Tag: Doctor

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Doctor Who Main Range: Order of the Daleks: No.218

In the Galactic Census, idyllic Strellin is recorded as a Grade Three planet – its inhabitants possessing neither advanced technology, nor knowledge of other worlds. Accordingly, Strellin is protected: landings by off-worlders are strictly prohibited. Unless, of course, those off-worlders are officials of the Galactic Census itself, come to investigate the origin of a mysterious sub-space signal – a signal no native of Strellin should be able to send. Breaking all local by-laws, the time-travelling Doctor and his companion L/Wren Mrs Constance Clarke (AWOL) have only just landed on Strellin, too. But they and the Census officials aren’t the only off-worlders to have come here. Inside a nearby monastery, the monks of the reclusive Brotherhood of the Black Petal are guarding a strange and terrible secret. Something might bring disaster not just to Strellin, but to every civilised world in the galaxy! Colin Baker’s Doctor has proved hugely popular to fans of the Big Finish Doctor Who releases, with his television adventures continued across a range of stories with both old and new companions.Director Jamie Anderson is the son of Gerry Anderson, the producer behind such shows as Thunderbirds, UFO, Captain Scarlet and Terrahawks. His work influenced generations, and Jamie inheriting this storytelling gene! Scriptwriter Mike Tucker has not only written Doctor Who novels, and other audio adventures, but carried out model work on both the classic and new series of Doctor Who!The Doctor’s companion in this story – Mrs Constance Clark – is played by Miranda Raison, star of TV’s Spooks. CAST: Colin Baker (The Doctor), Miranda Raison (Constance Clarke), Nicholas Briggs (Tanapal), John Savident (Pendle), Olivia Hallinan (Asta), Robbie Stevens (Boswyck/Raspak), Sam Fletcher (Rosco/Gabber), Joseph Kloska (Habrild).

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Lara: The Untold Love Story and the Inspiration for Doctor Zhivago

The heartbreaking story of the love affair between Boris Pasternak, the author of Doctor Zhivago, and Olga Ivinskaya—the true tragedy behind the timeless classic

When Stalin came into power in 1924, the Communist government began persecuting dissident writers. Though Stalin spared the life of Boris Pasternak—whose novel-in-progress, Doctor Zhivago, was suspected of being anti-Soviet—he persecuted Boris’s mistress, typist, and literary muse, Olga Ivinskaya. Boris’s affair with Olga devastated the straitlaced Pasternaks, and they were keen to disavow Olga’s role in Boris’s writing process. Twice Olga was sentenced to work in Siberian labor camps, where she was interrogated about the book Boris was writing, but she refused to betray the man she loved. When Olga was released from the gulags, she assumed that Boris would leave his wife for her but, trapped by his family’s expectations and his own weak will, he never did. 

Drawing on previously neglected family sources and original interviews, Anna Pasternak explores this hidden act of moral compromise by her great-uncle, and restores to history the passionate affair that inspired and animated Doctor Zhivago. Devastated that Olga suffered on his behalf and frustrated that he could not match her loyalty to him, Boris instead channeled his thwarted passion for Olga into the love story in Doctor Zhivago. 

Filled with the rich detail of Boris’s secret life, Lara unearths a moving love story of courage, loyalty, suffering, drama, and loss, and casts a new light on the legacy of Doctor Zhivago.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Tenth Doctor: Death and the Queen (Doctor Who)

David Tennant and Catherine Tate arrive at Big Finish for brand new adventures as The Doctor and Donna Noble! Donna Noble has never been lucky in love. So when, one day, her Prince does come, she is thrilled to have the wedding of all weddings to look forward to. Though the Doctor isn’t holding his breath for an invitation. And her future mother-in-law is certainly not amused. But on the big day itself, Donna finds her castle under siege from the darkest of forces, marching at the head of a skeleton army. When it looks like even the Doctor can’t save the day, what will Queen Donna do to save her people from Death itself? This is the third of three Doctor Who stories released from Big Finish featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. As a young actor, David Tennant played a number of roles in Big Finish Doctor Who stories, unaware that one day he’d be playing the Doctor on TV as it became the UK’s Number 1 show! Catherine Tate is one of Britain’s leading lights on stage and screen, happily reuniting with David Tennant after enjoying a popular TV run as companion Donna Noble.Guest star Alice Krige is best known to Star Trek fans as the Borg Queen from both TV and film versions of the hit Sci-Fi franchise. CAST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Blake Ritson (Rudolph), Alice Krige (Queen Mum), Beth Chalmers (Hortense), Alan Cox (Death).

Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Tenth Doctor – Time Reaver (Doctor Who)

David Tennant and Catherine Tate arrive at Big Finish for brand new adventures as The Doctor and Donna Noble! Calibris. The spaceport planet where anything goes. Where anyone who doesn’t want to be found can be lost, and where everything has its price. Where betentacled gangster Gully holds sway at the smugglers’ tavern, Vagabond’s Reach. The alien Vacintians are trying to impose some order on the chaos. Soon the Doctor and Donna discover why. An illegal weapon is loose on the streets. A weapon that destroys lives…Slowly and agonisingly. The Time Reaver. This is the second of three Doctor Who stories released from Big Finish featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. As a young actor, David Tennant played a number of roles in Big Finish Doctor Who stories, unaware that one day he’d be playing the Doctor on TV as it became the UK’s Number 1 show! Catherine Tate is one of Britain’s leading lights on stage and screen, happily reuniting with David Tennant after enjoying a popular TV run as companion Donna Noble. Guest star Dan Starkey is best known as Strax the Sontaran on TV’s Doctor Who – recently appearing in Big Finish’s Jago & Litefoot & Strax release.C AST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Alex Lowe (Soren), Sabrina Bartlett (Cora), Terry Molloy (Rone), John Banks (Gully), Dan Starkey (Dorn).

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Technophobia: Tthe Tenth Doctor (Doctor Who)

David Tennant and Catherine Tate arrive at Big Finish for brand new adventures as The Doctor and Donna Noble! When the Doctor and Donna visit London’s Technology Museum for a glimpse into the future, things don’t go to plan. The most brilliant IT brain in the country can’t use her computer. More worrying, the exhibits are attacking the visitors, while outside, people seem to be losing control of the technology that runs their lives. Is it all down to simple human stupidity, or is something more sinister going on? Beneath the streets, the Koggnossenti are waiting. For all of London to fall prey to technophobia. This is the first of three Doctor Who stories released from Big Finish featuring David Tennant and Catherine Tate. As a young actor, David Tennant played a number of roles in Big Finish Doctor Who stories, unaware that one day he’d be playing the Doctor on TV as it became the UK’s Number 1 show! Catherine Tate is one of Britain’s leading lights on stage and screen, happily reuniting with David Tennant after enjoying a popular TV run as companion Donna Noble.Guest star Rachael Stirling recently appeared opposite Matt Smith in Doctor Who, alongside her mother, Avengers star Dame Diana Rigg! CAST: David Tennant (The Doctor), Catherine Tate (Donna Noble), Niky Wardley (Bex), Rachael Stirling (Jill Meadows), Chook Sibtain (Brian), Rory Keenan (Kevin), Jot Davies (Lukas).

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Doctor Who: 10th Doctor Tales: 10th Doctor Audio Originals

David Tennant, Catherine Tate and Michelle Ryan are the narrators of this exclusive collection of original audio adventures.

Join the 10th Doctor on journeys in time and space in these stories: ‘Pest Control’, ‘The Forever Trap’, ‘The Nemonite Invasion’, ‘The Rising Night’, ‘The Day of the Troll’, ‘The Last Voyage’ and ‘Dead Air’.

Written by Peter Anghelides, Dan Abnett, David Roden, Scott Handcock, Simon Messingham and James Goss.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Doctor Who (Doom Coalition)

A new full cast adventure for the Eighth Doctor. The Doctor’s past is catching up with him. And so is his future…As a dark chapter dawns for the universe, a friend is at hand. But how can River Song help the Doctor if she can’t meet him? 2.1 BEACHHEAD by Nicholas Briggs. In an attempt to recharge his batteries after his confrontation with the Eleven, the Doctor takes Liv and Helen to the sleepy English seaside village of Stegmoor. But they find the village in turmoil and, to make matters worse, their arrival uncovers a mystery from the Doctor’s past which threatens the future safety of the planet. Can the Doctor prevent the Voord from invading Earth? And more importantly why have they come in the first place? 2.2 SCENES FROM HER LIFE by John Dorney. Investigating the appearance of the Voord on Earth, the Doctor, Liv and Helen follow a trail which takes them to the other side of the universe. There they discover a mysterious and almost deserted gothic city lost in space and time, in which the grotesque inhabitants are conducting a vile and inhumane experiment.The Doctor and his companions must hurry to save the lives of those in danger before the experiment is a success and the unimaginable consequences become all too real. 2.3 THE GIFT by Marc Platt. The TARDIS deposits its crew on Earth in San Francisco, 1906. There they find an actor-manager desperate to stage his definitive production of King Lear. But a real storm is headed their way when he becomes the possessor of a mysterious psychic ‘Gift’ which is hungry for power and intent on wreaking havoc and destruction. But exposure to so much psychic activity has the Doctor becoming increasingly erratic. Can he battle his demons and save the world? 2.4 THE SONOMANCER by Matt Fitton. On the other side of the galaxy a mining company is exploiting the already unstable planet of Syra for every precious mineral it contains. River Song is attempting to save the native people. She needs the Doctor’s help, but she also knows he mustn’t yet discover her true identity. The final confrontation sees the Doctor once again face his enemy the Eleven in an attempt to prevent the destruction of Syra and the genocide of its inhabitants.Fullerlove (Yeva), John Banks (Galactic Heritage) and Mark Bonnar as The Eleven. Doctor Who – Doom Coalition is a follow-up to Big Finish’s Dark Eyes series – the first of which received the Best Online Drama at the 2014 BBC Drama Awards.British TV and Hollywood star Paul McGann returns to his hugely popular portrayal of the Doctor (as seen on BBC TV in 2013’s Night of the Doctor).Hattie Morahan has now appeared opposite two British fictional greats – the Doctor here, and Sherlock Holmes in 2015’s film Mr Holmes with Sir Ian McKellen and Nicola Walker was one of the longest serving actresses in BBC’s Spooks series.CAST: Paul McGann (The Doctor), Alex Kingston (River Song), Nicola Walker (Liv Chenka), Hattie Morahan (Helen Sinclair), Rebecca Night (Matilda Gregson), Julia Hills (Phillipa Gregson/Dispatch), Kirsty Besterman (Ishtek), Andrew Dickens (Voord Guard), Emma Cunniffe (Caleera), Vincent Franklin (Lord Stormblood), Jacqueline King (Lady Sepulchra), Hamish Clark (Swordfish), James Jordan (Charles Virgil McLean), Paul Marc Davis (Pepe Gonzalez), Cory English (Sam Sonora), Laura Harding (Ethel Halliday), Enzo Squillino Jnr (Aldo Deluca), Derek Ezenagu (Ruslan), Janet Fullerlove (Yeva), John Banks (Galactic Heritage) and Mark Bonnar as The Eleven.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Infernal Devices (Doctor Who – The War Doctor)

The Doctor, a hero. The War Doctor – the version of him who turned his back on the name in order to do what had to be done. John Hurt returns as this enigmatic figure for a series set in Doctor Who’s Time War…2.1 LEGION OF THE LOST by John Dorney. In a time of war, every means of victory must be explored. In the Time War, the unthinkable must be thought, and neither side can afford to be squeamish about their methods. When the destruction of an obscene weapon leads to the Time Lord once known as the Doctor uncovering a secret Gallifreyan initiative, he cannot believe what is being considered. Should victory be sought at any cost or are there worse possibilities than losing to the Daleks? 2.2 A THING OF GUILE by Phil Mulryne. The Daleks are developing a secret weapon on Asteroid Theta 12. It is imperative that their plans are uncovered. Cardinal Ollistra has her hands full studying the range of ancient and mysterious armaments the universe has to offer, but she makes it a personal mission to investigate the Dalek project. On this dangerous assignment, there is one particular Time Lord she wants at her side – and he will be accompanying her whether he wants to or not. 2.3 THE NEVERWHEN by Matt Fitton. On an isolated world ravaged by battle, time itself has become a weapon, laying waste to all who live and die there. Arms and technology are in a state of flux – and it seems that everlasting war is their only option. The arrival of one battered Type Forty TARDIS inside this nightmare offers hope to the combatants trapped within. But when he discovers the truth, the horrors of the Neverwhen will shock even the War Doctor…Big Finish present John Hurt as The War Doctor, a character created for, and central to, Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary Special The Day of the Doctor, shown on TV and in cinemas in 2013. This release also stars a number of other cult television heroes: Jacqueline Pearce known for her role as Servalan in Blake’s 7, Jaye Griffiths (Doctor Who, BUGS) and David Warner (Doctor Who, Star Trek, Time Bandits). Infernal Devices was directed by Nicholas Briggs – voice-artist for the Daleks and other terrifying monsters from the televised version of Doctor Who!C AST: John Hurt (The War Doctor), Jacqueline Pearce (Cardinal Ollistra), David Warner (Shadovar), Jamie Newall (Co-ordinator Jarad), Zoe Tapper (Collis), Robert Hands (Captain Solex), Oliver Dimsdale (Commander Trelon), Laura Harding (Navigator Valis), Barnaby Kay (Commander Thrakken), Jaye Griffiths (Daylin), Tim Bentinck (General Kallix), Tracy Wiles (Commander Barnac), and Nicholas Briggs as the Daleks.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Doctor Who: The New Series: The Diary of River Song

An epic four-hour adventure that takes River Song across space and time, seeking out the secret rulers of the universe. 1. THE BOUNDLESS SEA by Jenny T Colgan. Drawn out of self-imposed academic exile by an archaeological dig, River crosses paths with British Consul Bertie Potts – leading to a secret buried in a lost tomb…2. I WENT TO A MARVELLOUS PARTY by Justin Richards. River is invited to the most exclusive gathering; right in the middle of Hyperspace! Hosts Gifford and Isabella hold a connection to the mysterious Rulers of the Universe; but with a murderer on board, is River too late to discover the truth? 3. SIGNS by James Goss. River is on the trail of mysterious, planet-killing SporeShips. Her only aid is a handsome time-travelling stranger with a connection to her future – her husband, Mr Song. 4. THE RULERS OF THE UNIVERSE by Matt Fitton. The Eighth Doctor is drawn into events, as River must contend with a secret society and a face-off with an ancient alien force – with her future husband caught in the middle!Long awaited by fans of Doctor Who both old and new, Big Finish are delighted to welcome Alex Kingston back to reprise her River Song character first seen in 2008 on TV. She was seen as the Doctor’s wife in TV episode The Wedding of River Song, but her twisted timeline means she and the Doctor rarely see events from the same perspective! Aside from her iconic turn in Doctor Who, Alex Kingston’s well known in both the UK and US for her regular roles in E.R., Arrow, Upstairs Downstairs, and The Knock. Guest actor Alexander Vlahos is best known to Big Finish listeners as Dorian Gray, and was recently on Broadway in Kenneth Branagh’s production of Macbeth. CAST: Alex Kingston (River Song), Paul McGann (The Doctor), Alexander Vlahos (Bertie Potts), Alexander Siddig (Marcus Gifford), Imogen Stubbs (Isabella Clerkwell), Gbemisola Ikumelo (Prim), Charlotte Christie (Daphne Garsington), Alisdair Simpson (Colonel Lifford), Oliver Dimsdale (Archie Ferrers), John Banks (Professor Straiton), Letty Butler (Spritz), John Voce (Jenkins), Aaron Neil.