The Day Time Stood Still

"This place holds evil."

Writer: Louise Jameson

Format: Short Story

Released: August 2025

Printed in: DWM Special Edition 70

Featuring: Fourth Doctor, Leela

Synopsis

When the Fourth Doctor offers Leela the chance of visiting anywhere, she chooses to return to Victorian London. But with the TARDIS unhappy with her choice, will they ever really reach their destination?

Verdict

The Day Time Stood Still was a fun little short story to complement the latest special edition of Doctor Who Magazine! I'm a big fan of what seems to slowly becoming a tradition in the special editions of having an original text story and it's a delight that it was written by Louise Jameson! I think she's such an iconic actress for her role as Leela and of course she has been able to really extend that with Big Finish both alongside the Fourth Doctor and beyond The Invasion of Time on Gallifrey. She certainly knows her character so it makes sense for her to be writing for her. I think she's such at one with Leela that when I was typing out the writer for this blog I initially wrote Leela Jameson! One thing I must compliment the story in is how impressive it looks. The illustrations are absolutely stunning and the perfect style for a text adventure like this one. It really brings the story to life and is just so vibrant. I love it so kudos to Bryony Jackson Walters there. I think it's an interesting move to have Leela want to return to Victorian London so soon after the events of The Talons of Weng-Chiang. I didn't get the sense that it was something she was desperate to do so when the Doctor offered her the choice of anywhere that did take me by surprise. We did get some comic value though when it came to the savage reminiscing very much not fondly on the Victorian attire she was wearing during that serial. She was far from interested in being ladylike again. The idea of figures in the misty fog feels very Victorian so it was a little strange when the TARDIS was not thrilled about the idea of going to London during that era. It felt very similar to what was happening for Belinda on her travels with the Fifteenth Doctor in getting back to 24 May 2025. It just wasn't working. The idea of the Lion King being shown during the Victorian era was amusing and it was fun to actually get an illustration of that being advertised at the Aldwych Theatre. I was surprised it took the Doctor as long as it did to realise things weren't all as they ought to be. The threat from the Trophs was good and I really liked their shadowy appearance. They felt like they were always there in the background and that was evidenced by the way the Doctor was taken on Waterloo Bridge! That was quite the image and his comments to them about going on a boat trip were very risky in pushing the envelope out there on their patience! The Trophs nature in feeding was intriguing and I liked that the Doctor presented them with a rich source of sustenance. Their nature in being artificial intelligence was pretty unexpected but it was a concept that worked pretty well, even if it was a tad confusing on how they linked with the Victorian era. They were quickly outdated and I liked Leela comparing herself to them in that everything she knew she believed came from the Doctor. That's not really the case of course, but the Doctor telling her as such and reminder her of her instinct was a nice touch. The Trophs actually having fed on themselves showed their desperation and just how bad of a predicament they were in, but for the Doctor that meant a lightbulb went off in his head. Leela mishearing things when it came to pressing the switch that essentially saw the Trophs dissipate into nothingness was a tad quick and easy for a resolution, but in a short story comprising six pages there's never going to be loads of depth! Overall though, a good little read and a welcomed addition! Keep them coming. I really enjoy actors and actresses getting to write for their characters. Who else knows them better? 

Rating: 7/10