Doctor Who News

Not so many years ago a new Big Finish CD was pretty much the only new Who to look forward to. They've got news:

The Doctor and Klein Face an Old Enemy!
March 2010 sees the release of The Architects of History, part of Big Finish’s ongoing range of monthly Doctor Who audio dramas. This new four-part story is the dramatic finale of a trilogy of adventures in which the Seventh Doctor once again meets Elizabeth Klein, who he previously encountered in 2001’s Colditz, written by Steve Lyons. Reunited with the character that he created, Steve eagerly took the opportunity to write The Architects of History and bring Klein’s story to an exciting conclusion.
As well as Klein, we can now reveal that Steve has also employed some of his other creations from the past. For the first time on audio, the Doctor will come face-to-face with his old enemies, the Selachians â€" a race of aquatic aliens that the Second Doctor previously met in Steve’s Doctor Who novels The Murder Game and The Final Sanction. "I'm thrilled to be back writing the Selachians ten years on, and to be pitting them against a new Doctor in a new medium,” says Steve. “ I originally created them for a Second Doctor base-under-siege story, and so designed them to be very typical old-school Doctor Who monsters. Their hobbies are stomping around, firing guns and shouting. Hopefully, though, they still have a few surprises up their sleeves!"
The Architects of History is released in March 2010 and is available to pre-order now.


Companions Reunited!
Big Finish has announced its line-up for the Companion Chronicles into 2010. January sees the release of Bernice Summerfield and the Criminal Code, which is written by Eddie Robson and performed by Lisa Bowerman. The story pairs archaeologist Benny with the Seventh Doctor, on a world where she is investigating an outlawed language.
February’s release is a special double-disc package, which has the working title of The Suffering and stars Peter Purves as Steven Taylor and Maureen O’Brien as Vicki.
“The Suffering is two interlinked stories by Jac Rayner,” explains producer David Richardson. “Disc 1 is Steven’s tale, with contributions from Vicki, while Disc 2 is Vicki’s story with interjections by Steven. It’s a wonderful opportunity to reunite two companions who have not been seen or heard together since 1965. The Suffering will retail at £12.99, although subscribers to the range will receive it at no extra cost.”
The spirit of reunion continues in March in The Emperor of Eternity by Nigel Robinson. The story is performed by Deborah Watling as Victoria, while Frazer Hines guest stars as Jamie.
Out in April is Shadow of the Past by Simon Guerrier, an Earth invasion story set during Season Seven. Caroline John is back as Liz Shaw, supported by Lex Shrapnel (Minder, Thunderbirds) in the role of Marshall.
Louise Jameson is back as Leela in the next, as yet untitled, story, which is written by Nigel Fairs. “We also hope to have a very special guest star for this one,” teases Richardson, “although it’s early days and contracts aren’t yet signed, so I can’t give anything away.”
Frazer Hines returns again in Night’s Black Agents, a story with Jamie and the Sixth Doctor that ties into Big Finish’s main range Doctor Who plays. “This Companion Chronicle fits in between the first and second of the Sixth Doctor and Jamie plays,” Richardson reveals, “and it’s a beautifully written piece by Big Finish newcomer Marty Ross.”
The fourth season of The Companion Chronicles ends in June 2010, with an as yet untitled story that stars Maggie Stables as Evelyn Smythe.