew was good and it was fun to hear Starkey's impression of them. Overall, I just don't think it was needed but it wasn't bad at all. It just failed to fully engage me which is a bit of a shame. 

Rating: 6/10

Short Circuits: Battleships

"There's no race greater than the Sontarans."

Writer: Alex Hewitt

Format: Audio

Released: September 2026

Series: Circuit Breaker #12.1

Featuring: The Conductor

Synopsis

Meet the Conductor. It's rare for a Sontaran to be unique, but this Sontaran is certainly that. Regarded as an aberration by the short-lived scientists who oversaw his clone batch, this cadaverous specimen is also a peerless tactical genius. But life is hard for a Sontaran who stands out from his fellows, and this formidable mastermind must outwit certain rivals of his own kind before settlings his sights on the true enemy of the Sontaran empire.

Verdict

Battleships was a decent start to the Short Circuits release that seems to serve as something of an epilogue to the Circuit Breaker multimedia adventure that finished this week with Full Circuit, whilst being a prequel! It's understandable why this story in particular couldn't be released until the reveal of the Conductor was provided, but considering that was actually spoiled ahead of time with the cover art of the aforementioned full cast adventure, I actually think this may have benefitted from being released prior to the explosive finale. Maybe I'm listen too soon after those events that this now feels a tad redundant? I tried to not think that way and judge the story in isolation as is always my aim, but sometimes outside factors can't help but be an influence. This is a prime example here as we hear what is basically the origin of the Conductor, and yet we already know he has been defeated. I think the timings there are a little unfortunate and it's actually a bit of a shame we didn't get more with the Conductor. His uniqueness amongst the Sontaran race is good to explore and I liked how that was done here. He was almost admiring of the Doctor in how he was the one that caused more defeats than anyone else. The moment of what must be considered blasphemy on Sontar when the Conductor was not interested in defeating the Rutan Host felt like a big one as he knew there was a bigger enemy that needed thwarting first. That obviously ties in nicely with what happened during the events of the recent overall arc but I would like more of an explanation as to how the Fugitive Doctor was specifically known. Another link back to Betrayal at the House of Sontar perhaps? I think there's potential there. I really liked Dan Starkey in his role as narrator because he really is the voice of the Sontarans now. Nobody else really comes close and he just gets them as a monster. He can be funny and absolutely excels when that is required with the likes of Strax, but no such humour was needed here and I admire how the Sontarans are taken seriously again. They're a favourite of mine so to throw the Conductor in is terrific as a kind of anomaly amongst the gene pool. The fact he was almost thrown out and regarded as an error was fun stuff too because imagine how different things would be for the Fugitive Doctor if that was the case! Hearing the Sontarans in full on attack mode with the battleships was good stuff and whilst we definitely didn't need it, it was a nice reminder that they were bred for war. Speaking of didn't need and whilst I did enjoy this adventure as my rating reflects, I'm just not really sure we needed it. Sure, it's a nice add on to the multimedia event but realising it two days after the main event just instantly makes it feel like an afterthought which is a huge shame. Overall, an intriguing little insight into the background and origins of the Conductor, but I think the timing was off to fully appreciate this story which is a shame. Hopefully the second one is a little bit of an improvement, but still a good listen here.

Rating: 7/10