Podcast appearances and mentions of Sophie Aldred

Guest: British author Paul Ebbs—Big Finish writer and lifelong Who fan who watched every episode on broadcast from 1970 to 1989—joins John and Jim to close out Classic Doctor Who. Three and a Half Years, One Weekly Show, and Finally the End of the Road This is it. The final story of Classic Doctor Who. After three and a half years of weekly episodes covering every televised adventure in order, John and Jim reach the end of the line with Survival—Sylvester McCoy's swan song, Ace's coming-of-age, and the Master's last classic-era stand. To mark the occasion, they welcome a guest who was there when it first aired: author Paul Ebbs, who calls this his joint-favorite story of all time and makes a passionate case for why it matters far more than its reputation might suggest. A Working Title You Won't Believe Before it became Survival, this story went by two working titles: "Blood Hunt" and—brace yourself—"Cat Flap." Yes, the final story of Classic Doctor Who was nearly called Cat Flap. The hosts have thoughts about this, and about what might have been if that title had stuck. The Show Looking Into a Mirror and Seeing Its Future Self Paul makes a bold argument that runs through the whole conversation: there is no post-2005 Doctor Who without this era. Everything RTD would later do is seeded right here. He points out that Rose is set "one estate across and three streets up" from Survival. Jim extends John's running metaphor—Cartmel walked so RTD could run—into something more specific: Ace walked so Rose, Amy, and every companion after could run. This is the story where the companion's inner life, backstory, and growth finally take center stage, setting the template for everything that followed. A Master Story, a Height Difference, and a Performance That Elevates This marks Anthony Ainley's final televised turn as the Master, and it's a memorable one. The hosts discuss how McCoy holds his own against Ainley despite a notable height difference, the chilling mirror scene, and whether this ranks among Ainley's best work. There's disagreement about where he sits relative to Delgado—and a surprising admission from one host about finally coming around on Ainley this time. The Hottest Shoot on the Coldest-Looking Planet Behind the scenes, this was a punishing production. Filmed in 100-degree heat in Dorset, the elaborate Cheetah People costumes (a departure from writer Rona Munro's more subtle original vision) made life miserable for the cast. An extra walked off. Sophie Aldred suffered dehydration despite not even wearing the costume. Ainley himself took the production team to task over how uncomfortable Lisa Bowerman was. And yet, all shot on location, the story achieves a cinematic quality the hosts and guest clearly relish. A Writer Who Paints a Whole Life in Two Lines Paul—himself a working Who writer—delivers what amounts to a masterclass appreciation of Rona Munro's screenwriting. He singles out a first episode with relentless narrative drive, exposition smuggled invisibly into dialogue, and minor characters who feel fully three-dimensional from just a line or two. There's a subtle detail involving what a street character is collecting money for that ties directly into the story's central theme—and it's the kind of thing you only notice when someone points it out. The Sabotaged Hum and the Only Pacifist in the Room At its heart, this is a story about not winning through violence. The Doctor is the lone voice of pacifism amid chaos, and Paul makes a spirited defense of a much-debated sequence in part two—arguing it's not a misfire but the thematic backbone of the entire story. Whether you agree depends on how you read the Doctor's role, and the hosts don't entirely line up on this one. Planet of the Apes on Horseback The first sight of a Cheetah Person mounted on horseback draws a direct comparison to the iconic gorilla-on-horseback image from Planet of the Apes—an incongruous, unforgettable visual. The hosts and guest also defend the animatronic cat, the Cheetah People makeup, and Doctor Who's whole relationship with special effects. There's a broader argument here about what actually matters in the show, and it's not the monsters. An Accidental Perfect Ending Only John Nathan Turner knew this might be the last episode for a long time. The cast and crew were largely in the dark. Cartmel wrote the melancholy closing monologue—"there are worlds out there where the sky is burning"—which McCoy recorded, fittingly, on the show's actual 30th anniversary. The hosts and guest reflect on how a story nobody knew was a finale became the perfect accidental send-off for Classic Who. Fruit Machines, Finger Tricks, and Pocket Watches Along the way: a discussion of the Doctor's mysterious forehead-finger business, McCoy's prop-driven approach to the role (including a pocket watch used as a scanner), the great sonic screwdriver debate, and a Doctor channeling Pertwee on a motorbike. Plus a small mystery about Ace's mother that the story raises and then quietly drops. Production Details: Production Code: 7P Aired: November 22 – December 6, 1989 Writer: Rona Munro (would later write New Who's "The Eaters of Light" for Capaldi) Director: Alan Wareing (previously The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Ghost Light) Working Titles: "Blood Hunt" and "Cat Flap" The Master: Anthony Ainley (added at JNT's insistence for a named villain; his final televised appearance in the role) Notable Cast: Lisa Bowerman as Karra (would go on to voice Bernice Summerfield and direct for Big Finish), Julian Holloway as Sergeant Patterson (Paul's favorite guest actor in Who history; passed away recently), comedians Gareth Hale & Norman Pace in the shop Filming Location: Perivale for the Earth scenes, Dorset for the planet of the Cheetah People Closing Monologue: Written by Andrew Cartmel; recorded by McCoy on November 23, 1989 Ratings: 5M / 4.8M / 5M Key Discussion Points: Why this story is the template for all of post-2005 Doctor Who Ace as the proto-New-Who companion and the culmination of Season 26's arc Anthony Ainley's final Master performance and how he compares to Delgado Rona Munro's writing craft and economy of characterization The pacifism theme: "If we fight like animals, we'll die like animals" The debate over part two and whether it drags or lands the story's themes The "Ace walked so Rose could run" thesis The Planet of the Apes visual influence Doctor Who's relationship with special effects and suspension of disbelief Whether holding the Master story for last was the right call The all-location cinematic shooting style The accidental perfect ending and Cartmel's closing monologue The Wilderness Years to come, and the role of the Virgin New Adventures novels Coming Up Next: Friday (Patreon Feed): A look back at McCoy, the 80s, and the Classic Era overall. Monday (Patreon Exclusive 180): Season 26 overview—the good, the bad, and whatever ugly there was. Plus the comics "Party Animals" and "The Chameleon Factor." Patreon subscribers also get the 80s retrospective. Wednesday (Main Feed): Season 20 retrospective (a previously Patreon-exclusive episode). And Then: Hiatus episodes that will look at aspects of the "Wilderness Years", The 1996 TV Movie, and eventually the leap into New Who and the Christopher Eccleston era. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Survival #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #Ace #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #RonaMunro #ClassicWho #EndOfAnEra #PaulEbbs #DoctorWhoPodcast

Guest: Shagg Matthews from the Fire & Water Podcast Network joins John and Jim to discuss the penultimate story of Classic Doctor Who. The Darkest Hour(s) Before the Dawn The hosts are unified in their assessment: this is the darkest, most adult, most dramatically mature story of the entire series. It's not dark in tone alone—it's dark in theme, dark in implications, dark in what it reveals about the Doctor's character. One joke exists in the entire episode; everything else operates in shades of genuine dread. The production team clearly knew they were operating on borrowed time and decided to swing for the fences: a World War II setting, a genuine first-evil antagonist, psychological manipulation, body horror, and questions about faith itself. A Writer and a Producer in a Battle Over Hemovores Ian Briggs returned to Doctor Who after nearly a full season away—Andrew Cartmel had to convince JNT to give him another chance. Once given that chance, JNT immediately began second-guessing and meddling. The hemovores were originally supposed to look different, more monstrous. JNT thought they looked "rather rude"—apparently resembling a sexual organ—and demanded they be toned down. The final design: vampiric-looking humanoids that started as two schoolgirls. It's a compromise that somehow works brilliantly despite the behind-the-scenes friction. A Location Shoot That Feels Real Rather than attempt the Blitz with pyrotechnics and sets, Nicholas Mallet (returning from Paradise Towers) persuaded JNT to film entirely on location. They shot in Dorset and Northumberland, capturing genuine seaside cliffs and windswept locations. The weather cooperated and didn't cooperate simultaneously—freak conditions meant one day brought snow, the next sunshine, then rain. Rather than reshoot, they worked it into the story. McCoy kept his own heavy coat between takes; the production said it looked good, so he wore it throughout. Sophie Aldred handpicked her costume and refused to cover it with an overcoat, keeping her arms visible at all times. A Story That Was Never Meant to Be an Ending (But Knows It Is) Only John Nathan Turner knew the show was ending. Everyone else—including Sylvester McCoy, who'd signed a contract for Season 27—was operating under the assumption the show would continue. McCoy was all set to return; Sophie Aldred hadn't even been offered one yet. The BBC officially called it a "hiatus" while quietly beginning a competitive tender process to find a new production company. But among all the cast and crew, only JNT was preparing this as a potential final chapter. The others were simply making the next story. The Story: A mysterious entity called Fenric—described as one of the first evils of the universe—has been imprisoned for 17 centuries. In 1943, a small English coastal town becomes the battleground. Russian soldiers are hunting for a scientist named Judson, who's secretly developing a computer to decode German ciphers. The Doctor arrives to find ancient Viking ruins, encoded runes that must never be translated, and mysterious creatures rising from the water. When the runes are translated, Fenric's influence begins to spread. The true revelation: Fenric has been manipulating events for centuries, including the entire relationship between the Doctor and Ace. Production Details: Production Code: 7M Aired: October 15 – November 14, 1989 Writer: Ian Briggs | Director: Nicholas Mallet Guest Stars: Nicholas Parsons (Reverend Wainwright), Dinsdale Landen (Commander Millington) Filming Location: Lulworth Cove in Dorset; North Umberland or possibly Whitby (accounts vary) Notable Details: First Doctor Who story set in WWII (War Games covered WWI) All-location filming —rain, snow, and sunlight all captured genuinely Sophie Aldred dove into water three times to get the shot; divers had to follow her on the final take McCoy wore his personal coat between takes; production kept it in final cut Ratings: 4.3M, 4M, 4M, 4.2M (held above 4 million throughout) Music: Mark Ayers Novelization: Ian Briggs (same author), includes epilogue set in 1887 Paris Key Discussion Points: Why this story works as mature television drama The manipulation thread: Fenric manipulating the Doctor and Ace; the Doctor manipulating Ace for a greater good The distraction scene and whether it lands (or whether it makes viewers uncomfortable) Ace's fear of water: genuinely from the story, or character development invented for the finale? The Doctor's faith expressed through his companions' names (from novelization) Why the Ancient One/Great Serpent feels unnecessary when Madison and Fenric were compelling enough The Doctor being "on patrol"—Batman and Robin dynamics with Ace Ace's first genuine character arc across multiple seasons The seduction vs. the seduction scene: why one works and the other doesn't How this story informs RTD's approach to companion arcs in New Who Season 27 plans: Ace was meant to train for the Time Lord Academy The rain and weather: natural hazard or perfect cinematography? Coming Up Next: Monday (Patreon Exclusive 179): Music, Memory TARDIS, and "The Mark of Mandragora" comics. Friday (Patreon Early) / Wednesday (Main Feed): "Survival" (three-parter)—the actual final story of Classic Doctor Who. John handles narration; guest writer Paul Ebbs from England joins the discussion. Special Notes: This is the second-to-last classic Who story John mentions this is only the second time he's "mainlined" multiple episodes in a row (the first time being War Games) The hosts plan to do a retrospective episode after Survival covering favorite doctors, companions, and villains across all 26 years Shag gives credit to the novelization for revealing that the Doctor whispers the names of the First Doctor's companions (Ian, Barbara, Susan, Vicki, Stephen) as his source of faith against the hemovores Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Season26 #TheCurseOfFenric #ClassicWho #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #Fenric #DoctorManipulates #DarkestStory #DoctorWhoPodcast #PenultimateStory

Guest: Felicity Kusinitz from the Flopcast joins John and Jim to discuss Season 26's most confusing story. A Script Too Big for Its Own Shoes Mark Platt submitted "Lungbarrow" to the show—a bold move for a writer with no professional credits beyond Doctor Who fan fiction. JNT immediately shut down his original concept (a full revelation of the Doctor's origins involving Gallifrey, Rassilon, and Omega) and asked him to rework it. Platt transplanted the thematic weight of that rejected story into a Victorian Gothic setting, creating Ghost Light. The result is a production that was heavily edited, with numerous explanatory scenes cut to fit three episodes. Even now, decades later, the story remains notoriously difficult to follow on first viewing—and according to many, even on subsequent viewings. Why This Story Rewards (and Frustrates) Repeat Viewing Felicity came in as a genuine enthusiast for this story, despite her general ambivalence toward the McCoy era. She's watched it multiple times and finds it improves with knowledge of what's coming. The New Adventures novels (particularly "Lungbarrow," which completed Andrew Cartmel's original Master Plan concept) have deepened her appreciation retroactively. Yet even she admits the first viewing is a puzzle box without instructions. Jim, meanwhile, found it nearly incomprehensible—he spent much of the episode laughing at the absurdity while also trying desperately to understand what was actually happening. Too Many Characters Syndrome Strikes Again The story suffers from the same overcrowding that plagued Battlefield. There's Josiah Samuel Smith, Control, Nimrod, the Reverend Matthews, the Constable, Mrs. Pritchard, Gwendolyn, the maids, Inspector McKenzie, and eventually Light itself. Each arrival adds another layer of confusion. Jerry Lange's earlier concerns about "too many characters" find their most vindicated expression here. Some characters could have been eliminated entirely, and others—particularly the Reverend and the Constable—feel like they exist only because they were written before the cuts. A Doctor Who's Getting Darker (And Meaner) A troubling thread emerges in this viewing: the Doctor is increasingly manipulative and even cruel with Ace. He brings her to a house without explanation, observes her distress as a kind of experiment, and generally treats her as a subject to be studied rather than a companion to be protected. This emotional manipulation—combined with McCoy's alien coldness rather than zany warmth—marks a shift in the character that will come to a head in the final story. Atmospheric But Muddy: The Audio Problem The story is visually and aurally striking—genuinely evoking Hammer Horror and the Hinchcliffe era with its Victorian setting and Gothic atmosphere. Yet the production suffers from audio mixing issues. The soundtrack is prominent enough to drown out dialogue, particularly Ace's lines, which are sometimes difficult to parse. This compounds the story's already confusing nature; listeners are struggling both to understand the plot and to hear what characters are saying. The Incomprehensible Becomes Character-Driven Once Light arrives—a being of pure energy obsessed with cataloguing life but appalled by its constant evolution—the story gains a genuinely interesting thematic core. Light's childlike wonder and petulant rage when confronted with change creates an intriguing antagonist, even if the costume (flowing cape, pale makeup, styled hair) reads more as "space fairy" than "cosmic entity." The Doctor defeats Light not through action but through argument—a Kirk-like tactic that works here because the concept itself is compelling enough to carry it. What Works, What Doesn't The setting works beautifully. The cast interactions (particularly Ace and Gwendolyn's constant wrestling matches) add levity. Sophie Aldred's increasing maturity as an actress and her character's evolution is noticeable. The costume design is excellent—though Ace keeping her boots on under the Victorian dress is a nice character touch. What doesn't work is the clarity; the rushed ending; the revelation that Control, Fenn Cooper, and Nimrod escape in the spaceship (leaving Ace's future burning of the house still unexplained); and the general sense that crucial scenes were left on the editing room floor. The Crown Jewel of Cartmel's Tenure? Cartmel considers Ghost Light the crown jewel of his script-editing era—a statement that says more about what went wrong in his tenure than it does about the quality of this particular story. It's bold, daring, and ambitious. It also fails to deliver on its promises due to time constraints and editorial decisions made by people who didn't care anymore. This is the final production of classic Doctor Who, even though it airs second in the season. The actual last scene filmed was the closing exchange between Ace and the Doctor—a conversation that feels almost tacked on but carries genuine weight: Ace wishes she'd blown up Gabriel Chase instead of burning it down, and the Doctor simply replies, "Wicked." Production Details: Production Code: 7Q Aired: October 4–18, 1989 (but produced AFTER both "Curse of Fenric" and "Survival") Writer: Mark Platt (first professional sale; no prior writing credits outside fan fiction) Director: Alan Waring Original Concept: "Lungbarrow" — a story meant to fully reveal the Doctor's origins on Gallifrey Ratings: Episode 1: 4.2 million | Episodes 2 & 3: 4.0 million (slight bump from previous week) Notable Cast: Michael Cochrane (Fenn Cooper, previously in "Black Orchid"), Carl Forgione (Nimrod, previously in "Planet of the Spiders") Key Detail: Last scene shot was Ace and the Doctor's closing exchange Key Discussion Points: The 75-minute script cut down to fit three short episodes and what was lost Too many characters introduced with insufficient explanation The Doctor's increasingly manipulative treatment of Ace and what it suggests about his character arc Whether the story rewards repeat viewing or if clarity is impossible The Victorian Gothic atmosphere as the story's greatest strength Light as a conceptual antagonist vs. Light as a costume problem Sophie Aldred's maturing performance throughout Season 26 Why Ace's 1983 burning of Gabriel Chase never connects fully to the events of this story Ace keeping her boots on under the Victorian dress as character work The jarring tonal shifts between scenes Patrick Mulkern's assessment that the incoherence lands at Cartmell's feet Coming Up Next: Monday (Patreon 178): Music (The Doubleclicks' version of the Doctor Who theme), comics "Darkness Falling" and "Distractions" (prequels to a larger storyline), Memory TARDIS, and a tribute to BBC Books editor Justin Richards, who passed away. Friday (Patreon Early) / Wednesday (Main Feed): "The Curse of Fenric" (four-parter). Jim handles narration; guest Shagg Matthews joins the discussion. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Season26 #GhostLight #ClassicWho #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #AmbitionVsExecution #CartmelMasterPlan #MarkPlatt #VictorianGothic #DoctorWhoPodcast

Guest: Artist Jerry Lange joins John and Jim to discuss Season 26's explosive premiere. Six Years Later: A Familiar Face in Uniform The Doctor intercepts a distress call from Earth and arrives to find military forces mobilizing around a lake in rural England. But the soldiers he encounters aren't the ragtag UNIT troops from decades past—they answer to a new Brigadier, Winifred Bambara, sharp and decisive in ways that immediately challenge the Doctor's expectations. Before he can fully process this changing of the guard, a figure from his past arrives by helicopter. Nicholas Courtney returns as Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge Stewart, and the moment he steps onto screen represents the kind of callback that reminds longtime viewers why they fell in love with this show in the first place. The Return of a Beloved Character Done Right This is Courtney's first appearance since 1983—a full six years away. Yet the script wastes no time exploring what retirement has meant for the man who spent so many years at the Doctor's side. Unlike a simple cameo or a "let me check in and leave" scenario, the Brigadier finds himself back in harness, commanding troops, coordinating military responses, and rolling with alien invasions as if no time has passed at all. The character hasn't softened with age; if anything, he's evolved into someone who finally understands what he's really dealing with and accepts it without question. This is prime Brigadier material. Medieval Knights, Ancient Swords, and a Very Complicated Woman The story introduces knights in armor who've landed on Earth, along with ancient artifacts and a mysterious woman who speaks through a crystal ball—someone claiming to be Morgaine, reaching across dimensions to reclaim what's hers. The central mystery involves Excalibur, a comatose figure who might be King Arthur, and the question of whether the Doctor himself might be Merlin. How does one character bridge ancient legend and the Doctor's own timeline? And what does it mean when the Doctor suggests he might already be Merlin, but just doesn't know it yet? A Crowded Stage: When Too Many Characters Complicate the Story With Bambera, Ancelyn, Shou Yung, the helicopter pilot, the archaeologist Warmsley, and others, the screen fills quickly. Some find this ensemble approach refreshing; others feel it dilutes the focus that Morgaine and the central conflict deserve. The new Brigadier especially becomes a point of discussion—is she a necessary counterpoint to Alistair's established authority, or does her anger and youth undercut the gravitas the role traditionally carries? And then there's the question of whether every character served the Arthurian elements or whether some existed primarily because the production wanted to demonstrate diversity of casting. Jean Marsh as Morgaine: A Villain for the Ages Yet if there's one element that commands universal appreciation, it's Jean Marsh's performance as Morgaine. She commands every scene she inhabits, wielding hand gestures, vocal inflection, and costume to create a presence that feels genuinely menacing. This is her return to Doctor Who after playing Sarah Kingdom decades earlier, and she uses the opportunity to sketch out one of classic Who's most memorable antagonists. Comparisons to Helen Mirren's Morgaine in Excalibur are inevitable—and some viewers find Marsh's interpretation equally compelling, if not superior. The Mystery of Merlin and the Doctor's Unexplained Powers Part of what makes this story intriguing is its central enigma: Is the Doctor Merlin? The story suggests he might be, but offers no clear answer. Instead, it proposes something stranger—that the Doctor might become Merlin at some point in his past, or that he already was without knowing it yet. This plays directly into the Cartmell Master Plan's fascination with the Doctor's origins and timeline. Yet the story also introduces psychic powers the Doctor exercises—mind tricks that feel Force-like in execution but are never explained or integrated into established Time Lord abilities. Where do these abilities come from, and why does the Doctor never use them again? Bessie Makes an Unexpected Entrance In one of the story's most delightful moments, the Doctor's old car Bessie emerges to save the day. It's a callback that lands harder than the story initially suggests it might, proof that even in a tale of knights and swords and alternate dimensions, there's room for the kind of continuity nods that make longtime fans smile. A Production That Nearly Caused a Tragedy Behind the scenes, Sophie Aldred found herself in genuine danger during the water tank sequence. The glass chamber—not built to withstand pressure—began to crack and bulge as water filled it. Loose electrical wiring posed an immediate electrocution risk. It took McCoy's quick thinking and frantic shouting to get her out before disaster struck. It's the kind of production hazard that modern safety standards would never permit, and it remains a sobering reminder of how close the show came to losing an actress. A Story Ben Aaronovitch Wasn't Happy With Remarkably, despite writing one of the strongest stories of Season 25 (Remembrance of the Daleks), writer Ben Aaronovitch objected to several elements of this one. The Brigadier's return, he felt, was a mistake—a sentiment that J&T, Cartmell, and Courtney himself overruled. He disliked the music, the nuclear weapons speech that Cartmell added for the Doctor, and believed the knights should have looked more futuristic rather than traditionally medieval. The Merlin Question and Time Travel Paradox The intriguing aspect of the Doctor-as-Merlin possibility is that it plays with time in ways the show doesn't always explore. If the Doctor becomes Merlin in his past, but that past hasn't happened yet, what does that mean for causality? The story leaves this deliberately unresolved, suggesting that some mysteries are more interesting unanswered—a bold choice for a four-part story with finite screen time. Production Details: Production Code: 7N Aired: September 6–27, 1989 Writer: Ben Aaronovitch | Director: Michael Kerrigan Originally pitched as: "Storm of Avalon" (Season 25, rejected due to Silver Nemesis covering similar ground) Key Return: Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge Stewart (first appearance since 1983) Guest Cast: Jean Marsh (Morgaine), Angela Bruce (Brigadier Bambera), Marcus Gilbert (Ancelyn) Notable: Last TARDIS interior appearance in classic Who; Courtney voted best actor of this season by Doctor Who Magazine Ratings: 3.1, 3.9, 3.6, 4.0 (opening episode 3.1 is lowest in classic history) Key Discussion Points: The Brigadier's evolution from skeptic to fully-operational military commander Jean Marsh's transformation from Sarah Kingdom to Morgaine The Cartmell Master Plan's continued exploration of the Doctor's past Morgaine's arrival from an alternate dimension and her connection to Arthur The Doctor's unexplained psychic abilities and their absence from later stories Whether the cast is too large and whether certain characters serve the narrative Ancelyn's connection to Lancelot (possible anagram?) The Bessie callback and its emotional resonance Bambera as counterpoint to Alistair: innovation vs. tradition The balance between Arthurian legend and Doctor Who mythology Coming Up Next: Monday (Patreon 177): Music, Memory TARDIS, comics "Time Flight," "Doctor Conqueror," and "Fellow Travelers" (Sarah Jane returns to comics; Ace introduced) Friday (Patreon Early) / Wednesday (Main Feed): "Ghostlight" (three-parter with guest Felicity Kusinitz from Flop Cast)—a story many fans have strong opinions about Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Season26 #Battlefield #ClassicWho #NicholasCourtney #JeanMarsh #SylvesterMcCoy #BrigadierLethbridgeStewart #ArthurinaLegend #Merlin #DoctorWhoPodcast

Jingle bells are probably silent this Christmas as, if RTD's hinting in the UK media has led the Three Who Rule to conclude, after Mr. Davies stating he won't be filming anything this year, so…whither Doctor Who Christmas Special? We get after it! We also look into the spectacular looking 4K release of the 1996 TV Movie, our thoughts on the Mandolorian and Grogu, the usual Big Finish Zaprudering, and an interview with Sophie Aldred, Paul Cornell and author Adrian Tchaikovsky and their involvement in the Salvation's Child graphic novel! Space Comics! Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Radio Times report on supposed upcoming Doctor Who Christmas Special Russell T Davies on LBC: "I'm not filming anything until 2027" Sylvester McCoy and Paul McGann on the Whoniverse Show Jonathan Helm on the Doctor Who TV Movie pre-titles sequence Doctor Who TV Movie 4K review Doctor Who Magazine 630 released Doctor Who (1963-1996) coming to Britbox in Australia in June Doctor Who Adventures: Save the Humans! due Aug 18 Cybertropolis The Art & Times of the Cybermen from Andrew Skilleter due autumn 2026 Big Finish: Torchwood: Fare Well released Big Finish: Doctor Who – The Seventh Doctor Adventures: Fixers due July 2026 Big Finish: Doctor Who – The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: The Hallamshire Incident due July 2026 Big Finish: Doctor Who – The Third Doctor Adventures: The Planet Killers due October 2026 Paradise Towers: Unalive the Multiverse Kickstarter from Cutaway Comics Marcia Lucas passes away Interview: Salvation's Child graphic novel Paul Cornell Sophie Aldred Adrian Tchaikovsky

Jim and John tackle the Season 24 finale and the show's 150th story, featuring Bonnie Langford's abrupt departure, Sophie Aldred's introduction as Ace, the return of Sabalom Glitz, and one of the most infamous cliffhangers in Doctor Who history. Jim struggles to find redeeming qualities in a season he considers possibly the worst in Classic Who, while production issues and budget constraints become increasingly evident. The 150th Story Milestone: Written by Ian Briggs (who will later write fan-favorite "The Curse of Fenric"), directed by Chris Clough (completing his second "last two stories of a season" after Trial of a Time Lord). Originally pitched as story about an intergalactic shopping center owner wanting the TARDIS for the ultimate shopping experience. The BBC counted Trial of a Time Lord as one story arc, so technically this should be story 153. Andrew Cartmell brought writers into his office for collaborative discussion—closest thing to a "writer's room" Doctor Who ever had. Cartmell considered this the best story of Season 24, which Jim finds bewildering given his own assessment of the season. The Infamous Umbrella Cliffhanger: Everybody fixates on McCoy lowering himself over a parapet by his umbrella, stopping mid-descent and hanging there looking confused. The scene has become legendary for all the wrong reasons—why did he do it in the first place when he wasn't trapped? According to Briggs, the script called for the Doctor to lower himself because he was trapped with nowhere to go, and the actual cliffhanger was supposed to be the dragon appearing. The awkward execution wasn't the writer's fault. Director and production team share blame for one of the series' most criticized moments. Sophie Aldred as Ace: Cast at age 26 to play 16-year-old Ace (10 years younger than her actual age—more than Burt Ward's 6-year gap playing Robin). Actually two years older than Bonnie Langford despite playing significantly younger. Sophie auditioned for Ray in "Delta and the Bannermen" but didn't get it—worked in her favor as Ace became iconic. Character is human from late 20th century Earth who arrived on Iceworld when chemistry experiment triggered time storm in her bedroom. Uses homemade explosive "Nitro-9" and shouts "Ace!" frequently (which doesn't work for Jim). Calls the Doctor "Professor" which he tries to discourage. John admits he initially hated Ace in this story—found her annoying and grumpy, a "miserable brat." But promises a "Richter scale" shift in appreciation with the next story, suggesting maturation between seasons and genuine chemistry developing with McCoy that was absent with Mel. Bonnie Langford's Awkward Exit: Mel's departure makes no narrative sense—no setup, no telegraphing, completely out of nowhere. She suddenly decides to stay with Glitz to "keep him out of trouble" with zero romantic hints or friendship development to justify it. The farewell scene wasn't written by Briggs—it was McCoy's audition piece that he loved so much he convinced Cartmell to insert it into the script. Both later regretted this decision. Briggs washes his hands of it: "I didn't write that." Bonnie had to act opposite her replacement throughout, standing back while production sells Sophie/Ace hard, often getting relegated to the background. Classic Who pattern of treating departing companions poorly. Jim notes tiny bit of charm finally emerging between McCoy and Bonnie right at the very end—too little, too late. Bonnie's Post-Who Career: Didn't get the serious acting career she hoped Doctor Who would provide. Continued successful musical theater and light entertainment work but remained the butt of jokes for years—including a 1990s condom commercial depicting her parents with slogan "if only they'd used a condom." Public perception shifted when she appeared on "Strictly Come Dancing" (British dance competition) alongside John Barrowman. Fans hoped for Doctor Who face-off but she was injured during rehearsal and had to withdraw; Barrowman voted out shortly after. Her bravery with the injury softened public opinion—now considered a "national treasure" in Britain. This is why she was brought back for New Who, not just fan service. The Glitz Problem: Tony Selby returns as Sabalom Glitz—JNT read the script, liked having Tony Selby (who was "hot" at the time appearing on other British TV), and suggested using Glitz instead of similar character. Glitz owns the Nosferatu (referenced in Trial of a Time Lord). Jim couldn't stand Glitz's hair. Compares him to Star Trek's Cyrano Jones/Harry Mudd. Softened for this story, lost whatever bite he had before. No chemistry with anyone—not Ace, not the Doctor. Tony Selby passed away in 2021 at age 83. In New Who, Mel references traveling with "Sabalom Glitz" until he was 107, slipped on a bottle, cracked his head and died. She returned to Earth by "hopping on a Zingo" (running joke—no one knows what a Zingo is). Kane and the Ice World Setting: Edward Peel plays Kane, the villain who controls Iceworld trading colony on dark side of planet Svartos. His touch is so cold it can kill. Marks employees with his symbol iced into their flesh. Basically "Mr. Freeze redux" per Jim. Kane is half of Kane-Xana criminal gang from planet Proamon. Xana killed herself to avoid arrest; Kane was exiled to cold dark side of Svartos. Iceworld is actually a spacecraft—the "treasure" is a crystal that activates the ship to end his exile. Kane's head-melting death scene well-executed (reminds Jim of Star Trek TNG's "Conspiracy" but actually inspired by Toht/Belloq melting in Raiders of the Lost Ark). Jim wishes they'd lingered on the effect a second or two longer—it was actually done well. Patricia Quinn as Belazs: The only character Jim cared about in Part One. Reminded him strongly of Glynis Johns. Plays officer who realizes Kane won't release her, tries to escape, attempts to overthrow Kane by raising temperature in his chambers. Patricia Quinn interviewed on Blu-ray—now a British Duchess with purple hair, incredibly eccentric despite aristocratic status. Behind the Sofa caught her looking off-camera for cue cards "like a Saturday Night Live skit." Belazs killed by Kane, goes out "like a chump" when Jim thought she deserved to be the one to dispatch Kane. New lackeys introduced in Part 3 waste screen time that could have developed her character better. The Derivative Dragon: Jim catalogs extensive borrowing from other sci-fi properties: Dragon is blatant Alien/Aliens ripoff—H.R. Giger's xenomorph design copied almost exactly (long thin arms, fingers, back protrusions, head shape like Alien Queen) Described as "biomechanoid" (Giger's biomechanical design philosophy) Superman Fortress of Solitude hologram crystal stolen wholesale—hologram woman appears to conveniently explain backstory exactly like Lex Luthor scene in Superman II Alien tracker guns copied from Aliens (complete with "it should be right on us" suspense) Zombies added to cliché pile Jim notes the show stopped ripping off Star Wars and moved on to Alien franchise and Superman movies. This is "perhaps never more" derivative than in this story. Production and Budget Collapse: "Batman Season 3 worthy sets"—budget clearly ran out by season's end. Station sets not impressive, doesn't sell the Ice World concept. Model of planet surface done well, but interior sets very lacking. Shot brightest possible lights, no atmosphere or mystery. Dragon walks around "like a costume character at Disney World." Almost entirely studio-bound with minimal location work. Cliffhanger at end of Part 2 "one of the most horribly dull ever"—Kane just declares "the dragonfire shall be mine" with no tension whatsoever. The McCoy Problem Continues: Jim still doesn't know who McCoy's Doctor is. An engaging Doctor can carry even poor stories (citing Colin Baker), but McCoy isn't doing that. Not a force within the show, just reacting. Both McCoy and Mel "treading water" all season. This is McCoy's "freshman year" but with a producer trying to rebuild without reaching out to anything—soft reboot that plays it safe with half the budget. Jim sees all the tropes and clichés but not innovation. Brief moment of crankiness when McCoy yells "SILENCE!" at the girls—is this the temperamental side promised? Tiny bit of charm emerges at very end with Mel but too late. No chemistry with Bonnie throughout until final seconds. John's thesis: "These three seasons walked so New Who could run." Season 24 feels like desperate attempt to make it a kids' show again but dumbing it down ("Uncle Miltie's Carnival of Fun"). Philosophy discussion scene interesting but "puts everyone in the audience asleep." Cast Notes: Tony Osoba (Kracauer) played Lan in "Destiny of the Daleks," returns in New Who episode "Kill the Moon" Sharon Duce (customer with milkshake dumped on her) was the camper killed by Ogri in "Stones of Blood" (the scene that scandalized Jim and John for depicting unmarried relations) Little girl Stellar played by Miranda Borman—wearing a dress Bonnie Langford wore at that age for a role. Hosts wonder if this was a stage mother situation Large cast overall—perhaps one of the largest in Doctor Who history The Cartmell Philosophy: Andrew Cartmell doesn't like interior TARDIS scenes, so "we're not gonna see the console room much moving forward." Jim outraged: "That's inane... good writing doesn't drag a scene down." Lost opportunities for insightful TARDIS interactions between Doctor and companions. Fandom Division: By end of Season 24, fandom most divided over show's direction. Fanzine DWB went on crusade to get JNT sacked—he considered suing but BBC told him to leave it. BBC willing to let him go after 25th season (which he wanted to see through) but he stayed on longer than that. Jim's Season Assessment: Can't think of another time the show has felt this low overall. Rough, a slog. Still not sure who McCoy is as a Doctor. Compares unfavorably to Colin Baker era—at least Colin was consistent and worth watching even in poor stories. Sees Season 24 as show desperately wanting spunky girl companion (keeps trying over and over) but not knowing what to do with them when they get one (Mel being prime example). Both agree it's not a good way to end the season. Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive 170: Music selection, Season 24 retrospective, at least one Season 25 spoiler for Jim, comic strip reviews of "Redemption" and "The Crossroads of Time" (both one-parters), and Memory TARDIS wheel spin. Hiatus Special (Patreon early): "Wartime" shorts featuring the return of Sergeant Benton with the interesting behind-the-scenes story of how this fan production came to be (approximately 30-35 minutes). (Main feed) BBC audio drama "Slipback" with Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Dragonfire #150thStory #SylvesterMcCoy #SeventhDoctor #BonnieLangford #Mel #SophieAldred #Ace #SabalomGlitz #TonySelby #Season24Finale #KaneTheVillain #UmbrellaCliffhanger #PatriciaQuinn #IanBriggs #ChrisClough #ClassicWho #CompanionDeparture #NewCompanion #ProductionProblems #BudgetIssues #DoctorWhoPodcast

Jim and John find common ground after their Paradise Towers divide, both celebrating the three-part structure as potentially perfect for Doctor Who storytelling. The story features 1950s nostalgia, holiday camp hijinks, and Stubby Kaye from Guys and Dolls. The Relief Factor: After Paradise Towers' evisceration, John feared the worst. Jim's verdict: "It's no Paradise Towers" (thankfully). Discussion of whether you can go lower than a 1 rating and what "having a nice time" means for Doctor Who evaluation. Three Parts: The Perfect Length?: Extended discussion of whether three episodes might be the ideal Doctor Who story format. They've said it before but only really had one three-parter to judge by (Planet of Giants). Jim credits the economy of three parts for helping this story—nothing wasted, though some backstory needed filling in. Question raised: why not make the entire 14-episode season consistent lengths instead of mixing two four-parters with two three-parters? Production Context: Written by Malcolm Kohll (first Doctor Who story). Directed by Chris Clough (Terror of the Vervoids, Ultimate Foe, upcoming Dragonfire, Happiness Patrol, Silver Nemesis). Original title: "The Flight of the Chimeron." Shot almost entirely on location at Butlin's Barry Island holiday camp in Wales (rats forced crew to abandon staying there after two nights). Interior shots done first for once because next story (Dragonfire) is entirely in studio. Ken Dodd (intergalactic tollmaster) took role to dig at tax revenue service investigating him—they discovered over £300,000 unclaimed in his home but he was acquitted. The Stubby Kaye Question: Jim's jaw-dropping moment: recognizing Stubby Kaye from Guys and Dolls (Nicely Nicely Johnson, "Sit Down You're Rocking the Boat"). He was 69 in 1987, 32 when the Broadway show opened in 1950, 37 in the 1955 film. Extended discussion of how an American actor wound up in Doctor Who—was he living in England? Did he do multiple British productions? Also appeared in Who Framed Roger Rabbit the following year as voice of editor. Paired with Morgan Deare (American actor) whose "terrible" accent made Jim think he was British doing bad American Southern/Western accent. Both actors somewhat superfluous to story. Weissmuller and Hawk characters had larger role in uncut version involving the satellite subplot. The Ray Factor: Sarah Griffiths as Ray was being tested as potential new companion because Bonnie Langford was thinking of leaving. Sophie Aldred auditioned for this role but didn't get it—instead cast as Ace for next story, which worked in her favor. Jim didn't identify Ray as potential companion (first time in long time he missed that cue). Malcolm Kohll created character but signed waiver making her BBC property since JNT/Cartmel came up with basic idea of girl who could fix anything with right tool. Lynn Gardner was original actress but injured herself practicing motorcycle riding, so Sarah Griffiths got role. McCoy Development Moments: John identifies key character growth: McCoy showing appreciation for simple things like Burton the camp director's life. Monologue to Gavrok about life defeating those who deal in death—Jim thought this might be quotable Doctor speech. Jim still waiting for something to quantify McCoy as distinct from previous six Doctors: The Interspecies Romance: Billy drinks Chimeron nutrient solution to become one of Delta's people so he can leave with her and the princess to restart the race. The Villain Problem: Gavrok (Don Henderson, who was General Tagge in original Star Wars) and Bannermen lack clear motivation. Backstory existed but cut for time: Bannermen invaded Chimeron homeworld because they'd made ecological mess of their own worlds. Mel Forgotten: By final action sequence, Mel almost completely absent. Stands holding Bannerman weapon in macho pose at end "as if she had a big part in rounding up those guys" but didn't. Bonnie's decision to leave not story-based but timing: "never intended to be long-term player, felt it was right time to go." Only 20 episodes across six stories makes her one of briefest companions. Didn't do convention circuit until last 15-20 years; now enthusiastic about return in New Who. Production Details: Chimeron baby played by 3-4 different children (teenage princess not interviewed for Blu-ray despite being old enough) Green makeup question: females outgrow green skin? Delta has "very slight greenish cast" only visible at end Baby in green onesie looks ridiculous Effects with bus and TARDIS "pretty bad" but Bannermen ship landing "nicely done" Loved the vintage bus itself (appropriate for 1959) Beekeeper character adds to already massive cast Final shot: beekeeper's impish grin as TARDIS disappears (Chris Clough will repeat this in Dragonfire) Cast and Crew Favorite: Despite acknowledging it's not a great story, cast and crew enjoyed nostalgia of 50s holiday camps and had fun making it. Ratings consistent: 5.3, 5.1, 5.4. The Cartmel Philosophy: Andrew Cartmel doesn't like interior TARDIS scenes so "we're not gonna see the console room much moving forward." Jim outraged: "inane... good writing doesn't drag a scene down." Discussion of lost opportunities for insightful TARDIS interactions. The New Who Question: Public call-out asking if listeners want them to continue past TV Movie into New Who (Eccleston era). Multiple positive responses received. Shag's thoughtful response: only continue if you find joy in it, not worth 20 years of episodes without happiness. John notes RTD1 was "glorious time for Doctor Who" with fandom mostly united (unlike RTD2 era). Discussion of callbacks, slow beginning like Star Trek TNG's moratorium on mentioning Vulcans. Both agree putting themselves in companion's shoes helps—did they feel sad leaving this world? Yes for Delta, unlike Paradise Towers. Coming Up Next: Monday on Patreon Feed - Music, Memory TARDIS and a look at the first Sylvester McCoy appearance in the comics with "A Cold Day in Hell". Friday on Patreon Feed (Monday for the main feed) - Season 24 finale, "Dragonfire" - the introduction of Ace, which John will narrate. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #DeltaAndTheBannermen #SylvesterMcCoy #SeventhDoctor #Mel #BonnieLangford #StubblyKaye #GuysAndDolls #1950sNostalgia #HolidayCamp #ThreePartStory #KenDodd #ChrisClaw #Season24 #Chimeron #Bannermen #RayNotAce #SophieAldred #InterspeciesRomance #WagnerianOpera #ChuckJones #ClassicWho #NewWhoQuestion #DoctorWhoPodcast

We're all excited - Sophie Aldred is coming to Scotland in a couple of weeks. Sophie's headlining An Ace Afternoon, which is taking place in Dunfermline - the home town of Ncuti Gatwa! She joins us to talk about her love of Scotland and memories of visiting, plus event organiser Chris Cassell and master of monster making Stephen Mansfield talk about what to expect. Ever wanted to meet Fifi or see a Haemovore up close? This is your chance! Get your tickets at: https://www.onfife.com/event/sci-fife-an-ace-afternoon-with-sophie-aldred-22801a/

Episode Title: "I'm In The Minority" - Vengeance on Varos Review THE EMPTY TARDIS: The Missing Guest: Felicity Cousins from The Flop Cast was supposed to join but had to bow out about an hour before recording - her voice has been acting up again. "I don't think she ever really fully recovered from the last time she was sick when she was with us." THE SEXY DOCTOR ANNOUNCEMENT: John: "She was going to miss the announcement that we are now dealing with the sexiest Doctor to date!" Jim: "According to People Magazine? According to the newspapers?" The Daily Mirror: "In addition to having the sexiest Doctor, we also have a companion with great assets." Jim's Pun: "You're really keeping abreast of this stuff." John: "Yes, I am." THE SEXINESS DEBATE: Jim: "Honestly, sexier than Jon Pertwee? Come on." THE BIG QUESTION: John: "I told you this was one of my two favorite Colin Baker stories, and I would actually rank this up there as some of the best Doctor Who in Classic Who. What are your initial thoughts about Vengeance on Varos?" PRODUCTION DETAILS: Production Code: 6V (V for Varos!) Air Dates: January 19-26, 1985 Writer: Philip Martin (first story - will have sequel with Sil next season) Director: Ron Jones Original Titles: "Domain" and "Planet of Fear" THE PUBLIC RECEPTION: The Controversy: Episode didn't get very well received by the public. Scenes like: Acid bath deaths Attempted hangings Genetic experiments on women The Complaints: Widely criticized in Radio Times Letters page and in TV program Points of View. Unlike Before: "Unlike previous criticisms of the show's violence, this time it was raised by members of the general public. Some of the show's fans were even against this, besides people like Mary Whitehouse." PART ONE SYNOPSIS: Desolate planet Varos - citizen workers make up strange society of viewers who watch public torture and executions and vote on whether or not their Governor will be punished on camera for his actions. Official currently negotiating over price of Varos's precious Zeiton (Zeiton or Zyton?) with Sil, contentious representative of Galatron Mining Concern. Dealings going poorly for Varos. Sil has inside man - Governor's Chief Officer on his payroll advising him to oust current leader. Doctor and Peri arrive seeking Zeiton to repair ailing TARDIS, find themselves freeing rebel named Jondar from televised execution. As Governor, Sil, and everyone on planet watch, Doctor and Peri escape with Jondar and his wife Areta, only to wander into Purple Zone - tunnels haunted by fantastic illusions. Getting through them, Doctor discovers TARDIS has been captured, then loses Peri and others to guards chasing them. He himself walks into arid desert illusion. While citizenry watch, he seemingly succumbs to great heat and perishes. THE META COMMENTARY: Jim: "It's very meta what we would call meta today. It strikes you immediately that he's commenting about violence on television." The American Target: "I personally felt a little targeted because I feel like in extension they - or he was - pointing that a lot at us here in the United States." John: "I'd say that's fair." THE PENAL COLONY: Jim: "Weirdly enough, we're also going back to the old Australia thing. But as in good Doctor Who form, we get something like that dropped and then it's not picked up on again." The Discovery: "The whole thing about 'I discovered that this is a penal colony' - or it grew out of a penal colony. I said 'Oh, all right, we've kind of had that a lot recently.' But then I remembered that it wasn't brought up again." THE TIME CRAFT MYSTERY - AGAIN: Jim: "Another thing that's used here - I'm sure you noticed it, and I don't get it unless it's something we're going to be rewarded with at some point - there's another mention of another space-time craft. So why do we get two of these mentions now? Or is that just coincidence?" John's Explanation: "This particular season, without I don't know if they realize it, if it was done on purpose - we deal a lot with other alien cultures trying their hand in time travel. Including we're going to have, if I'm not mistaken, humans soon." JIM'S OPINION: "Piss or get off the pot. That's an interesting aspect, although as Homer Simpson's father said, 'I ain't for it, I'm agin it' because I think it does take the Mickey out of the Time Lords. But if you're going to go down that road, then tell us that story - what will the Time Lords do about making sure they're the only ones that get to do that?" WHAT JOHN LOVES: JOHN'S LIST: The Music: "I love the music. I think the music is very inspired for this." The Twin Dilemma Doctor: "This is more of the Doctor from Twin Dilemma - as he so callously says to Peri 'Oh well, you'll just live out the few years you got left, you'll die and that's it. But I'm stuck here forever in the...' That was actually an interesting moment. There was a little thread of Tom Baker's 'I am the walker in eternity' or whatever the hell he said in Pyramids of Mars." The Torture Scene: "I thought it interesting that right off the bat we get a torture scene as Jason Connery's character Jondar is chained up. That's one of the first things that was called out - 'Oh look at this, we just start the show and this guy's being brutalized?' I guess they wanted to hit people with it right off the bat. 'This isn't your typical Doctor Who.'" Jim: "It definitely isn't." THE GREEK CHORUS: John: "I was shocked - I didn't really realize it until watching it this time. We've got our two folks there sitting and watching. They represent us, the audience, the rest of Varos. How casual they talk about those being tortured as though they were fictional. You'd sit there go 'Oh no, that was the guy who got killed last week' - say that casually because it's all fiction. But these are real people and they're saying it the same way." Jim: "I mean, I think that's part of the message - violence on television is numbing us to the fact that there is real violence in the world." THE APPRECIATION: Jim: "I'll admit that part is kind of interesting because those two are totally in that room the entire time. They're kind of like a Greek chorus. They're off to one side, commenting on everything going on. Then they themselves have a little struggle between them." The Uniqueness: "That was an interesting thing to do because I don't really remember anything else like that - two characters who don't have any interaction whatsoever with all the other characters. And they're in one set the entire time." GUEST STARS: The Governor - Martin Jarvis: One of those rare people to have appeared in all three decades of Doctor Who: 1965's The Web Planet as one of the Menoptera Invasion of the Dinosaurs in 1974 Jim: "We wouldn't recognize him from that. But that's cool." John: "See, point to me - I recognize that you recognize him. I went 'This dude has totally been in Doctor Who before.'" Areta - Stephen Yardley: Previously played Severin in Genesis of the Daleks (1975) Owen Teale (Maldak): Going to appear later in Torchwood episode "Countrycide" Etta - Sheila Reid: "I was today years old when I discovered that Etta is Clara Oswald's grandmother in Doctor Who, appearing in both a Peter Capaldi and a Matt Smith story. And she's wonderful as the grandmother." John: "She's adorable as Clara's grandmother. Still with us. Still acting. Last credit was just last year." SIL - NABIL SHABAN: The Condition: Born with osteogenesis imperfecta which left his bones brittle. Recent Passing: "Only passed away this past October at the age of 72. We'll see him again next season in Trial of a Time Lord, one of the stories there." Jim's Memory: "I did look him up because I couldn't shake the feeling he was in Time Bandits, but he wasn't. He really seemed like one of the - and pardon the term - dwarves, the little people. But he's not. He's not one of them. Kenny Baker is from Star Wars." The Background: "He's Jordanian British."   PART TWO SYNOPSIS: Doctor revives on gurney just before being put into acid bath and escapes. Governor tries to wring answers out of Peri but her truth falls on deaf ears. When Doctor is recaptured, Governor stages old-fashioned hanging to trick Doctor into talking, but instead makes Sil reveal his treachery against Varos. Peri and Areta put into transmogrifier and begin to change into animals. Doctor pulls the plug and together with Jondar they escape further into dome. There they come across more illusions and near death, while Chief Officer makes his own play to oust Governor with another public vote. Peri and Governor escape with help of guard and meet up with Doctor and others. Quillam and Chief Officer perish by poison vines. Back at Governor's chambers, Sil discovers his invasion has been stopped and he is ordered by his own people to negotiate for Zeiton at any price at all. A win for people of Varos, especially when Governor ceases all public tortures and executions. HOT TAKE: Jim: "What the heck? Well, where's the vengeance? Where's the vengeance? Why? I mean, just because it's a cool alliteration? The Doctor's never met any of the bad guys before. There's no vengeance that I'm aware of, so I didn't get that." PART TWO FALLS APART: Jim: "Part two - for me, it falls apart. I think it's kind of sort of everything but the kitchen sink." The Purple Zone: "Especially at the end when they get further into dome and they've dropped the term 'the Purple Zone' - which is unfortunate because I kind of liked that. When we get to the point where all of a sudden there's like this flora and it's poison vines..." Quillam and the Chief Officer: "And that's how they get rid of Quillam and the Chief Officer who doesn't ever have a name in this - he's just the Chief Officer. But he looks like a bad guy at least." John: "All the guys, right?" PART TWO WEAKNESSES: Jim: "Part two is definitely weaker than part one. Then we go back to Sil, and everything's been taken care of for some reason. His company, his people, whatever - they just sort of change their mind and he's out on his tail." The Other Source: "There was something to the effect that they found another source, so there was no point in... just abandon these people, we don't need them." Jim's Problem: "I wasn't really buying it. I think it just really whimpers out at the end. We needed like an explosion. I really didn't care for the ending, especially since the Doctor is not the instrument of vengeance." ANOTHER AVENUE TO NOWHERE: Jim: "It is interesting, I'm with you. That said, it is another avenue that this story goes down with little to no reason for it to be there. You have the old trope of the valuable mineral - it's being mined, it's the MacGuffin, whatever, everybody wants it. But then you throw in this Quillam character and the transmogrifier and the thing about the animals and all of that, and then they're cured almost immediately." The Missed Opportunity: "Would it have been interesting to let them stay like that for rest of story and then get cured at the end? I think yes, if you're going to go down that road." The Empty Feeling: "This is another symptom of that 'feeling a little empty' at the beginning. There's a lot of stuff thrown into this part two that are just bridges to nowhere in a way. Sorry. I agreed and then quickly had to throw in a caveat there. But I am who I am." NEXT TIME: Monday (Patreon #155): Music, Voyager Part 3, Memory TARDIS spin ("hopefully not Terror of the Zygons, although I think that's gone") Sophie Aldred's Podcast: "I want to talk briefly about Sophie Aldred's podcast again. I finally caught up with most of the episodes including their little Christmas episode they did that has basically ties up a lot of the plot points they've been doing throughout their show. Remember I told you it's part interview, part story? Well, they did like a 20-minute audio drama with Russell T. Davies and Forde Colin Baker and Nicholas Briggs." John's Assessment: "We'll talk briefly about it - what worked and what didn't work. Because there were some things that I was kind of like 'Yeah, this is just too weird for me.'" Next Friday (Patreon) then Saturday (Main Feed): The Mark of the Rani! Another two-parter. Jim: "Uh-oh, are we up to that point?" John: "Yeah, we're up to that point." Jim: "Rah-rah Rani!" "The Doctor's Beard Podcast - a novel way to spend your day, somewhere in time and space!" Support at patreon.com/thedoctorsbeardpodcast for $3/month! Subscribe on all platforms. Email thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com or join our Facebook community. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #VengeanceOnVaros #ImInTheMinority #Season22 #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #SexiestDoctor #JonPertwee #TheBickersons #PhilipMartin #RonJones #MetaCommentary #ViolenceOnTelevision #Varos #Sil #NabilShaban #RIP #JasonConnery #SeanConnerySon #Quillam #MaskedVillain #TheGloveSlap #NicolaBryant #Peri #GreekChorus #EttaAndAreta #SheilaReid #ClaraOswaldGrandmother #MartinJarvis #ThreeDecadesOfWho #AcidBath #TheHanging #Transmogrifier #AnimalConversion #PurpleZone #PoisonVines #ChiefOfficer #Tigerman #BuckRogers #BillGirard #RIP #TheGovernor #Zeiton #GalatronMining #ThePenalColony #TimeTravel #WebOfTime #VictorianReligion #ThePriests #HughMartin #TerrorOfTheZygons #Zygons #TheDoctorKills #BondQuips #WhereAreTheTimeLords #6OutOf15 #13OutOf15 #9point5Average #RegeneratingEcclestonToTennant #FantasticAndSoWasI #NewTeeth #Barcelona #Shane #Jameson #JamieGirl #ListenerMail #ILoveTheCoat #TheBlueCoat #BigFinish #CybermanContinuity #TheKryons #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast #TheDoctorsBeardPodcast #Whovian #PodcastCommunity #TheMarkOfTheRani #SophieAldredPodcast #RussellTDavies #21DayWritingStreak #DocJones #NovelaProgress

It's the first podcast in this, the space year 2026, and the Three Who Rule have emerged from their New Year's slumber to cogitate on new Gallifrey One announcements, recreated sets for The Feast of Steven and Rachel Talalay Youtube videos, a surfeit of Big Finish news, Toby Hadoke's annual foray into memoriam with Absent Friends, and the first of our three part Miniscope series on Doctor Who director Nick Hurran, featuring "The Girl Who Waited" and "The God Complex"!  Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Gallifrey One Guest and Programming Update The Feast of Steven Lost Sets Recreated: Doctor Who's Missing Christmas Episode Revealed Rachel Talalay: Bonus: Unaired footage from Director's Cut of Heaven Sent (with explanation) Rachel Talalay: More questions and behind the scenes on my TARDIS experiences. Sophie Aldred on Celebrity Mastermind (Specialist Subject: Sylvester McCoy) Celebrating 25 Years of Bernice Summerfield at Big Finish Big Finish annual Paul Spragg Memorial winner "The Wednesday that Wasn't" available free Big Finish The Worlds of Doctor Who – Zygon Century: Transformation due Apr 2026 Toby Hadoke's Absent Friends 2025 – The 7th Dimension – Part 1 Toby Hadoke's Absent Friends 2025 – The 7th Dimension – Part 2 Toby Hadoke's In Memoriam video Miniscope: Nick Hurran, Part 1 The Girl Who Waited The God Complex

December 2025 Book Club:  Happy holidays! We're reviewing the 7th Doctor and Ace novel "Illegal Alien" by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry.  Featuring the Cybermen, this was originally published as a Past Doctor Adventure in October 1997 and was republished in both paperback and eBook in 2014 as part of the Monsters Collection.  It's also available as an audiobook performed by Sophie Aldred. Happy reading!   In timey-wimey fashion, you can check out the sequel book review "Loving the Alien" by listening to episode 39 of the original Doctor Who Book Club here. Check out a recent interview with Steve Lyons and Nick Briggs about audiobook production on the "Long Story Short" podcast here. Please help other Doctor Who fans find our show - by leaving us a rating on Apple Podcasts or your podcatcher of choice. Submit your comments via email… "who knows," we may end up reading your feedback on the podcast! BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/andwbcpodcast.bsky.social  Email: ANDWBCPodcast@gmail.com  Facebook: http://facebook.com/allnewdoctorwhobookclub  Twitter: @ANDWBCPodcast YouTube: https://youtube.com/@DoctorWhoBookClub 

The War Between the Land and the Sea is premiering Sunday, December 7! While that throws a wrench in our usually stable release plans, we're certain we can all cope through the first three weeks of December. In other news, the Three Who Rule calm the waters on missing episode rumblings, a follow-up on Tubi disintegrating Classic Doctor Who from its listings, Gallifrey One news, more staircase intrigues, and the Pondcast, a new podcast featuring none other than Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill reminiscing about their time on Doctor Who! But the real highlight is a descent into 2009 with the second part of our re-examination of Torchwood: Children of Earth! Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Broadcast dates revealed for 'The War Between the Land and the Sea' Special re-edited edition of The Sea Devils heads to BBC iPlayer and BBC Four on 7th December Gallifrey One discussion panels now open for sign-up; Paul McGann no longer attending Matthew Waterhouse added to Gallifrey One guest list Doctor Who Prop Hunt post on the staircase prop Tiny Time Lord Trouble Children in Need sketch Neil Cross, Toby Whithouse Doctor Who scripts added to BBC Writers Room site Coming soon: The Pondcast with Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill Doctor Who legend Tom Baker, 91, dons iconic Fourth Doctor costume as he receives MBE in style Big Finish: Miles Taylor IS The Eleventh Doctor Big Finish: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Lionesses in Winter out now Big Finish: The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures: Ride or Die due Jan 2026 Where We Stand, Where We Fall: The politics of Doctor Who by Liz Myles available for pre-order First look at Doctor Who star Sophie Aldred in Adrian Tchaikovsky's graphic novel Salvation's Child Review: Torchwood: Children of Earth, Day Two Children of Earth scripts on BBC Writer's Room Radio Free Skaro Wednesday Cutaway – The Ballad of Jack and Ianto Radio Free Skaro presents Bridging the Rift

Following on from Battlefield Ian and Nathan decide to travel to Gabriel Chase for the story which immediately follows it! Ghostlight (1989). Written by March Platt. Directed by Alan Wareing. Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Sylvia Sims, Michael Cochrane, John Nettleton and Frank Windsor

In this episode of The Earth Station Who Podcast, the crew travels back to the Seventh Doctor era to review the classic 1988 adventure, “Silver Nemesis.” Join us as we discuss the Doctor (played by Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) taking on the deadly Cybermen, a mysterious comet, and a royal connection that only Doctor Who could deliver! We dive into the story's production, performances, and its place in Doctor Who history. Grab your bowler hat and umbrella—it's time for another trip through time with Earth Station Who! Time Stamp 0:00:00 Show Opening 0:02:54 Doctor Who News (Yes really, we got news this time out) 0:17:48 Silver Nemesis 1:01:47 Show Close If you would like to leave feedback or comment, feel free to email us at feedback@earthstationwho.com EarthStationWho #DoctorWho #SilverNemesis #SeventhDoctor #SylvesterMcCoy #Ace #SophieAldred #Cybermen #ClassicDoctorWho #TimeLord #TARDIS #Gallifrey #Whovian #BritishSciFi #DoctorWhoPodcast #WhoviansUnite #SciFiPodcast #BBCDoctorWho Special Guests: Dave Chapman and Kirby Bartlett-Sloan.

Send us a textOn this latests episode Dylan is joined by Liam for a trip to the early 90's for a look at what could have been Season 27 and 28. Then they look at the recently rleased missing story Alixion by Robin Mukherjee. And as always they answer the burning questions:Is there life after Sophie Aldred ?What pick up line isn't working ?What is the mystery of Edward young ?And be sure to check out Liams artwork on Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/artfullyliam/#

Nick and Benji present... Sherlock Holmes Untold - The Aftershow... Special Brunch... Drama Tease and Behind-the-scenes: Seventh Doctor - Wicked!

Big Finish's latest release in the Lost Stories range is Alixion, a story which would have featured as part of the never to be Season 27. Original writer Robin Mukherjee has adapted his original outline for audio, with Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred back as the Doctor and Ace. Robin joins us to discuss the story, how it almost came to be on television and its return to life on audio. Plus, Kenny and Dave discuss the other Lost Stories from this era, which Big Finish have released.

We did promise a special guest for the Randomiser! Nicola Bryant joins Sophie Aldred and Jamie Anderson to watch a classic episode of Stingray - The Ghost Ship!What will they make of it in all its HD shininess? Will Sophie rate it higher than Thunderbirds? And does Troy Tempest explain Nicola's fixation with James Garner?Never Miss An EpisodeJoin the Podsterons Facebook groupSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsThe Randomiser with Chris DaleHelp The ShowLeave us a review on Apple PodcastsTweet about it! Use the hashtag #GerryAndersonPodcast@ImJamieAnderson / @RichardNJames / @ChrisDalekStay In TouchEmail Podcast AT GerryAnderson.comJoin the Email Newsletter

Sophie Aldred may be known to millions as Ace from THAT show, but she's also more of an Anderson fan than she realises! From writing her dissertation on Thunderbirds as a student to sporting a few Gerry Anderson badges on her famous jacket when she was in THAT show, it's clear she's picked up a fair bit of Anderson knowledge along the way. How much? The Andermeter will decide... And which episode of which series will the Randomiser choose for her to watch next time?00:23 Welcome to the Gerry Anderson Podcast! 06:38 The Andermeter - What will Sophie score?12:14 Superidentification returns!22:14 The Randomiser - What will it choose for Sophie?25:05 Mission Briefing44:51 Fab Facts!58:30 Next Time on The Randomiser!Never Miss An EpisodeJoin the Podsterons Facebook groupSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsThe Randomiser with Chris DaleHelp The ShowLeave us a review on Apple PodcastsTweet about it! Use the hashtag #GerryAndersonPodcast@ImJamieAnderson / @RichardNJames / @ChrisDalekStay In TouchEmail Podcast AT GerryAnderson.comJoin the Email Newsletter

The Doctor as Merlin? Two Brigadeers? Is Ace really ace?  Battlefield (1989). Directed by Michael Kerrigan. Written by Ben Aaronovitch. Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Jean Marsh.

The Doctor as Merlin? Two Brigadeers? Is Ace really ace?  Battlefield (1989). Directed by Michael Kerrigan. Written by Ben Aaronovitch. Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Jean Marsh. 

Send us a textOn the latest episode of Too Hot For TV, Dylan is joined by Mark Donaldson to look at 3 obscurities from the Whoniverse. First up it's the text based adventure game 'Doctor Who and the Warlord', then it's the book 'Make Your Own Adventure with Doctor Who: Mission to Venus' and finally its the Big Finish audio play 'You Are the Doctor' And as always, they answer the burning questions:Is it Dr Who better on VHS? What doesn't William Emms want you to do?Who was an evil bitch ?

Send us a textOn the latest Too Hot For TV, Dylan is joined by Jim Allenby to talk about two very different bits of Doctor Who media. First up it's the BBC2 documentary 'Resistance is Useless' and then it's the 7th Doctor and Ace in the Big Finish play 'The Grey Man of the Mountain'. And as always they answer the burning questions:Why is Football better than Genesis of the Daleks?Why does the TARDIS have lips?What book has a lot to answer for? 

In advance of the new series of his cunningly curated history podcast, coming soon, Tony looks back at the best bits of Cunningcast Series 2 with series producer Melissa FitzGerald. Series 2 features fabulous episodes about Tattoos, Bones, Jelly, Magic, Cars, Beards, Bletchley Park, Hadrians Wall, Turnips, Dr Who and more with some incredible guests including: Alice Roberts, David Mitchell, Grace Neutral, Ben Elton, Annie Gray, Richard Curtis and Sophie Aldred.If you like these best bits but haven't heard the full episodes, have a wander back on our #Cunningcast feed to check them out.Follow us on our socials and hit follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts to make sure you don't miss any new episodes of Cunningcast Series 3 coming soon...Instagram: @cunningcastpodX: @cunningcastpodHosted by Sir Tony RobinsonX | Instagram@SirTonyRobinsonSeries Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X | Instagram@melissafitzg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we're joined by actress Sophie Aldred. Sophie is undoubtably best known as the Doctor Who companion Ace. She starred as Ace alongside Sylvester McCoy in the final series of the show's original run as well as reprising the role for Jodie Whittaker's final episode as The Doctor. She has also appeared in and provided voice over work for a plethora of kids TV shows for almost four decades. Based on the hugely successful Scarred for Life books, this is a weekly exploration of the things that scared people growing up and what those things say about us today. Join Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence as each week they talk to a special guest who brings with them three terrors from their childhoods. Email us - contact@scarredforlifebooks.com Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Andy Bush - ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ Producer - ⁠⁠⁠Dane Smith⁠⁠⁠ Production Company - ⁠⁠⁠Lock It In Studio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jean Marsh passed away on the 13th April 2025 at the age of 90. She was a reknowned actress both in the UK and abroad, having worked in TV, film and theatre. For Doctor Who fans, she is best remembered for her roles as Johanna in The Crusade, Sara Kingdom in The Daleks' Masterplan, and Morgaine in Battlefield. She reprised the role of Sara on audio for Big Finish in The Companion Chronicles and Early Adventures ranges. Writer Simon Guerrier joins us for this episode of the podcast, and shares some of his memories of the times he spent with Jean. We'll also discuss his Sara Kingdom trilogy, which features the stories, "Home Truths", The Drowned World", and "Guardian of the Solar System". There'll be spoilers, so if you haven't heard them, we recommend you grab them from the Big Finish website and have a listen to them first. They are fantastic! We also have some special tributes to Jean from her Battlefield co-stars, Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Thanks to them both for joining us.Theme music by Joe Kraemer.Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sirensofaudio.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Bluesky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/audiosirens.bsky.social

Sophie Aldred as a sexy alien planet! Naked with Colin Baker! Nigel Fairs as a bereaved gay lover! Peter Miles & Barbara Shelley! And possibly Wookey Hole! Bring it on!

Send us a textIn this episode Dylan is joined by Nigel Bromley to talk look at three very different Doctor Who spin offs. First up its ‘Genesis of the Daleks' LP, then it's the Denys Fisher dolls and finally the Big Finish audio ‘The Genocide Machine'. And as alway they answer the burning questions: Who is Derek Goom?Whose scalf is too tight? Why are Doctor Who conventions never anywhere glamorous? 

In this episode we go to Chicago TARDIS 2024 to present you with an interview discussion with Wendy Padbury, Frazer Hines, and Sophie Aldred who played Zoe, Jamie, and Ace respectively in Doctor Who. The trio discuss convention memories, what was special about their respective eras, writing asperations, Doctor Who characters they wish that they... The post The 42cast Episode 228: Chicago TARDIS 2024 – Our Companions, Our Friends appeared first on The 42cast.

In this episode we go to Chicago TARDIS 2024 to present you with an interview discussion with Wendy Padbury, Frazer Hines, and Sophie Aldred who played Zoe, Jamie, and Ace respectively in Doctor Who. The trio discuss convention memories, what was special about their respective eras, writing asperations, Doctor Who characters they wish that they […] The post The 42cast Episode 228: Chicago TARDIS 2024 – Our Companions, Our Friends appeared first on The ESO Network.

Send us a textIt's episode 100 of Too Hot For TV and Dylan is once again joined by Jackson. Together they look at the audio version of Tom Bakers autobiography 'Who on Earth is Tom Baker?' and the Big Finish audio play 'Death in the Family' written by written by Steven Hall, starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Philip Olivier and Maggie Stables. And as alway they answers those burning questions:Who died twice? Who is a stoney dwarf man on MDMA?What gives you a terrifying, trembling erection? 

Nick and Benji present… The Chat: Further releases… Good Review Guy: Torchwood: Thirst Trap… Behind-the-Scenes and Drama Tease: The War Doctor Rises - Unknown Soldiers… Also Available: Torchwood: Reflect.

It's a banner weekend in Vancouver as one Taylor Swift graces Warren's fair city with the final shows of the Eras Tour, and yet the Three Who Rule soldier on (and show just how out of touch they are) with talk of the new trailer for Joy To the World, Doctor Who showrunner holiday photoshoots, some The War Games in Colour backpatting and badinage, a truly inspiring Borad figurine, and the showcase of this episode, Steven's interview from Chicago TARDIS featuring Season 25 luminaries Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred, Mark Ayres, and Dominic Glynn!  Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Doctor Who Magazine #611 Released Doctor Who showrunners unite for exclusive Radio Times festive shoot Joy to the World trailer Joy to the World will go out at 5:10pm GMT Dec 25 on BBC One Joy to the World will drop at 9:10am PST/12:10pm EST on Disney+ The Doctor Who Proms will go out Dec 24 at 4:10 PM GMT on BBC Two The War Games in colour will go out Dec 23 at 9pm GMT on BBC Four Josh Snares on the 50% Doctor Who Podcast talking about The War Games colourization Phil Sims won Best Design RTS award for Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa nominated for Best Actor in a Drama Series for the Critics Choice TV Awards Harrop Buckley Borad figure available to preorder Joy to the World DVD/Blu-Ray preorders (Amazon UK), date not yet listed Season 9 UK Blu-Ray Standard Packaging due Feb 3 Season 25 Blu-Ray US preorder (Amazon) Interview: Chicago TARDIS Sylvester McCoy Sophie Aldred Mark Ayres Dominic Glynn

Send us a textIn the latest episode of Too Hot For TV Dylan is joined by Joe Ford & Michael Mills to discuss 'Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans' written by Terrance Dicks, directed by Kevin Davies and starring Jan Chappell. Brian Croucher, Carole Ann Ford, Sophie Aldred, Rory O'Donnell and Michael Wisher. Then they listen to 'Sontarans: Silent Warrior' written by Peter Grehan and directed by Tim Saward. Together they answer the burning questions: Who is too straight for large parts of Doctor Who? What is the eternal bed time battle? Why did you never seeThe Stranger on the Big Breakfast? 

This week on the show, Part 2 of Sophie Aldred at Who's at the Playhouse in which she answers questions from fans in the audience.   You may wish to contribute to the show's running costs, it's Patreon is here https://www.patreon.com/tdrury or buy me a coffee here https://ko-fi.com/timdrury   The show is also on Facebook please join the group for exclusive behind the scenes insights and of course also discuss and feedback on the show https://www.facebook.com/groups/187162411486307/   If you want to send me comments or feedback you can email them to tdrury2003@yahoo.co.uk or contact me on twitter where I'm @tdrury or send me a friend request and your comments to facebook where I'm Tim Drury and look like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdrury/3711029536/in/set-72157621161239599/ in case you were wondering.  

Our next 90's encounter sees the return of the Sontarans in Shakedown. This our space adventure features Sophie Aldred and Carole Ann Ford amongst the cast for Sarah to spot...

This week the first of a two part interview with Sophie Aldred recorded at this year's Who's at The Playhouse event.   You may wish to contribute to the show's running costs, it's Patreon is here https://www.patreon.com/tdrury or buy me a coffee here https://ko-fi.com/timdrury   The show is also on Facebook please join the group for exclusive behind the scenes insights and of course also discuss and feedback on the show https://www.facebook.com/groups/187162411486307/   If you want to send me comments or feedback you can email them to tdrury2003@yahoo.co.uk or contact me on twitter where I'm @tdrury or send me a friend request and your comments to facebook where I'm Tim Drury and look like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdrury/3711029536/in/set-72157621161239599/ in case you were wondering.  

Send us a textIn this halloween special Dylan is joined by Ross from the General Witchfinders to discuss the use of horrors big 3 in the Doctor Who extended universe as they examine stories featuring mummies, werwolves and vampires. First up it's the BBV audio 'Guests for Night' written by Nigel Fairs and starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Then it's the DWM comic strip 'The Curse of the Scarab' writtenAlan Barnes with art by Martin Geraghty and featuring the fifth Doctor and Peri. The final release is the Big Finish audio 'An Alien Werewolf in London' written by Alan Barnes and starring Sylvester McCoy, Jessica Martin and Sophie Aldred. As always they try to answer the questions:What do you do if the 7th doctor breaks down?What does Ace do an after sex? Are we running out Doctor Who titles? 

In this episode of the Who's He? Podcast.... Review - The Fearmonger This time, Phil and Paul travel back to the year 2000 and the early days of Big Finish with The Fearmonger starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. With a story that was set 22 years ago, and with themes that are scarily relevant to the recent political climate in the UK, both of them are left pondering exactly who is the the Fearmonger of the story? They also discuss the recent furore of Ncuti Gatwa boldly announcing on a chatshow recording that he will be filming Season 3 next year, only for it to be quickly cut out of transmission. So this leads the pair of them to disappear down the rabbit hole of ratings and also discuss the fate of shows on streaming services. You can find us on X, Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky and Facebook.  Don't miss an episode by subscribing to our show on Apple Podcasts/iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Podcasts, plus many other podcatchers of your choice. #DoctorWho #Whoniverse

In 2023 AUK studios released two CDs related to Doctor Who. Me & Him & Who is an audio drama that chronicles the life of John Nathan-Turner, written by Stephen Wyatt. And speaking of Stephen Wyatt, AUK also released a musical sequel to The Greatest Show in the Galaxy called Children of the Circus, which features a reunion of the entire cast including new roles for Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. Creative Director for AUK, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, joins us to talk about these releases, as well as how he came to be invoved in audio production. He also talks about another passion project, Robin of Sherwood on audio, featuring actors from the original tv series. Find out more about Me & Him & Who here - https://auk.direct/product/me-him-who/ Find out more about Children of the Circus here - https://auk.direct/product/children-of-the-circus/ To find the audiobook version of Dwayne's recommended release, Tweaking the Tail by John Leeson, visit - https://www.fantompublishing.co.uk/product/tweaking-the-tail/ Thanks to Ian Kubiak and Stephen Noonan. Check out Cygnus Alpha Events - https://www.cygnusalpha.org/ Theme music by Joe Kraemer. Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sirensofaudio.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/audiosirens⁠

Join us as we dive into the Big Finish audio drama *The Rapture,* chosen by Holly to celebrate her birthday! In this thrilling story, the Doctor and Ace find themselves in the midst of a wild, mind-bending adventure set against the backdrop of a 1990s Ibiza rave scene. We discuss the unique blend of sci-fi, music, and mystery that makes this audio stand out, and why Holly selected it for her special birthday episode. Plus some sad 10 o'clock news, a Salt Lake Fan X update, and your feedback! Our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/FiveishFangirls #FiveishFam TIME STAMPS 00:00:59 Intro 00:01:59 Feedback 00:19:02 Feedback 00:24:11 Big Finish #36: The Rapture 01:05:58 Closing Thoughts 01:08:44 Outro Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.   

Pamela Salem is an actress who starred in memorable roles in classic Doctor Who stories The Robots of Death and Remembrance of the Daleks. She reprised her television roles for Big Finish in the spinoff series' Counter-Measures and The Robots. Pamela passed away in February 2024. We speak with several people who worked with her on television and audio, Louise Jameson, Sophie Aldred, Karen Gledhill and Ken Bentley. We also share for the first time, video footage of our 2021 interview with Pamela for The SIrens of Audio Podcast. Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.sirensofaudio.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on Facebook - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/audiosirens⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/audiosirens⁠

Fresh off the back of celebrating 60 years of Dr Who last year and looking ahead to welcoming the 15th Doctor to the blockbuster show, Tony is joined by Sophie Aldred who played Dr Who's assistant Ace and the writer, broadcaster and Dr Who superfan, Matthew Sweet. Together they look back over an incredible history of this abidingly successful show, sharing all the Whoniverse gossip from the very first episode starring William Hartnell as the Doctor; the cutting-edge soundtrack created by Delia Derbyshire; hearing how Sophie got the role as Ace aged just 24; though to the show getting cancelled in 1989 and the creative ‘wilderness years' of Dr Who when it was off air but not out of mind; Russell T Davis's reboot and the new Doctors for a new generation. We also get answers to the popular questions: was Tony ever in Dr Who? What kind of Doctor would he have made and is Baldrick the ultimate time traveller? Hosted by Sir Tony Robinson | @Tony_Robinson With Sophie Aldred | @sophie_aldred Sophie played The Doctor's companion Ace in the original television series (to Sylvester McCoy's Doctor). She later reprised her role in ‘Ascend From Darkness'. She was in the last episode of Dr Who ‘Survival', before it was cancelled in 1989. Matthew Sweet | @DrMatthewSweet Journalist, broadcaster, author, and cultural historian. Matthew recently presented a Radio 4 programme about Dr Who to mark its 60th anniversary.Follow the Show: X @cunningcastpodIG @cunningcastpodFacebook @CunningcastSeries Producer: Melissa FitzGerald | @melissafitzgEpisode Producer: Simon Hollis Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville Cover Art: The Brightside A Zinc Media Group production If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review. Thank you, Love Tony x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charles Skaggs & Jesse Jackson discuss "Quantum of Axos", the third audio drama from Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who: Tenth Doctor Classic Companions set from 2022, featuring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, Sophie Aldred as Dorothy "Ace" McShane, John Leeson as K9 Mark IV, and the return of the Axons! Find us here:X/Twitter: @NextStopWho @CharlesSkaggs @JesseJacksonDFW  Instagram: @nextstopeverywherepodcast Facebook: Facebook.com/Nextstopeverywherepodcast Email: NextStopWho@gmail.com Listen and subscribe to us in Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!

Over the years, whenever Dave has seen a notable Doctor Who alum at an event, we've endeavoured to switch on the microphones and grab his thoughts in a special, standalone episode of the show. A year ago this was Sophie Aldred in the original 'Dave's Big Day Out' episode, but prior to that, episodes like, 'When Dave Met Chris' have also entertained listeners who couldn't attend the events. Today, we talk to Dave immediately upon his return home from Supanova where he saw, and interacted with, Jodie Whittaker. And also caught the panel for Jango/Boba Fett himself, Temuera Morrison. Enjoy our chat, and contact us anytime at hello@theDWshow.net

I've had many listeners asking when they'd be hearing some of the stuff I'd recorded at Doctoberfest 2023 and it's finally time. A big thank you to Keith & Jany Bradbury of Who North America for having me and their son Jonathan who provided recording equipment and filmed and recorded for me. During Doctoberfest I […]

Nick and Benji present… The Chat: That Christmassy feeling… Good Review Guy: The Fifth Doctor Adventures - Forty 2… Behind the scenes and Drama Tease: Seventh Doctor: The Last Day Part One… Also Available: Short Trips: The Hoxteth Time Capsule.

  This title was released in June 2023. It will be exclusively available to buy from the Big Finish website until 31 July 2023, and on general sale after this date. Harry and Naomi are back in the TARDIS, travelling with a very different Doctor to the one they first met - and he has promised to get them home… The TARDIS takes them to Earth, but a dangerous era decades before their own. And when they visit the aftermath of a distant supernova, Harry is keener than ever to return to home comforts. But Naomi isn't so certain... Operation Dusk by Alfie Shaw (three parts) London during the Blitz, a city covered in darkness. It keeps everyone safe - until the darkness gets hungry. As the questions and victims mount up, the Doctor, Harry and Naomi are called in to investigate. Why have the Vashta Nerada on Earth started eating people? And, perhaps more importantly, why didn't they eat the cat? Naomi's Ark by Alison Winter (three parts) Caught up in a galactic evacuation triggered by a supernova, Naomi is separated from her friends, in the company of some very unusual aliens. The Doctor and Harry are stranded too - and any attempt to reach Naomi is at the expense of a precious, endangered civilisation - one that rivals the Time Lords for longevity and wisdom... How far will the Doctor go for his friends? This release comes with a bonus audiobook: Frozen Worlds by Katharine Armitage, performed by Sophie Aldred.

  The 60th Anniversary Edition! Saturday 2nd September 2023 FROM 10:00-17:30 at Quad! So, Whooverville 14 – celebrating Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary with FOUR DOCTORS – Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Michael Jayston and Michael Troughton. (Four Doctors and counting!) We are delighted to announce that MICHAEL TROUGHTON has agreed to join us for Whooverville 14 at Derby QUAD on Saturday 2nd September. Michael Troughton, of course, is the son of the second Doctor, Patrick Troughton; and wrote an acclaimed and very much recommended biography of his father. He made his own Doctor Who television début in the 2014 Christmas Special, Last Christmas, playing Professor Albert. In 2022 he took on the role of Patrick's Doctor in a new range of full cast audio productions from Big Finish. We look forward very much to welcoming Michael back to Whooverville in September. Tickets are now on sale via the  website. They are – Adults: £55, Concessions: £38, Children: £10. Terms and conditions are also available via the website. Whooverville 14 - A Special Bonus Announcement We are delighted to announce a special bonus for attendees at Whooverville 14 at Derby QUAD on Saturday September 2nd. Each ticket holder will be offered a free copy of a special DVD release from Reeltime Pictures. THE DOCTORS: THE SYLVESTER McCOY YEARS This is the definitive set of interviews with the team who brought the SYLVESTER McCOY era of DOCTOR WHO to life! These six documentaries are the best in-depth interviews with SYLVESTER McCOY (the Seventh Doctor), SOPHIE ALDRED (Ace), ANGELA BRUCE (Brigadier Bambera), JESSICA MARTIN (Mags), LISA BOWERMAN (Bernice Summerfield) and Script Editor ANDREW CARTMEL ever undertaken! Presented by ROBERT DICK, “voice of the Daleks” NICHOLAS BRIGGS and “Ace” SOPHIE ALDRED. For all DOCTOR Who fans, this 2 DISC special collector's edition is 5 hours of pure nostalgia, which will give you a whole new insight into the making of your favourite science fiction series! SPECIAL FEATURE: Introduction by SOPHIE ALDRED and Producer KEITH BARNFATHER Our thanks go to our friend Keith Barnfather for this extraordinarily generous gesture and for his support of Whooverville. Reeltime Pictures will be launching their latest DVD release at Whooverville, DOCTOR ON DISPLAY: BLACKPOOL 2004-2009 And don't forget that, at no extra cost, as part of our programme during the day, we will be presenting MYTH MAKERS 3, your chance to watch two future Myth Makers releases being filmed, during which Sylvester McCoy will be interviewed by Sophie Aldred and Sophie will be interviewed by Sylvester. Tickets for Whooverville 14 are still available (but selling fast) from  Get them while you can. Simon Fisher-Becker We are delighted that our friend SIMON FISHER-BECKER is once again returning to Whooverville as a sponsored guest. Simon played Dorium Maldovar in the Doctor Who stories The Pandorica Opens, A Good Man Goes to War, The Wedding of River Song, and for Big Finish in the Eleventh Doctor Chronicles story The Light Keepers. Also for Big Finish he played the Time Lord Science Minister Kavil in series 5 of Gallifrey; and voiced Lift in the Iris Wildthyme story A Lift in Time. Beyond Doctor Who, he is known for appearing in the popular Harry Potter film franchise as The Fat Friar, and for playing the Fat Controller from Thomas the Tank Engine for ten years. We look forward to welcoming Simon to Whooverville 14 at Derby QUAD on Saturday 2nd September. Simon will be at his table in our dealers' and traders' room selling copies of his books. Please remember that as a sponsored guest, Simon will charge for all autographs. Doctor on Display We are delighted to be able to announce that Whooverville 14 at Derby QUAD on Saturday 2nd September will feature an exclusive World Premiere screening of a new release from Reeltime Pictures. The Doctor on Display: Blackpool 2004-2009 tells you everything you need to know about the second Blackpool Doctor Who Exhibition and features previously unseen footage of the fondly-remembered attraction and its owner David Boyle, together with reminiscences by those who were behind the exhibition and the fans who visited. Our premiere presentation will be introduced by the man behind Reeltime Pictures Keith Barnfather and the DVD will be available to buy throughout the day at a special price, from the Reeltime stall.    

WORLD PREMIERE! Podsterons flooded the National Space Centre for a FAB weekend at BritSciFi! Doctor Who star and Thunderbirds superfan Sophie Aldred joined Richard James and Chris Dale onstage for a live performance of the recently discovered, unfilmed, Nicholas Parsons-penned Four Feather Falls script: Dusty's Day. Plus important podcast news! This episode is NOT to be missed!01:07 Welcome to the Gerry Anderson Podcast! 05:40 FAB Facts10:12 How did you meet Gerry Anderson?20:23 The Gerry Anderson News! See links below26:20 The Randomiser Comes to BunnyBabe Land38:50 Dusty's Day - World Premiere Starring Sophie Aldred1:15:45 Wrapping things up with some Q&ALinks MentionedDusty's DayTo Everything That WasNever Miss An EpisodeJoin the Podsterons Facebook groupSubscribe wherever you get your podcastsThe Randomiser with Chris DaleHelp The ShowLeave us a review on Apple PodcastsTweet about it! Use the hashtag #GerryAndersonPodcast@ImJamieAnderson / @RichardNJames / @ChrisDalekJoin the Anderson Insiders for Extra ContentStay In TouchEmail Podcast AT GerryAnderson.comJoin the Email Newsletter