The Beautiful People

"You're a terribly orange lady..."

Writer: Jonathan Morris 

Format: Audio

Released: January 2007

Series: Companion Chronicles 1.04

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Romana II, K9

Synopsis 

Put all your worries behind you.

Situated in 50 acres of relaxing, sculpted gardens, the Vita Novus Health Spa offers a sanctuary from the stresses and strains of 32nd century life. Our exclusive programme of weight loss therapy is celebrated throughout the galaxy for its ease, simplicity and 100 per cent success rate. No matter how full-figured you may be, we can make you slimmer, healthier - and happier.

In fact, you will leave Vita Novus feeling like an entirely new person. And that's guaranteed.

We cater for all endoskeletal carbon-based life-forms. All major credit cards accepted. Parties welcome.

Verdict 

The Beautiful People was an excellent audio adventure and it was my first Companion Chronicles story for what felt like quite some time. It's a range I do very much enjoy and I have blogged numerous of the stories from the range since I started my blog back in late 2013 and although I've jumped from series to series, which isn't really a problem at all with this range, this audio finally saw me complete a whole series from the range! I think it's rather fitting that it was the first series and I think that was always a contender to get that honour because The Blue Tooth was my first adventure from the range and it is also one of the shortest runs at just four stories. The success of the range would obviously mean more stories in a series but it's these first audios that set the tone for the surge of popularity. I was very excited to purchase this audio adventure off eBay for a steal of a price at just over £3 including postage because Lalla Ward was performing the story which will instantly catch my attention. Romana II is one of my all time favourite companions (she may even be my favourite) and this story just once again confirmed that for me because I thought she was absolutely tremendous. I was shocked to learn that this audio is over nine years old now because it really did seem very modern but I guess with Classic era stories being released during the run of the modern era that is going to happen. The setting of the Vita Novus Health Spa was excellent and I liked how Jonathan Morris captured the likeness of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor in audio through the sheer silliness of him wanting doughnuts. The supply from the TARDIS food machine wasn't the same according to the Doctor and he wanted to get the very best. Through his desire to get doughnuts strawberry jam had even ended up getting into K9's circuits! That was so typical of the Fourth Doctor. The story was set after Nightmare of Eden, a serial that was neatly referenced, and it really did have a feel of being a part of Season 17 which I think is very important. There was an excellent comedic inclusion with the Doctor and K9's absence in parts two and three being explained by the former enjoying the gift shop. But that comedic nature seems to come natural to stories that include the Fourth Doctor and Romana II. They are so delightful together and I really must delve into the fifth season of Fourth Doctor Adventures in which they reunite. Karna served as a brilliant villain for the piece although her quest to rid the universe of obesity was a little harsh. As was mentioned in the story, it doesn't arrive in some people as easily as some might think and there are actual proper excuses for why a person might be obese and I think her simply dismissing that might have caused controversy for some viewers. I'll be amazed if Big Finish didn't receive a few calls or emails about that particular line. Sibella was another wonderful character and I was impressed by how easily Lalla Ward switched between characters. She performed the whole story really well to be fair to her. I'm not struck about a story that's only just over an hour long being split into four parts as was the case here but I must say I thought all of the cliffhangers were really good. Even in audios where I tend to do them in one sitting, I think the cliffhangers are vital because they were such an integral part of the Classic era. The resolutions were also equally as good which was nice to listen to. Karna going to the lengths she did to get rid of obesity ultimate cost her her own life as Romana used her genius to reverse the regenerative circuits of the fat reducer machines so that everybody outside of them would be made into nothing. That's exactly what happened and the spa would soon became a place of enjoyment rather than fitness freaks. Overall, an excellent audio adventure performed by a wonderful actress! 

Rating: 9/10