Join a mission to save the universe: Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time lets fans embark on an adventure through space and time!

In a landmark year of digital Doctor Who entertainment, and following the recent reveal of The Runaway, an animated VR experience, comes a new cinematic, feature-length Doctor Who VR videogame this September.

Published by PlayStack and developed by Maze Theory, Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time will transport fans into a globally-beloved world of aliens, mystery and wonder, letting them embark on a brand-new and fully-interactive adventure, inspired by the show’s 55-year history and starring the Doctor’s current incarnation, played by Jodie Whittaker.

Armed with the iconic Sonic Screwdriver, players will solve mind-bending puzzles, grapple with classic monsters and encounter new horizons in a quest to find the Doctor and defeat a powerful force that threatens to destroy the fabric of reality. They will face the infamous Daleks and other known faces from the Doctor’s world plus some brand new never-before-seen monsters as they travel through stunning cinematic environments that truly bring the show to life!

The Doctor has been hurled through time to the end of the universe. A virus that threatens to rip apart reality itself has been unleashed. Players can pilot the TARDIS on a journey across worlds both familiar and strange to recover a series of powerful time crystals that can repair spacetime and ultimately, save the universe itself.

Developed by immersive entertainment studio Maze Theory, led by former Activision and PlayStation veterans, Doctor Who: The Edge Of Time will launch in September 2019 on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, HTC VIVE and the upcoming VIVE Cosmos.

Head of Digital Entertainment & Games for BBC Studios, Bradley Crooks said:

“VR is the perfect home for a truly immersive Doctor Who adventure. Fans and newcomers alike will be able experience the universe of Doctor Who like never before, working with the Doctor and facing enemies new and old. Gaming is a key part of the future of Doctor Who and allows us to tell new and exciting stories beyond the TV screen.”

Maze Theory Creative Director, Marcus Moresby said:

“Maze Theory is committed to re-defining storytelling through awesome, innovative and immersive experiences in virtual reality. Doctor Who is an incredibly exciting and timeless franchise with a passionate and committed global fan base. We are looking to give them an entirely new experience; an opportunity to team-up with the Doctor and feel like they are in the show. This of course includes piloting the TARDIS, a dream come true for fans!”

PlayStack CEO, Harvey Elliott said:

"Virtual Reality is unmatched in its ability to transport people to far flung worlds. PlayStack has always seen this as the central promise of the technology, and for us there’s no better place to take players than the iconic, eccentric, and deeply fascinating world of Doctor Who. We are delighted to be working with Maze Theory and the BBC Studios on this flagship VR project, and can’t wait for fans to experience the game for themselves."

The fully-interactive VR videogame, featuring the voice of Jodie Whittaker, will arrive this September.

Watch the teaser trailer in the player, below:

[Source: Indigo Pearl]

Demon Music Group have sent DWO the cover and details for an exclusive vinyl edition of the 10th Doctor and Donna, Big Finish audiobook, The Creeping Death by Roy Gill.

It will be released exclusively to ASDA customers as a Limited Edition run of 1,000 copies on neon green vinyl – only available in the UK.

 

Synopsis:

 

London, 1952, and a deadly smog envelops the capital. But something even more dangerous – and alien – is hiding within the mists. When the Doctor and Donna get lost in the fog, they find a motley group of Londoners trying to make their way home. Soon the stakes are raised as death creeps along fume-choked streets, and not everyone will make it out alive...

 

+  The Creeping Death is released on 24th May 2019, price TBC.

 

[Source: Demon Music Group]

BBC Studios continues to offer Doctor Who fans the opportunity to build their own home archive on Blu-ray. The first jam-packed release for Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor, Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 10, debuts on Monday 8th July, the very day after Pertwee himself would have turned 100.

The title is now available to pre-order from Amazon. 

In 1973, Doctor Who celebrated its tenth anniversary with a very special story reuniting the first two Doctors – William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton – with Jon Pertwee’s then-current Doctor. The Three Doctors kicks off an explosive, colourful series of adventures across all of time and space as the Doctor and Jo Grant (Katy Manning) encounter the rogue Time Lord Omega, the terrifying Drashigs, the noble Draconians, fearsome Ogrons, deadly Daleks and slithering giant maggots. Season 10 also includes the final appearance of Roger Delgado as the Doctor’s arch nemesis The Master, plus adventures alongside Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney) and UNIT. 

Starring alongside Jon Pertwee are Katy Manning, Nicholas Courtney, Roger Delgado, Richard Franklin and John Levene. 

With all episodes newly remastered from the best available sources, this Blu-ray box set also contains extensive and exclusive special features which include: 

·  A brand new feature-length documentary examining the Third Doctor’s Era, with archival contributions from Jon Pertwee, Barry Letts and Terrance Dicks plus all-new interviews with Katy Manning, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, presented by Matthew Sweet.

·  Updated special effects and surround sound mix for Planet of the Daleks.

·  Five new instalments of Behind the Sofa, featuring Katy Manning, Richard Franklin (Captain Yates) and John Levene (Sergeant Benton), along with 21st century Doctor Who panel Phil Collinson (Producer/Executive Producer), Pete McTighe (Writer) and Joy Wilkinson (Writer).

·  Looking for Lennie, a documentary investigating the life of director Lennie Mayne.

·  Keeping up with the Jones’, which sees Katy Manning with Stewart Bevan (Cliff Jones) pay a return visit to the Welsh locations from The Green Death.

·  Plus: a repeat omnibus of The Green Death unseen since Christmas 1973, rare Panopticon convention footage, Blu-ray trailer, HD photo galleries plus scripts, production files and rare documentation provided as PDFs.

·  The six-disc box set also includes hours of extensive special features previously released on DVD including two episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures that saw Katy Manning’s Jo Jones meet the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith).

A specially shot announcement trailer – and sequel to classic adventure The Green Death – has debuted on the Doctor Who YouTube channel; written by new series contributor Pete McTighe (Kerblam!) and starring original Doctor Who companion, Katy Manning. 

Doctor Who - The Collection: Season 10 includes the following stories from 1972/73:

The Three Doctors
Carnival of Monsters
Frontier in Space
Planet of the Daleks
The Green Death

+ PREORDER this title from Amazon.co.uk for just £39.99 (RRP: £56.16)!

[Source: BBC Studios]

Doctor Who Magazine have sent DWO the cover and details for Issue 537 of DWM.

DWM Issue 537 reveals the remake of Mission To The Unknown!

Doctor Who Magazine 537 also includes:

• What does it takes to become a Stenza warrior? Actor Samuel Oatley explains.

• An interview with the man behind the new version of Mission to the Unknown.

• Colin Baker and the cast of The Ultimate Adventure look back on the Doctor Who stage play.

• Backstage with Colin Baker at Leeds' Grand Theatre in 1989.

• War World – an in-depth look at the script originally intended for the 1989 stage production.

• Cyber Leader David Banks dips into the TARDIS tin.

• Tributes to the king of Doctor Who extras Pat Gorman and visual effects designer Richard Gregory.

• Former script editor Andrew Cartmel remembers Happiness Patrol writer Graeme Curry.

• A preview of this year’s Record Store Day releases.

• Part Three of Herald of Madness, a new comic strip adventure featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and her friends.

• How to dress like the First Doctor – along with his friends and foes.

• Does the 1996 TV movie impress the Time Team?

• The Blogs of Doom, audio reviews, previews, news, prize-winning competitions and much, much more!

+  Doctor Who Magazine Issue #537 is out 4th April, priced £5.99.
+  SUBSCRIBE to Doctor Who Magazine, digitally from just £2.69 a month!
+  Check Out The DWO Guide to Doctor Who Magazine!

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

Doctor Who fans will soon be able to step inside a virtual reality version of the TARDIS, in an upcoming immersive VR film based on the beloved series called Doctor Who: The Runaway. Jodie Whittaker reprises her role as the Doctor in animated form in the interactive story, which will run for around 12 minutes and will be available on selected VR headsets in the coming months.

Viewers will join the Thirteenth Doctor on board the TARDIS in this animated interactive story from the BBC and Passion Animation Studios. Fans will get the chance to be the Doctor's champion and help her on this exciting adventure, as they find themselves at the centre of the action facing a deadly threat.

Jo Pearce, creative director for the BBC's digital drama team, said:

“Fans will experience the TARDIS like never before in this thrilling new interactive story. As ever, the Doctor is full of warmth, wit and charm – helped by a wonderful performance from Jodie – which puts fans at the heart of the story as they immerse themselves in this beautifully animated world.” 

Zillah Watson, head of BBC VR Hub, said:

“Our team at the BBC VR Hub has been creating new experiences with the goal of helping to usher virtual reality into the mainstream, and Doctor Who is exactly the sort of series that can help more people to try this new technology. The show has been pushing boundaries for over 55 years, and VR enables Doctor Who to explore a whole new dimension of storytelling.” 

Featuring new original music from series composer Segun Akinola, Doctor Who: The Runaway has been written by Victoria Asare-Archer and directed by Mathias Chelebourg, whose previous VR films include Alice, the Virtual Reality Play and The Real Thing VR. It has been produced by the BBC’s digital drama team, BBC VR Hub and Passion Animation Studios. 

[Source: BBC Publicity]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the hardback edition of the classic series adventure; 'Revelation Of The Daleks' - the first time the story has been released in book form!

After the success of the new-era Target novelisations in 2018, which included books by Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, BBC Books are proud to announce the publication of Resurrection of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks, novelisations of two iconic Doctor Who adventures by Eric Saward, one of the show’s longest serving script editors.

Written by Saward himself, these novels are the only two classic-era Doctor Who adventures yet to be novelised, and their publication more than three decades after their first TV transmission will fill a long-held gap in fans’ collections the world over.

Product Synopsis:

 

"Beware the hands that heal... The Doctor and Peri land on the planet Necros to visit the funerary home Tranquil Repose – where the dead are interred and the near-dead placed in suspended animation until such time as their conditions can be cured.

 

But the Great Healer of Tranquil Repose is far from benign. Under his command, Daleks guard the catacombs where sickening experiments are conducted on human bodies. The new life he offers the dying comes at a terrible cost – and the Doctor and Peri are being lured into a trap that will change them forever."

 

+  Revelation Of The Daleks is released on 14th November 2019, priced £12.99 (Hardback).
+  PREORDER this title on Amazon.co.uk! 

 

[Source: BBC Books]

BBC Books have sent DWO the cover and details for the hardback edition of the classic series adventure; 'Resurrection Of The Daleks' - the first time the story has been released in book form!

After the success of the new-era Target novelisations in 2018, which included books by Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, BBC Books are proud to announce the publication of Resurrection of the Daleks and Revelation of the Daleks, novelisations of two iconic Doctor Who adventures by Eric Saward, one of the show’s longest serving script editors.

Written by Saward himself, these novels are the only two classic-era Doctor Who adventures yet to be novelised, and their publication more than three decades after their first TV transmission will fill a long-held gap in fans’ collections the world over.

Product Synopsis:

 

"The universe is at war. Action takes courage... The TARDIS is ensnared in a time corridor, catapulting it into derelict docklands on 20th century Earth. The Doctor and his companions, Tegan and Turlough, stumble on a warehouse harbouring fugitives from the future at the far end of the corridor – and are soon under attack from a Dalek assault force.

      

The Doctor’s oldest enemies have set in motion an intricate and sinister plot to resurrect their race from the ashes of an interstellar war. For the Daleks’ plans to succeed, they must set free their creator, Davros, from a galactic prison – and force the Doctor to help them achieve total control over time and space. But the embittered Davros has ideas of his own..."

 

+  Resurrection Of The Daleks is released on 18th July 2019, priced £12.99 (Hardback).
+  PREORDER this title on Amazon.co.uk! 

 

[Source: BBC Books]

Following the recent popularity of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The League of Gentlemen releases on vinyl, Demon Music Group presents The Daleks’ Master Plan, a narrated full-cast TV soundtrack adventure. Starring William Hartnell as the First Doctor, in a battle against his arch- enemies, the vinyl will be released on 15th February 2019 and is now available for preorder. RRP £99.99.

Ben Stanley, Head of Product & Marketing, Demon Music Group, said:

"We’re very excited about the first release in our ‘Vinyl Who’ collection - it’s a new way for fans to discover lost episodes of Classic Doctor Who."

Two versions of the set will be available to purchase: 

-  Standard edition: 7LP x 12” Heavyweight Translucent Blue

-  Amazon exclusive edition (limited to 1000 units): 7LP x 12” Heavyweight Splatter Viny

In this classic 12 part ‘lost’ adventure, first shown on TV from October 1965 to January 1966, the Daleks threaten to destroy the fabric of time itself. In their quest to control the Solar System, they have taken possession of the devastating Time Destructor. Determined to stop them, the Doctor steals the core of the weapon before he and his friends are pursued across time and space by his ruthless, powerful nemeses.

From the eerie sonics of Ron Grainer & Delia Derbyshire’s original theme tune and the familiar ‘wheezing, groaning’ of the TARDIS, to soundscapes illustrating the jungles of Kembel and alien spacecraft, the story is brought to life by the unique sounds produced by the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop .

Written by Terry Nation and Dennis Spooner, this is the longest single Doctor Who adventure ever made for television. Linking narration is provided by Peter Purves (Steven) and the cast includes Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen, Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom and Peter Butterworth as the Meddling Monk. The film recordings of all but three episodes of this story are lost from the BBC archives.

The prelude episode Mission to the Unknown is presented on its own single-sided disc with a unique Dalek (exclusive edition) or TARDIS (standard edition) etched reverse.

+  The Daleks' Master Plan is released on 15th February 2019, priced £99.99.

+  PREORDER the standard edition on Amazon.co.uk!

+  PREORDER the exclusive edition on Amazon.co.uk!

 

[Source: BBC Studios]

The 4 x 25 min missing episodes, which were originally part of Doctor Who’s (now mostly lost) fourth season, have been animated for the first time, to be released on DVD, Blu-ray, special edition Steelbook and digital download. 

Pre-order will be available from midnight tonight on Amazon and HMV (links will go live at 00:00). 

Originally broadcast in four weekly parts from 11th March to 1st April 1967, and starring Patrick Troughton, Anneke Wills, Michael Craze and Frazer Hines, no full episodes of this serial are known to have survived on film. Fortunately for fans, a complete audio recording of all four parts still exists. Now, 52 years later, the four episodes will be brought back to life through the power of animation, available on disc and digital download, in both colour and black and white, from 18th March 2019. 

Anneke Wills says:

"Back in 1967 “There's no such thing as Macra!” was the cry; and for many years after there was no such thing as “The Macra Terror”. Now, thanks to the magic of animation, we can see the story come to life again. I can't wait to see this adventure and how gratifying to have a little more of Ben and Polly’s time with the Doctor available to be seen by new generations."

The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions arrive on a human colony in the far flung future. The colony appears to be a giant recreational complex - a holiday camp for rest and relaxation. Everyone looks happy and carefree but all is not as it seems. The colony has been infiltrated and brainwashed by a race of giant parasitic crab creatures called the Macra. 

The Macra have only returned once since, 40 years later, coming face to face with the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) and Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) in the 2007 episode Gridlock. 

Paul Hembury, Executive Producer, BBC Studios says:

"After the success of Shada, we were very excited by the possibility of further animations. We are therefore delighted to be able to bring fans these missing episodes in a completely new form."

Special features for the DVD and Blu-ray release include: Animation Gallery, Behind the Scenes Film and Audio Commentary.

Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be released on digital download, DVD (RRP £20.42), Blu-ray (RRP £25.52) and special edition Steelbook (RRP £40.84) on 18th March 2019.

A special screening of Doctor Who: The Macra Terror will be held at the BFI Southbank, London on the 16th March 2019. Tickets will go on sale to BFI members on Tuesday 5th February with public sale opening on Tuesday 12th February. Further information will be available soon via the BFI website.

+ PREORDER this title from Amazon.co.uk! 

[Source: BBC Studios]

BBC Studios continues to offer Doctor Who fans the opportunity to build their own home archive on Blu-ray. Following the sell-out success of Tom Baker’s debut season, his seventh and final series will be released on 25th February as Doctor Who - The Collection: Season 18.

Tom Baker’s final year saw the programme undergo radical changes in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. Producer John Nathan-Turner revamped the series with new writers, new directors, a new title sequence and theme arrangement, glossy production standards and – throughout the course of the season – a brand new regular cast. Over seven classic adventures the Doctor and his companions encountered the Foamasi, Meglos, the Marshmen, vampires and Tharils, building to a final deadly showdown between the Doctor and his arch nemesis the Master. As a special bonus this set also includes the 1981 K9 & Company Christmas pilot episode, plus hours of brand new material.

Starring alongside Tom Baker are Lalla Ward as Romana, Matthew Waterhouse as Adric, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, Janet Fielding as Tegan, Anthony Ainley as the Master, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah-Jane Smith and John Leeson as K9.

Special Features exclusive to this set include: a new Making-Of documentary and updated special effects for Logopolis, revealing new 2019 commentaries moderated by Matthew Sweet (Tom Baker on The Leisure Hive, Lalla Ward & Rachel Davies on State Of Decay), surround sound mix for Warriors’ Gate, rare behind-the-scenes footage from The Leisure Hive, Full Circle and Logopolis, eight more editions of Behind The Sofa, brand new documentaries The Writers Room and Weekend With Waterhouse, a new interview with K9 & Company’s Ian Sears, another dip into the Panopticon convention archives with Tom Baker, HD photo galleries plus scripts, production files and rare documentation provided as PDFs. The eight-disc box set also includes hours of extensive special features previously released on DVD.

All material has been remastered for Blu-ray by Peter Crocker and Mark Ayres. Lee Binding has provided stunning packaging and new series writer/content consultant Pete McTighe has written another extensive booklet. Russell Minton is Executive Producer.

Blu-ray trivia: when filming took place for Logopolis (1980), Tom Baker’s last adventure, the intention was to shoot at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Observatory. Instead, production took place at Crowsley Park with the team using model shots. For the brand new Blu-ray, almost 40 years later, BBC Studios received permission to film at Jodrell Bank with a drone. Offered as an alternative viewing option, fans will now be able to experience the finished product just as it was originally intended. 

The set will be released on 25th February 2019, priced £56.16, although we expect the date could be pushed back if there are any technical issues.

+ PREORDER this title from Amazon.co.uk! 

[Source: BBC Studios]

Our friends at Super Loot have been in touch with us to tell us about their revamped Geek and Gaming Mystery Box - along with a unique offer for Doctor Who Online readers!

Each month Super Loot delivers a hand-picked box of 5-7 mystery collectible items from geek and gaming, tv and film straight to their subscribers' door. Each box typically has an RRP of £45+ and guarantees at least one collectible figurine and a limited edition t-shirt amongst the items. 

Not only are they an awesome treat for yourself each month but they also make for great gifts - either as a one off, or as the 'gift that keeps on giving' with a 3,6 or 12 month option.

All new subscribers from DWO get 20% off the regular first box price with code DWONLINE, making it only £15.99 for your first box, as well as being entered into a draw to win a special Doctor Who Funko Pop.

Check out Super Loot here: https://www.superloot.co.uk/product/mystery-monthly-box-subscription/ 

Use code: DWONLINE at checkout to get your extra 20% off the your first box. 

[Source: Super Loot]

BBC Audio have sent DWO the cover and details for an exclusive audiobook edition of Doctor Who: Warriors’ Gate by Stephen Gallagher, based on the author’s original, never-before-seen version.

Warriors' Gate, first broadcast on BBC1 in 1981, was a four-part TV serial in Tom Baker’s final season as the Fourth Doctor. Notable at the time for its high-concept story and its cinematic visual style, it has subsequently become highly regarded as a unique slice of Doctor Who. 

 

Writer Stephen Gallagher novelised his scripts for the Target Books range, under the pen name John Lydecker. Before publication, however, the book was substantially reworked and reduced in length. Ever since, Doctor Who fans have speculated about what the original manuscript might have contained. 

 

Now, for the first time, Stephen Gallagher has reassembled that original manuscript from his original paperwork, enabling listeners to experience the novelisation as he originally intended it, substantially longer and with significant structural changes. This version also now better reflects the author’s original vision for the TV episodes.

 

Stephen Gallagher says:

 

“I couldn’t be more delighted with the way it’s all worked out. Performed by Jon Culshaw, with John Leeson reprising the voice of K9, it’s feeling more like a resurrection than a reconstruction.”

 

+  Warriors' Gate is released on 4th April 2019, priced £20.00 (CD) / £7.00 (Download).
+  PREORDER this title on Amazon.co.uk! 

 

[Source: BBC Audio]

Our friends over at TBT Props have just taken delivery of some of the new MFX Doctor Who mask replicas, and you can get your hands (or rather, heads) on them now!

The masks are all made from the original moulds and are hand-painted by the highly skilled artists at Millennium FX.

 

Other masks currently available, include:

 

-  Davros
-  Clockwork Droid (Male)
-  Clockwork Droid (Female) 
-  Weeping Angel (Serene)
-  Scarecrow 

 

+  Check out the range now at: http://tbtprops.com/product-category/mfx-masks/

 

[Source: TBT Props]

Last month, it was confirmed that British jewellery designer, Alex Monroe, would be producing an officially licensed range of Doctor Who jewellery.

The collaboration between Alex Monroe and BBC Studios, offers fans the chance to buy an exact replica of the 13th Doctor's ear cuff, as well as a supporting capsule collection in celebration of the first female Doctor.

DWO caught up with Alex, for one of our '5 Questions With...' interviews.

How did the opportunity come about?

 

I’ve been making jewellery for the BBC for a long time. I remember the first things were for Eastenders and French and Saunders back in the early eighties! It’s lovely because Jodie has worn our jewellery since she was at drama school, so we have a long connection, and of course the amazing Ray Holman was the costume designer on Dr Who. We’ve done some wonderful projects together over the years. So it was just a really natural fit, I suppose.

 

Did you ever watch Doctor Who as a child, and if you did was there a particular Doctor / Story you remember? 

 

Oh my days yes. I was addicted. I think Dr Who was responsible for my fear of spiders. And there was just a new one with spiders in which hasn’t helped! Slightly strangely I always really liked the Brigadier. He popped up from time to time over the years. I’ve no idea why he was my fave character! All three of my daughters have loved it. Now my youngest has Sunday night Dr Who parties. All her mates over, they order pizzas, settle in for the opening credits then chatter incessantly all the way through. It drives me mad!

 

Your galaxy ear cuff is exquisite! It’s literally an exact replica from the one we see on screen! How much of an input did Jodie have in the final design?

Jodie was so important. We were designing for her character so she was my main inspiration. We talked and discussed and I made all sorts of sketches. Then I made a few prototypes which we discussed together, until we settled on the final design. Each element has all sorts of inspirations and meanings but I think I’ll keep all that between me and Jodie.
 

Is there a possibility we could see more great, who-themed pieces from you? 

 

I never rule anything out! The sketchbook is full of all sorts of great ideas.

 

If you could take a round trip in the TARDIS, anywhere in time and space, where would you go and why?

 

Do you know what… I’m really quite keen on the here and now. There’s so much going on, so many new challenges and so much to do! But I guess the nice thing about the Tardis is that I could do all sorts of stuff then re-appear as if no time had passed!

I think I’d go back and tell my younger self not to be so insecure. Especially with the girls. Once I’d sorted my younger self out I’d go and spend a week on the Bounty as it sailed into Fiji to collect the breadfruit. And a week on the Endeavour with Captain Cook and Joseph Banks. Not Cape Horn… Fiji and the discovery of Australia please. I think I would have liked Cookie and Banksie.

---

Watch Alex discuss the creative process behind the jewellery in this video from the BBC:

 

+  Check out Alex Monroe's Doctor Who jewellery range via their website!

 

[Source: DWO]

When Tim Treloar and Katy Manning return as the Third Doctor and Jo Grant in The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Five, they’ll be joining forces with three other iconic characters from 1970s Doctor Who.

In this new audio box set from Big Finish Productions made in association with BBC Studios, several friends of the Third Doctor will be returning for more Doctor Who adventures in this iconic science-fiction franchise.

 

Jon Culshaw takes on the role of UNIT commanding officer Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, a character appearing under licence from the Haisman Literary Estate.

 

After an extensive casting process, senior producer David Richardson and executive producer Nick Briggs finally remembered a conversation they’d had with Jon, when he told them the thing he’d most like to do for Big Finish would be to play the Brigadier.

 

Nicholas Briggs said:

 

"After checking his rendition of the character in the BBC Audiobook of The Five Doctors, we just gave him the job! It was a very tricky thing casting someone to do justice to Nicholas Courtney’s brilliant, original performance. Jon has done this with honour and love for what the splendid Mr Courtney did all those years ago."

 

Returning alongside the Brigadier is Liz Shaw, the first companion of the Third Doctor. She will be portrayed by Daisy Ashford, the daughter of the original Liz Shaw actress, Caroline John (who played the role on TV and returned to the role for several Companion Chronicles at Big Finish).

 

Plus, returning to play Sergeant Benton is John Levene. John first played the part of Benton (who was then a corporal) in the Second Doctor TV adventure The Invasion. He returned to become a regular with Third Doctor Jon Pertwee (also appearing with later with Tom Baker), and has previously reprised Benton twice for Big Finish.

 

Tim Treloar, who has portrayed the Third Doctor on audio since 2015, has been at the forefront of a new era of 70s audio Who treats.

 

David Richardson, Producer of The Third Doctor Adventures, said:

 

“It’s been so rewarding to see how Doctor Who fans have embraced these new Third Doctor stories. We knew Tim’s performance (and it is a performance, not a mere impersonation) as the Third Doctor was extraordinary – and it’s clear that listeners feel the same way too."
 

The two adventures in The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Five will require the Third Doctor, all his companions AND the full might of UNIT to save planet Earth.

 

Primord by John Dorney 

The Scream of Ghosts by Guy Adams

 

The Primords (from the Doctor Who TV story Inferno) interrupt the Doctor and Liz Shaw’s reunion, and become one of the fiercest tests of UNIT and the Doctor to date. And in the second, 'ghostly' adventure, the population of a village are apparently being spirited away in the oddest of manners.

 

Katy Manning (who plays Jo Grant) told us during recording what it was like to bring back these beloved characters:

 

“It was a joy working with Jon Culshaw, and working with Tim has been so much fun, watching him become the Doctor more and more. But Jon came in and in an instant (and I won’t tell him how!) caught the Brigadier immediately!”

 

Daisy Ashford says of coming to the Big Finish fold to play Liz Shaw:

 

“I’m really excited and honoured to have been asked to play Liz, and to step into my Mum’s brilliant shoes!”

 

Doctor Who: The Third Doctor Adventures Volume Five will be released in May 2019.

 

Pricing:
Pre-order: £25 (CD box set) / £20 (Download) from www.bigfinish.com

Big Finish online: 

Website: www.bigfinsih.com
Twitter: @BigFinish
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheBigFinish
Instagram: @BigFinishProd

[Source: Big Finish]