CLASSIC DOCTORS, NEW MONSTERS Vol one

When eras collide

RELEASED OUT NOW! 275 minutes | Cd/download

Publisher Big Finish

Big Finish has been producing Doctor Who audio drama for 17 years now, making it tricky for newcomers to know where to start. However, there are some useful jumping-on-points; the latest arrives via this box set, which pitches four classic Doctors against a selection of new series adversaries.

Over a quartet of selfcontained one-hour episodes, the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Doctors battle the Weeping Angels, the Judoon, the Sycorax and the Sontarans. With each Doctor flying solo, continuity is kept to a minimum, and every story aims to capture its respective Doctor’s character while also channeling the spirit of the show’s modern incarnation.

There are occasional missteps – the Sixth Doctor’s rambling escapade with the Judoon being the main weak link – but there’s also plenty of rousing thrills and adventure. Surprisingly, the most solid episode turns out to be the reappearance of the warlike Sycorax from 2005’s “The Christmas Invasion”. Overall it’s a strong experiment that throws together two eras of the show with satisfying results.

The Angels cast includes Sacha Dhawan – Waris Hussein in biodrama An Adventure In Space And Time.