The Voord in London

"We're fighting the same enemy."

Writer: LR Hay

Format: Audio

Released: June 2025

Series: Space Security Service 1.01

Featuring: Anya, Mark Seven

Synopsis

1980s London. WDC Ann Kelso is assigned to CID, helping to clean up the streets. But 'Ann' is really SSS Agent Anya Kingdom from the 41st century, on a top-secret mission to track down aliens hiding in the past. But then she finds a different group of aliens hiding in the Thames – with very deadly intentions...

Verdict

The Voord in London was an excellent start to the opening series of Space Security Service bearing the same name! I was delighted when this spinoff range was announced as the SSS are something that has been of severe interest to me ever since I first saw Mission to the Unknown and The Daleks' Master Plan. The 41st century is rife for exploration given what we saw with the politics of the Solar System and Anya Kingdom and Mark Seven are a fun pairing to lead a series. It does seem a shame that so many fans are going to give this series a miss because it is only available as a download, but I'm not fussed as I sell any audios I purchase physically so for me I'm just missing out on recouping some of the money to buy this! I thought the continuity dating back to Series 7 of the Fourth Doctor Adventures was brilliant in putting Anya back into the policing work of the 1980s. She reprised her alias as Ann Kelso which was fun and hearing her adopt the Cockney slang in calling her police chief as Guv or Guv'nor was terrific. It was so unnatural to her because we know the character and that was just fun to explore. The mission of the SSS in reverting back to the 20th century is intriguing and I'm loving that there is Thal involvement. The concept of them creating a time corridor back over two thousand years is very exciting, as is the Voord following them through! I have such a soft spot for The Keys of Marinus and the Voord made a huge impact there so I've always loved it when they have returned with Big Finish. The description of them here was brilliant as they were mistaken for lads on a stag with their diving gear. Anya knew right away what they were dealing with and was excited by the prospect of finally encountering an alien race. The Voord being from Anya's time was also intriguing and I loved touching upon the development of the aqua species. DNA changing face masks to needing to be close to the water. They were a rife enemy and it was good that their weakness was having to stay close to the Thames whenever they came above the surface onto land. I think it's also a good idea to launch a new series with a familiar foe in the form of the Voord, even if the story did become much more human focused. Anya's relationship with Sola Akinyemi was fantastic and the twist regarding her was incredible! I didn't see that coming at all and it was so much fun for Sola to be undercover as actually a Deputy Chief Inspector that was investigating her. Anya was getting complaints from the public and not following up some investigations because lost dogs and the such weren't going to lead her to the alien involvement she was after. Sola overhearing her conversation with Larsap in the nightclub was fascinating and it was good that Anya found the Thals she was after. I can't wait to find out more about the super weapon they had ran away from, and just hearing his shock at Anya knowing where and when they had come from was excellent. The Thals were secretive though and Larsap just by conversing seems to have been saying too much. I like that there's going to be a clear arc running through the series and the Thals and SSS with a potential Dalek plan is right up my alley. I love how futuristic and in space this episode felt despite being set in the 1980s. Anya getting questioned by Sola was fantastic and she basically gave up in the end. With all of that investigation going on, the Voord were almost forgotten about and that was quite fun actually. Their liking of the Earth in this time because it had not been ravaged by the humans of Anya's time was good. Why wouldn't they like an ocean planet? The SSS soon had Jalbak in custody though and the differing jurisdictions from London to the galaxy was really fun to play with. Anya came into her own when she had the control! I thought Mark Seven being a background figure was fine with this being Anya's mission but I hope he doesn't always stay that way. The twist at the end regarding Sola was unexpected in her becoming a part of the SSS! As a twentieth century representative, I'm keen to hear where things move from here. A Thal weapon is required to hold off the Daleks, and that's an exciting set up for the boxset to come. Overall, an excellent series opener!

Rating: 9/10