.video-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; } .video-container iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Today our guest is Emmy-nominated composer and sound designer Elizabeth Parker. Elizabeth worked with the BBC Radiophonic workshop from 1978 to the mid 90s. During that time she worked on over 1400 projects, two of which included Doctor Who. She worked on The Stones of Blood while Dick Mills was on holiday, and she composed the incidental music for the 1985 adventure, Timelash. Elizabeth also worked as the sound designer for Blake's 7 from series B onwards. We were thrilled to chat with Elizabeth about her career and her work on our favourite TV series. Find out more about Elizabeth at https://www.elizabeth-parker.co.uk/ Our new podcast Blake's 7 - The Way Back is currently available on Youtube (also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify) from ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@Blakes7WayBack⁠⁠⁠ 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 Follow us on Bluesky - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/audiosirens.bsky.social

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

For the 55th episode of THE LIST MAKERS, listener Justin Falkus has challenged us to come up with the top classic era stories that are under 4 episodes in length. Will there be snaps? Will Rob find a cheat? Will Dave pull out a surprise? What would your picks be? Why not write in and let us know? Contact us: X / Twitter: @theDWshow Bluesky: @thedwshow.net Facebook: facebook.com/theDWshow Email: [email protected]

Jodie Whitaker recently commented that she wouldn’t hesitate to come back to Doctor Who, for things like Doctor meet-ups, anniversaries, etc., and it got me thinking about each actor who’s portrayed the Doctor and the willingness of each to come back to the show. Of course, I’m not advocating them coming back as the new Doctor. That line has already been crossed. With a show like Doctor Who, once you’re the Doctor, you’re always the Doctor, and it’s the very nature of the show that allows a past actor to return, if they so desire. Of the legion of past Doctors, who actually did, do, or possibly will return in future…? We have no crystal ball, but via past comments and interviews, we can make some educated guesses, factoring in the availability and/or temperament of the actors in question. We can institute a 1 to 5 rating system: From “1” meaning they have no plans to return ever, up to “5” as in they’ll return at any time, any place. William Hartnell: He truly loved playing the character, and was fiercely loyal to the show. It reinvigorated his career, and made him the idol of millions of children. He came back for The Three Doctors, despite his extremely poor health, and I suspect, if able, he would have come back for more. He would have only been 75 when The Five Doctors went out — these days, that doesn’t even seem that old, but those were different times. Still, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt and give him a 5. Patrick Troughton: Perhaps the most important casting ever for the show itself. I suspect that if the production schedule weren’t so gruelling during his era, if it resembled something closer to what Jon Pertwee and later actors had, he might have been tempted to stick around beyond those first 3 seasons, if possible. He, like Hartnell, packed about six seasons worth of Who into three back then. A punishing routine. And yet, he happily returned for The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors, and The Two Doctors! In fact, if not for his sudden passing at age 67 — at a Who convention of all places — I imagine he could have shown up again during McCoy’s era for a spoon and recorder duet. And most likely, Dimensions in Time as well. 5 Jon Pertwee: After coming back for The Five Doctors, The Ultimate Adventure, the Dimensions in Time special, and even participating in a fan production where he was coming off a regeneration, there’s no doubt that, had he lived, he’d have also returned wherever and whenever. Because simply put, he loved the spotlight. He gets a dashing 5. Tom Baker: Oh, that Tom. He passed on The Five Doctors, and that was incredibly unfortunate. I can only assume it would have been significantly better if he were in it. He got the shortest of cameos in Dimensions in Time. Then it was well over a decade before he would even start to do audios. But when he officially did return to the screen in The Day of the Doctor… well, even as I type this, I still get chills. The man knows how to make an entrance, and this was the first time he ever interacted with another incarnation! I was going to give him a 2 rating, but then I remembered he also came back in studio for the ending of the Shada reconstruction. Good on him! So he gets bumped up to a 3. Peter Davison: The Fifth Doctor has done many audios, and has returned to the screen a few times, most notably in the misbegotten Dimensions in Time, Time Crash, The Power of the Doctor, and his episode from Tales of the TARDIS. He even spearheaded The Five-ish Doctors. Perhaps part of his willingness to keep coming back is that even he thought he was too young when he got the part back in ‘81, and felt he would have done a much better job if he were older. Time Crash gave him just such an opportunity and Steven Moffat delivered a great script for the special. And yes, he was better than ever. 5 gets a 5. Colin Baker: No one was mistreated in the role more than Colin. He faced more real-life villains than his Doctor had. The BBC tampered with the show, put it on hiatus, then had the audacity to blame Baker for falling ratings, and gave him the axe. Years later, during Dimensions in Time, they even cut his big action scene! Indignity after indignity. They done him dirty, and one could understand why he might never want to come back in any capacity. Yet, he came back for Big Finish, and won over a whole new generation of Who fans. He also participated in The Ultimate Adventure, dropped in for The Five-ish Doctors, The Power of the Doctor, and Tales of the TARDIS as well. Perhaps the greatest sport of all the Doctors, he gets a 5. Sylvester McCoy: No surprises here, Syl appeared in Dimensions in Time, audios, The Five-ish, The Power of the Doctor, and Tales of the TARDIS, just like his two predecessors, always seeming agreeable for a return. 5 Paul McGann: With only The TV Movie, The Night of the Doctor, Five-ish, and Power, McGann is one of the least well-represented Doctors on screen, yet has created a huge catalogue and fan base on the audio side. I believe he, too, might be agreeable to just about any return, if he got the chance. 5 Christopher Eccleston: His main problem has always been with Russell T Davies, but due to his mercurial nature, even though he’s finally consented to partake in the audios — after 20 years — I don’t see him ever returning to the show proper. I have to think he would be a 1. David Tennant: He of the three existing incarnations spanning two dimensions? He recently appeared at a convention with Billie Piper, where they both said they’d love to do a Doctor Who reunion movie. Oy. There’s loving the show, there’s being agreeable to come back, and then there might come a time when you think “maybe I’ve overstayed my welcome, just a bit?” Willing to come back? I think I’d have to give him a 6 on the willingness scale. Matt Smith: The moment he left, he regretted leaving. He loved his time on the show so much and always talks about it. He loved being the Doctor, but his one comment on returning was that he’d be “too old” now. Matt, Matt, Matt. Time differential! Plus, he could return as the older version stuck on Trenzalore! But he hasn’t even touched on the possibility of doing audios, much less coming back to the screen. More’s the pity. I can only categorise his likelihood of returning as a 1. John Hurt: It was one of the most impressive pieces of casting in the history of the show, and when the War Doctor first appeared at the end of The Name of the Doctor, it was mind-blowing. I still get chills. He was created by Steven Moffat because Eccleston refused to return for the 50th anniversary special, The Day of the Doctor. Talk about your happy accidents. Hurt lent another level of gravitas to an already brilliant anniversary. By all counts, he enjoyed his time working on the show, but it’s very hard to say if he would ever have had any intention of returning. His passing meant we’ll never know. We’ll go with a neutral 3. Peter Capaldi: Highly underrated during his era, yet with some of the most top-voted, beloved stories from the new era, and indeed, the entire history of Who! But sadly, the corporate nature of the biz may have soured his artistic feel for Who, and he’s been fairly straightforward in saying he’s not coming back. This 1 rating for easily my favourite NuWho era Doctor makes me incredibly sad. Jodie Whitaker: She, on the other hand, has stated that she would definitely love to return. Considering how divisive her era was thanks to Chris Chibnall’s machinations, one wouldn’t have blamed her if she ran for the hills, or just turned her back on the show, like some. But no, she’s all in. Respect. 5. Jo Martin: From all indications, it seems she’d be happy to return any time the Fugitive Doctor is needed. 5. Ncuti Gatwa: This one is a bit difficult. Another divisive era. A controversial take. I’m not even sure if Ncuti was even all that familiar with the show before starring in it. It’s possible he wouldn’t even consider returning unless it was under the pen of Davies. I’m not sure he even really cares about the role itself, or Who, but a job is a job. He said he regrets not facing the Daleks, but “might just do that”, whatever that means. He’s only 32, but claims he’s old and tired, with bad knees. Not only do I not know what he’ll do, but I’m not sure even he does. Would he come back for the 75th anniversary? It’s only 13 years (!) away at this point. No clue. So…. 3? What say you, Who fans? Do you agree with my assessment? Like this: Like Loading...

Welcome to The Doctor Who: Alhambra Podcast, our Doctor Who centric podcast that discusses the recent DW and Big Finish news, reviewing Doctor Who audios from Big Finish, both classic and new series Doctor Who episodes, and much more! In this episode of the Doctor Who Alhambra Podcast, host Brett looks at and give commentary on the Robert Shearman article in DWM #622 as well as the Doctor Who TV article referencing it. Additionally, Brett will look at comments from a Facebook group that also discussed Shearman's thoughts. Welcome and Synopsis to EP 391 - 00:00:00 Doctor Who is As "Dead as We've Ever Known It" - 00:01:56 ChatGPT's List of Possible 16th Doctor Actors - 00:13:03 Conclusion, Contact Info & Copyright - 00:14:25 Video Referenced in this episode are: Doctor Who TV: https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/shearman-doctor-who-dead-106158.htm DWAP Blog with AI's Season 1 and Episode Breakdown: https://alhambrapodcast.weebly.com/blog/results-from-ai-writing-season-1-for-a-new-doctor-who-season Stay tuned for more Doctor Who goodness, including monthly Big Finish reviews, audio commentary, retro-reviews, the DWAP "Rassilon Seal of Approval" and beyond! 🌌🎙️ The Doctor Who: Alhambra Podcast, with real Doctor Who fans, sharing their real Doctor Who opinions. Discussing but not limited to new and classic Doctor Who, Big Finish audios, latest DW and BF news, and much more! *** We would love to hear from you! Email: [email protected] DM on Twitter to the podcast @AlhambraPodcast. Thanks again for listening and downloading! Chapter Markers for the Podcast were created using Forecast, the podcast MP3 post-production tool designed, developed, and used by professional podcasters. It's also FREE! https://overcast.fm/forecast

Doctor Who star Karen Gillan will be braving the dangers of Jumanji for a third time as Ruby Roundhouse A third movie in the Jumanji reboot series is on the way and Doctor Who’s Karen Gillan is back in the jungle for more fun and games. The family adventure films feature a mysterious arcade game which physically transports the players to the dangerous world of Jumanji. There they take on the roles of avatars and must complete the game before they run out of lives. Because if they do… it’s game over for real. Gillan originally played the game avatar of Ruby Roundhouse, skilled martial artist, in 2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. She subsequently returned for its 2019 sequel Jumanji: The Next Level. The special nature of the avatar roles, however, means the cast aren’t always portraying the same players. While in the first two films Gillan was playing the shy and nerdy teenager Martha as she gained new confidence by being Ruby, we don’t yet know if Ruby will have a new player in next year’s film. Other returning stars are Dwayne Johnson (archaeologist action man Dr. Smoulder Bravestone), Jack Black (Professor Shelly Oberon), and Kevin Hart (zoologist Mouse Finbar.) New faces joining them in the next game are Brittany O’Grady and Burn Gorman. Viewers will perhaps best know O’Grady for her role in The White Lotus. Gorman, meanwhile, needs to introduction to Doctor Who fans. He was series regular Owen Harper in the first two seasons of Torchwood. We still don’t know anything about O’Grady and Gorman’s characters or anything about the plot. Indeed, for now, there’s just the placeholder title Jumanji 3 until the reveal of the official title. We do know however that the film will be in cinemas on the 11th of December, 2026. With it now all but impossible a Doctor Who Christmas Special could be ready in time for next year, at least it will be something for Who fans to look forward to. Karen Gillan will also soon be joining filming of the Henry Cavill led remake of cult classic Highlander Karen Gillan will be juggling her Jumanji return with her latest role in the upcoming Highlander remake. The new version is expected to begin filming in the next few months and stars Henry Cavill as the immortal warrior Conor MacLeod. Gillan plays Heather, MacLeod’s original love interest in 16th century Scotland. This remake of the 1980s cult classic, which starred Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, is thought be aiming for an early 2027 release date. Like this: Like Loading...

Join Joe Ford as he waltzes all around the world (via whatever means the internet allows) and undertakes Doctor Who commentaries with a wide range of wonderful contributors. Fans, podcasters, online reviewers, writers, actors...the USP of this podcast is it's variety of guests and the fact that they all bring their own unique perspective to the podcast. The guest chooses the story, be it one they love, hate or are completely indifferent, and amongst the gossip is trivia, critique and personal experience.

This week Whooverville 16 coverage continues with a chat to Terry Molloy. You can see video of the interview here https://youtu.be/3YH_8fRv1oU 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 [email protected] 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.

Thank you for downloading the Trap One Podcast. This time Mark, Hannah and Keith are discussing the recent Fifteenth Doctor novel Spectral Scream By Hannah Fergesen. You can order a copy of the book here #ad The movie which Keith mentions, Attack of the Mushroom People, is on Youtube here.

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

The fifth volume of Big Finish’s Classic Doctors, New Monsters series was released earlier this year with four stories that made clever use of their chosen Doctors and monsters. The boxset begins with The Krillitane Feint, featuring the return of the ever-evolving bat-like creatures introduced in the Series 2 episode, School Reunion. They are pitted against the Second Doctor and his companions, Jamie McCrimmon and Zoe Herriot, and it’s a match that works. This era’s base under siege template is utilised, but writer John Dorney uses most of the runtime as a set-up for a clever reveal which makes this a story of quite a different kind. It starts with the Doctor and his companions finding a high-security military base in the future where humans are conducting research on Krillitanes to learn more about their unique biological abilities. That alone is a great concept which poses some big moral questions, and the characters settle in by initially pretending to be interested in this research from a point of financial gain rather than scientific curiosity. The healthcare problems of the future are believable and interesting, and the discussions about them act as a great way of masking exposition about the Krillitane. Even at this point in his lives, the Doctor is more than familiar with the species and is able to bring his moral code into play while still maintaining an image of a man with very different motives to his own. Morals are somewhat put to one side once the Krillitanes escape: chaos ensues and everyone just wants to stay alive. However, this simplification of the drama also sets up the rest of the story and another in this boxset, so no spoilers here at the big reveal — but it makes the listener see the characters in a whole new light. The cast themselves particularly enjoyed playing this one out. Not only is the reveal and subsequent twist pulled off, but the story is far stronger for it. Without the extra levels of detail and the reward of relistening, the story doesn’t have a push until then, and its inclusion rapidly speeds up the plot as subterfuge and stability unravels. Story two is The Dying Breed, which has the feel of a Thirteenth Doctor episode; unsurprisingly so given it features the dog-like Lupari from her era. The Fourth Doctor and Leela meet them, and it’s teased at the beginning and end that he can meet the Lupari for the first time more than once since he has forgotten his past and future encounters with them. The opening scene features Miriam Margolyes as a soothsayer telling stories to some Lupari cubs, and kicks off the world-building around the species’ rather unique home. Once the core cast of characters are introduced, it’s clear the Lupari have social structures much like those in Europe many centuries ago, even though they have had no prior contact with humanity. This is an issue, since the story basically revolves around the two species encountering each other for the first time and the Lupari are more human-like than the homo sapiens present. Despite that rather large concept issue, it’s a very well-realised tale by Tim Foley. Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are on top form, as is John Leeson as K9, and while the main members of the Lupari to feature are very simply written, the performances are still strong. Younger listeners will have their imaginations tickled by The Dying Breed, and adults too, should they listen to it alongside them, so in that sense it’s perfect Saturday night content as Doctor Who has traditionally been. There are also lots of really striking visuals to build in the mind’s eye. John Leeson probably has the most fun in this one, as K9’s canine-like appearance puts them on a level playing field with the Lupari while the hairless apes they travel with have to work harder to gain the trust and respect of the furry people they meet. K9 even gets the equivalent of drunk, in several scenes of hilarity for the robot dog. Although early on, it is said the destiny of the Lupari is at stake, the drama really only feels consequential for the Doctor and Leela as untrusted outsiders, and also because of the former’s history (or future) with the race. There are silly moments, serious moments, and scenes in which everyone’s acting chops are used, so it’s a shame the plot is predictable. A bit like the Thirteenth Doctor era. The final scene is an epilogue, with the Fourth Doctor revisiting the Lupari later in his life and having a wonderful interaction with Margoyles’ soothsayer once more. It is the choice of TARDIS line-up that helps this story out deliver its plot’s potential. Next up is The Krillitane Relic, a sequel to the first story of the boxset which deals with the consequences of some of the events that took place in it. The Seventh Doctor and Ray are rather interestingly chosen to be two of the main characters in this one, particularly since the boxset was released ahead of Past Forward, the brand new boxset from Big Finish that reveals how Ray becomes a companion. The Welsh mechanic was introduced on television in Delta and the Bannerman, and behind the scenes, there were plans for her to travel alongside the Doctor before Sophia Aldred got the gig as Melanie Bush’s replacement by playing Ace. They feel like a fleshed out combination straight away, not fully familiar with each other’s lives but on strong enough terms to banter with each other and work quickly as a unit. Having never watched or listened to any story featuring Ray before is no issue, since actor Sara Griffiths quickly manages to make her feel familiar, likeable, and above all Welsh! The story is set on a spaceship where people in cryogenic sleep are kept, ready to be revived years later, and begins with a job interview involving a recognisable voice as the applicant. There are two returning characters, and it’s not written to indicate too heavily in one direction or the other which one it is. Once the Doctor and Ray appear, they’re quickly given the standard fare of being locked up and questioned. They then meet a very important individual, at least to the Doctor, and structurally, it is very similar to its prequel as there is moral musing, a guessing game, then an acceleration of the plot once many lives are at stake. The connective tissue to the earlier story is very well written, and the actor responsible for carrying most of it does an exceptional job, but little more can be said without giving away spoilers. Eugenics becomes a topic late on, but is introduced then moved on from very quickly rather than given more time as a dramatic beat to be dissected as the Krillitane make themselves known. Tim Foley makes the tone more cheery again in the fourth story, titled Five Hundred Ways to Leave Your Lover. Its title takes its inspiration from the Paul Simon song, ‘50 Ways to Leave Your Lover’. The story gets the most out of the Eighth Doctor simply by providing Paul McGann with fresh material to apply himself to, since he usually brings his best performances when it gives him a challenge or something new to do. In this case, it’s a queer romance tale set in a simulated honeymoon suite the Monks (who featured in a trilogy of episodes during Doctor Who Series 10 with the Twelfth Doctor) are trying to control. Charlie Condou, who recently starred in Series 15 of the show on television, plays the Doctor’s fiancé, Chris, and he spends the first half of the story attempting to split up with him. With each scene, they are in a new location, with the Doctor trying to keep their relationship alive with big romantic gestures (or rather distractions from the Monks) that often end up with the pair in slightly comedic situations. The Eighth Doctor is always energetic and positive, much like his very first appearance in 1996’s TV Movie, and this feels almost like a Doctor Who Magazine comic strip from that era. Since this incarnation was the bridge between the classic and new eras of the show, and particularly its attitudes to romance and sexuality, this story kind of pokes fun at the Doctor actually being a very unromantic figure who just happens to know many places, activities, and customs which different races use to impress their significant other. It would be impossible to fit 500 into a story lasting less than an hour, and it still feels rapid fire even though time is actually given to developing Chris and his anxieties and intentions. He is often used for comic relief, but that’s more set by the genre tropes the story is riffing off, and his annoyance with the Doctor is well-written. Competing for Chris’ love is Mark, played by Andrew Hayden-Smith. Doctor Who fans will know him from Series 2’s Cyberman stories. He is attractive but unsettling, kind but intimidating, and seeks to hold Chris’ trust (as much as his heart) in a very different way to the Doctor. The turning point of the story is when… the main characters get naked after touching the sky. This is not a drugs trip, but actually a very well considered story beat. Admittedly, it does little to fool the Monks, but sets up a brilliant ending to the story and is another example of the extreme things that the Doctor has to ask of ordinary people when lives and worlds are at stake. In the final act, the Doctor becomes more of a side-character, and McGann relishes in the comedic elements he still gets to incorporate as he tries to stop Chris and Mark from being betrothed in his place. He gets to do his own ‘stop the wedding!’, of course, and some DNA sharing is achieved through a quick smooch. Don’t worry, it is all comedy. Eventually, the Doctor is taken out of the plot entirely, at least as a fully formed character, but it’s another strong bit of writing and the sound effects team at Big Finish does an excellent job in the scene where he exits proceedings. Overall, it’s a strong boxset that makes clever choices with its usage of the various Doctors and companions, and the performances help elevate areas where the plots are quite thin. The inclusion of Ray and the Lupari in particular give this release more connections to Big Finish’s other 2025 output, with new eras of Doctor Who being explored for the first time. Classic Doctors, New Monsters Series 5 is available now from Big Finish. Like this: Like Loading...

Anneke Wills stars alongside Stephen Noonan and Lauren Cornelius in The First Doctor Adventures: Beware the City of Illusions, due for release March 2026. Polly Wright travelled alongside the First Doctor in nine Doctor Who TV stories from 1966 to 1967. Several decades later, she’s still saving the world. The next instalment of full-cast audio drama series The First Doctor Adventures comprises one three-hour story, Beware the City of Illusions, written and directed by Nicholas Briggs, in which Anneke Wills returns as Polly for the first time since 2019. Polly has pursued a life of environmental activism after leaving the TARDIS, and sets off to investigate a seemingly utopian eco-friendly city. But all is not right in paradise – when is it ever? – and her investigation leads to the discovery of a looming threat to the planet. Help is on hand, though, as she encounters a very familiar face – the Doctor (Stephen Noonan). The problem is, from his perspective, he hasn’t met her yet! Polly is also reacquainted with Dodo (Lauren Cornelius) but, as this old friend is now working for the ambitious politician J-J Radcliffe (Amy Rockson), can she be trusted? Doctor Who – The First Doctor Adventures: Beware the City of Illusions is written and directed by Nicholas Briggs, and is now available to pre-order for just £19.99 (download to own) or £24.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. The British government has a plan to drastically improve environmental conditions, thanks to the Gynt Foundation and its mysterious benefactor, ‘Mr Hammond’. But the plan is bold and crucially requires the endorsement of a prominent green campaigner to allay any public fears. When the Doctor’s former companion Polly sets off to investigate a fantastic new net-zero city, nothing goes quite according to plan. For one thing, the Doctor himself unexpectedly appears. And for another, the city contains a terrible secret. With an older Dodo working for the government, the Doctor and Polly must fight a threat that endangers the whole of humanity. The guest cast of Beware the City of Illusions includes Barnaby Edwards, Tom Alexander, and Becky Wright. Producer Mark Wright said: “Beware the City of Illusions brings to a close this trilogy of stories that see the First Doctor reunited with former companions decades after their adventures together. The return of Anneke Wills as Polly was always part of our plan, and in writing this story, Nick Briggs was keen to reflect Anneke’s own passionate interest in environmental issues, discussing the plot with her as the script developed. “Beware the City of Illusions features action, mystery and monsters, and above all it honours the place that Anneke holds in the worlds of Doctor Who and the hearts of fans sixty years after her first appearance.” On returning to play Polly, Anneke Wills said: “Lovely Nick Briggs called me up and said he would like to write a story for me, and what would Polly be doing now, in the later stage of her life? Would she be running a little tea shop in Devon? And I said, running a tea shop? No, she’ll be out there. She’ll be busy saving the planet, because God knows it needs a little help!” Big Finish listeners can save money by purchasing Beware the City of Illusions in a multibuy bundle with August 2026’s Second Doctor Adventures box set (title TBC) for just £38 (download to own) or £47 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set). Alternatively, listeners can buy this series as part of a bundle of all 15 Classic Doctor Who box sets released in 2026 for just £285 (download to own) or £352.50 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set). All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 30 April 2026. Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.

Whether it's homages to the first ever episode, references to other sci-fi classics, or just the writers having a joke with fans, here are some of our favourite hidden details and Easter eggs. How many did you catch the first time round? 1. Hidden homages to An Unearthly Child – The Day of the Doctor (2013) Susan, with Ian and Barbara in the background, in Doctor Who. BBC The 50th anniversary special, starring David Tennant and Matt Smith, is filled with loving nods to the show’s origins, including Totter’s Lane, Ian Chesterton’s name on a school sign, and the original broadcast time and date etched into a wall. Totter’s Lane – The iconic junkyard where the Doctor’s story began reappears, quietly grounding the 50th anniversary special in the series’ original setting. Ian Chesterton on the school sign – A subtle tribute to the Doctor’s very first companion, now listed as chairman of the school board at Coal Hill. “23 November 1963, 5:15pm” scratched on a wall – The exact date and time Doctor Who first aired, immortalised as a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it piece of graffiti. Headmaster Coburn – A nod to Anthony Coburn, writer of the very first episode, whose name appears as the school’s headmaster. These little references connect the modern era of the show to its very first episode, rewarding long-time viewers but not getting in the way for newer fans – proving that even after 50 years, Doctor Who never forgets where it came from. 2. Doctor Who existing in Doctor Who - Remembrance of the Daleks (1988) One of the most meta moments in Doctor Who history arrived in 1988's Remembrance of the Daleks, in which we hear a continuity announcer introducing "a new adventure in the science-fiction series Doc...". The scene cuts before the full title can be announced. The idea that a TV show called Doctor Who might actually exist in Doctor Who has been played with a few times across the show's history - with the Fifteenth Doctor actually meeting some "fans" in Lux, by stepping out of the TV. While this doesn't have any major impact on the story, it's a fun blink-and-you'll-miss-it detail, and an intriguing little joke from the writers. 3. The Cloisters of Gallifrey – Hell Bent (2015) The Twelfth Doctor on Gallifrey in Hell Bent. BBC Doctor Who fans got a stark reminder of the terror of the Doctor's enemies in Hell Bent, showing a hidden chamber filled with motionless remnants of past enemies – including a Cyberman, a Weeping Angel, a Mire helmet, a Scarecrow, and the severed head of an Ood. As the Doctor and Clara pass through the Cloisters of Gallifrey, these creatures are not alive but serve as frozen echoes of the Doctor’s long and troubled history, haunting the digital landscape of Time Lord memories. The ultimate sci-fi rogues' gallery... Clara's mother's grave in Doctor Who. BBC Clara’s mother’s gravestone in The Rings of Akhaten shows she died on 5th March 2005 – the same day the Nestene Consciousness attacked London in Rose, the revived series’ first episode. While the rest of the episode mainly explores alien worlds – and of course features that fantastic speech from Eleven – this poignant moment links Clara’s backstory to the wider Doctor Who mythos and the show's modern rebirth. 5. John Smith's parents - Human Nature/Family of Blood (2007) Jessica Stevenson and David Tennant in Doctor Who episode Human Nature BBC In the devastating two-parter Human Nature/Family of Blood, the Doctor creates an entire human identity for himself, calling himself by his alias, John Smith, to hide from the Family of Blood. At one point, John Smith reveals his parents names are Verity and Sydney, a sweet tribute to Doctor Who's creators. The sci-fi was originally created by a team including the BBC's head of drama Sydney Newman and Verity Lambert, who was the first female producer at the BBC, and who was instrumental in bringing the show to screens. It's a tiny detail from one of the show's most popular stories that ties it beautifully to its origins. 6. A Slade soundtrack across time – Merry Xmas Everybody in multiple episodes Catherine Tate and David Tennant in The Runaway Bride. BBC Slade’s 1973 classic Merry Xmas Everybody plays quietly in several episodes, including The Christmas Invasion, The Runaway Bride, Turn Left and The Power of Three. The song is often heard faintly on radios or in shops, making Christmas on Earth feel very familiar in the Doctor Who universe – monsters might attack, but Slade still fills the airwaves every December! 7. A DeLorean in disguise – Face the Raven (2015) Doctor Who episode Face the Raven. BBC The Doctor and Clara enter the hidden trap street, a secret refuge filled with strange architecture, and coded signage. The set includes subtle background details and sly visual jokes, with one nod in particular being picked up on by sci-fi fans. During an emotionally charged scene, a poster of a flux capacitor (a reference to Back to the Future) is accompanied by text in Aurebesh (Star Wars script) that translates to “DeLorean”, referencing the time-travelling car from Back to the Future. Maybe an epic Doctor Who, Star Wars and Back to the Future crossover isn't out of the question after all..? 8. Billboard nostalgia and Susan – The Devil’s Chord (2024) Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman in Doctor Who: The Interstellar Song Contest. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/Lara Cornell The Doctor explicitly mentions his granddaughter Susan Foreman while in 1963 Shoreditch, connecting to An Unearthly Child. A rooftop billboard also advertises “Chris Waites & the Carollers”, the band Susan listened to in the first episode. Of course, this would all lead up to Carole Ann Ford's long-awaited return to the show in The Interstellar Song Contest. It was a huge talking point for fans young and old, as new viewers went back through the Doctor Who archives to learn about Susan's time in the TARDIS. 9. Richard E Grant in Rogue (2024) Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor surrounded by holograms of the other Doctors' faces, including one played by Richard E Grant. BBC It's not often an Easter egg can change the canon of the entire show, but Richard E Grant's appearance in Rogue, alongside an homage to all the past Doctors, did exactly that. Grant played the Doctor in a 2003 animated web series Scream of the Shalka, which was previously thought to be non-canonical. However, his inclusion in the episode completely shatters the canon. Doctor Who's canon has been changed and messed with, for better or for worse, quite a few times over the course of the show. But never quite like this! 10. The Doctor's library card - Vampires of Venice (2010) The Doctor's library card in Doctor Who episode Vampires of Venice BBC There have been plenty of homages to the late, great William Hartnell but one of the sneakiest came in Vampires of Venice, when Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor shows his psychic paper as a library card – only for it to display a picture of Hartnell's First Doctor. During the episode, the Doctor's attempt to show the library card backfires, as he realises he hasn't renewed it since his first incarnation. It's a small moment but beautifully pays tribute to Hartnell, the man who first brought the Doctor to life. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Ad Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

The creator of new Sky series The Iris Affair, Neil Cross, has a number of prominent writing credits to his name, having worked on series such as Spooks and, most notably, having created Luther. He also wrote two episodes of Doctor Who season 7 part 2, which aired back in 2013 and starred Matt Smith and Jenna Coleman. The episodes in question were The Rings of Akhaten and Hide, with the former most notably including a speech, delivered by Smith's Doctor, which has gone down in history as one of the show's best, and has been widely re-watched on YouTube. Cross was speaking with us for The Radio Times Writers' Room, our video interview series in which we get to know what makes screenwriters tick, when he was asked to reflect on that episode, its reception, and in particular how the speech has been adopted by the fandom. "I wrote that episode second," he said of The Rings of Akhaten. "There's an episode called Hide, which is a haunted house episode, which I had actually written first. And Steven Moffat circled around afterwards and said, 'Here is a poisoned chalice'. "Episode 2 with a new companion is always very difficult, because the companion has to learn about the Doctor, but we already know about the doctor. And Steven wanted something kind of optimistic. "And yeah, I'm really, really proud of that episode in retrospect, but it was also released when a tweet could be a story in The Sun. So Steven called me the day before transmission, and he said 'Any episode of Doctor Who takes at least a year to find its place'. He said, 'So whatever the reaction, if they love it or they hate it, do your best to ignore it'. Fair enough. "There was a full page story in The Sun – Worst Episode Ever. And because it was Doctor Who and because it was so special to me, it threw me into a spiral of misery." If the box above is not showing, you may need to change your privacy settings. In the Radio Times site footer, click ‘Manage Privacy Settings’. Under ‘Site Vendors’, consent to ‘YouTube’, then press Save & Exit. He continued: "And it was literally a tweet. Someone had tweeted it, The Sun had picked it up, it was like a page three story. And all I could think of was that my sister, who's my imaginary audience, my sister's gonna read this, and this is what she's gonna think of my Doctor Who. "So it's an extraordinary kind of vindication that that speech has earned its place. I think it's the most YouTubed thing in Doctor Who history? Yeah, so there's a kind of a sweet victory stolen from that. I'm kind of indifferent to reviews… not indifferent. "There's an old saying which is, ‘You can allow a bad review to spoil breakfast, but not lunch’. And that's my basic attitude is, ‘Oh yeah, that makes you feel s**t, you move on’. "But the Doctor Who thing, it knocked me sideways. For weeks, I was really, really, really unhappy. So to see that speech attain the place it has is... vindication! It's better than revenge. It’s what we want." Cross isn't far off with his suggestion that the speech is the show's most watched clip on YouTube. On the official Doctor Who YouTube channel, it comes in third with over 10 million views. It is currently only beaten by a clip from 50th anniversary special Day of the Doctor (with 13 million) and a clip from Richard Curtis's episode Vincent and the Doctor (with 30 million). While chatting for The Radio Times Writers' Room, Cross also spoke about his other work, including on The Iris Affair, which stars Niamh Algar as an enigmatic genius called Iris. In the Sky thriller, she is recruited by Tom Hollander's character Cameron, an entrepreneur who wants her to wake up a machine that could alter the future of humanity. When she runs off with a journal containing the device’s activation sequence, it leads to a chase across Italy. Neil Cross's interview for The Radio Times Writers' Room will be available to watch in full on Thursday 16th October. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The Iris Affair will launch on Sky and NOW on Thursday 16th October. Find out more about how to sign up for Sky TV. Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more. Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

If you’re over 55 and want to access the value built up in your home, equity release might be just the thing you need to turn your retirement plans into reality. Each year thousands of homeowners access tax-free cash that's tied up in their property, and one of the best parts - you don’t need to sell your home to get it!

Doctor Who Magazine 622 comes with a Production Notes mini-mag by Russell T Davies and an Audiobooks wall chart The new issue of DWM features a 32 page mini-mag. The special supplement collects Russell T Davies’ Production Notes columns about David Tennant’s first season. Readers will also get a wall chart for marking off their audiobook collections. Meanwhile, in the main magazine itself, Robert Shearman discusses novelising his Big Finish plays. There’s also a tribute to former script editor Christopher Hamilton Bidmead. Meanwhile, companions Carole Ann Ford, Katy Manning, and Sophie Aldred all discuss returning to their characters in new media. And much more! Highlights this issue: Dugga Doo – Composer Murray Gold, writer Juno Dawson and designer Dan May on the Interstellar Song Contest hit Dugga Doo and the alien race behind it… Composer Murray Gold, writer Juno Dawson and designer Dan May on the Interstellar Song Contest hit Dugga Doo and the alien race behind it… Robert Shearman – the writer discusses his new novels – Jubilee and The Chimes of Midnight – based on audio dramas he wrote for the Sixth and Eighth Doctors in the early 2000s. the writer discusses his new novels – Jubilee and The Chimes of Midnight – based on audio dramas he wrote for the Sixth and Eighth Doctors in the early 2000s. Christopher H Bidmead – A tribute to Season 18 script editor, and writer of Logopolis, Castrovalva and Frontios, who died in August. There are also previously unpublished extracts from an interview with Christopher H Bidmead conducted in 2017. A tribute to Season 18 script editor, and writer of Logopolis, Castrovalva and Frontios, who died in August. There are also previously unpublished extracts from an interview with Christopher H Bidmead conducted in 2017. Sophie Aldred – the actor talks about returning to the early days of companion Ace in a new audio drama box set. the actor talks about returning to the early days of companion Ace in a new audio drama box set. Katy Manning and Carole Ann Ford – the two former companions discuss short stories they have written for a new anthology that explores what happened to their characters, Jo and Susan, in the aftermath of TV episodes… the two former companions discuss short stories they have written for a new anthology that explores what happened to their characters, Jo and Susan, in the aftermath of TV episodes… BBC Audobooks – A celebration of the imprint’s Doctor Who releases – including their recently completed run of talking books based on the Target novelisations. A celebration of the imprint’s Doctor Who releases – including their recently completed run of talking books based on the Target novelisations. The Black Archive Quiz – how sharp is your Doctor Who knowledge? how sharp is your Doctor Who knowledge? The Monster Hospital – the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’s Neil Cole explains how he’s brought some of the series’ memorable creatures back to life! the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’s Neil Cole explains how he’s brought some of the series’ memorable creatures back to life! The Fact of Fiction – A deep dive into the world of the Eleventh Doctor episode Let’s Kill Hitler. A deep dive into the world of the Eleventh Doctor episode Let’s Kill Hitler. Back to 1988! – What did the critics make of Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks? What did the critics make of Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks? The Randomiser – Will computers be to blame for our downfall? Gary Gillatt investigates… Will computers be to blame for our downfall? Gary Gillatt investigates… The DWM Comic Strip – A new adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda… Also this issue: Gallifrey Guardian – news including details of Russell T Davies’ BAFTA win and the Speakies nomination for First Doctor audiobook Agent of the Daleks. news including details of Russell T Davies’ BAFTA win and the Speakies nomination for First Doctor audiobook Agent of the Daleks. Reviews – featuring the latest audios, books, records and action figures. featuring the latest audios, books, records and action figures. Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe. the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe. Competitions – prizes include Season 13 on Blu-ray! Doctor Who Magazine 622 DWM Issue 622 is on sale Thursday the 9th of October from the online Panini store, and other retailers priced £10.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from Pocketmags for £9.99. You can also save with a subscription, as well as receiving exclusive, text-free covers. Like this: Like Loading...

The latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine, issue 622, includes a 32-page mini-mag and a double-sided BBC Audiobooks wallchart In the magazine Composer MURRAY GOLD, writer JUNO DAWSON and designer DAN MAY on the Interstellar Song Contest hit Dugga Doo and the alien race behind it… ROBERT SHEARMAN discusses his new novels – Jubilee and The Chimes of Midnight – based on audio dramas he wrote for the Sixth and Eighth Doctors in the early 2000s. A tribute to Season 18 script editor and the writer of Logopolis, Castrovalva and Frontios, CHRISTOPHER H BIDMEAD who died in August. Previously unpublished extracts from an interview with Christopher H Bidmead conducted in 2017. SOPHIE ALDRED talks about returning to the early days of companion Ace in a new audio drama box set. KATY MANNING and CAROLE ANN FORD discuss short stories they have written for a new anthology that explores what happened to their characters, Jo and Susan, in the aftermath of TV episodes… A celebration of BBC Audiobooks’ Doctor Who releases – including their recently completed run of talking books based on the Target novelisations. The Black Archive Quiz – how sharp is your Doctor Who knowledge? The monster hospital – the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’s NEIL COLE explains how he’s brought some of the series’ memorable creatures back to life! A deep dive into the world of the Eleventh Doctor episode Let’s Kill Hitler. Back to 1988! What did the critics make of Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks? Will computers be to blame for our downfall? Gary Gillatt investigates… A new comic strip adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda… Regular features GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including details of Russell T Davies’ BAFTA win and the ‘Speakies’ nomination for First Doctor audiobook Agent of the Daleks. Reviews – featuring the latest audios, books, records and action figures. Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe. Prizes to be won – including Season 13 on Blu-ray! Doctor Who Magazine Issue 622 is on sale Thursday 9 October 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

Join Joe Ford as he waltzes all around the world (via whatever means the internet allows) and undertakes Doctor Who commentaries with a wide range of wonderful contributors. Fans, podcasters, online reviewers, writers, actors...the USP of this podcast is it's variety of guests and the fact that they all bring their own unique perspective to the podcast. The guest chooses the story, be it one they love, hate or are completely indifferent, and amongst the gossip is trivia, critique and personal experience.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 622 32-PAGE MINI-MAG INCLUDED WITH THIS ISSUE: RUSSELL T DAVIES’ PRODUCTION NOTES ON DAVID TENNANT’S FIRST SEASON PLUS – A DOUBLE-SIDED BBC AUDIOBOOKS WALL CHART In the magazine Composer MURRAY GOLD, writer JUNO DAWSON and designer DAN MAY on the Interstellar Song Contest hit Dugga Doo and the alien race behind it… ROBERT SHEARMAN discusses his new novels – Jubilee and The Chimes of Midnight – based on audio dramas he wrote for the Sixth and Eighth Doctors in the early 2000s. A tribute to Season 18 script editor and the writer of Logopolis, Castrovalva and Frontios, CHRISTOPHER H BIDMEAD who died in August. Previously unpublished extracts from an interview with Christopher H Bidmead conducted in 2017. SOPHIE ALDRED talks about returning to the early days of companion Ace in a new audio drama box set. KATY MANNING and CAROLE ANN FORD discuss short stories they have written for a new anthology that explores what happened to their characters, Jo and Susan, in the aftermath of TV episodes… A celebration of BBC Audiobooks’ Doctor Who releases – including their recently completed run of talking books based on the Target novelisations. The Black Archive Quiz – how sharp is your Doctor Who knowledge? The monster hospital – the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’s NEIL COLE explains how he’s brought some of the series’ memorable creatures back to life! A deep dive into the world of the Eleventh Doctor episode Let’s Kill Hitler. Back to 1988! What did the critics make of Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks? Will computers be to blame for our downfall? Gary Gillatt investigates… A new comic strip adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda… Regular features GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including details of Russell T Davies’ BAFTA win and the ‘Speakies’ nomination for First Doctor audiobook Agent of the Daleks. Reviews – featuring the latest audios, books, records and action figures. Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe. Prizes to be won – including Season 13 on Blu-ray! Doctor Who Magazine Issue 622 is on sale Thursday 9 October 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK). Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99. Categorised under: Doctor Who Magazine, Magazine

Nick and Benji present... Sherlock Holmes Untold - The Aftershow... The Chat: Chimes of Midnight and Jubilee and Rob Shearman... Behind-the-scenes and Drama Tease: The War Master - His Latest Trick. The Randomoid Selectortron also features, offering you a 25% reduction on the selected release. Just click here and enter the offer code BUCKUP. This podcast is released on Friday 10th October 2025. Download or stream now. Check out other editions of the Big Finish Podcast in the range here, enabling you to put them into your account and listen via the Big Finish Listening app on Apple and Android devices!

Russell T Davies has given fans an insight into his new Channel 4 drama series Tip Toe. The Doctor Who icon is helming the new show starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, which is set around Manchester's Gay Village. The five-part series follows neighbours, Leo (Cumming) and Clive (Morrissey), "who have lived next door to each other in Manchester for almost 15 years". What to Read Next "But just as life should be settling down, the world around them is growing more tense," the official synopsis adds. "Words become weapons, opinions become radicalised, and gradually, two neighbours become deadly enemies in a tense, suburban thriller which challenges everything we consider to be safe." Speaking at the Virgin Atlantic Attitude Awards, Davies explained how the "very modern, very angry, and very funny" series reflects our modern climate. "I think the main message is we’re in trouble," he began. "Alan plays a bar owner who runs a bar called Spit and Polish on Canal Street. "I’ve never actually done that before. I’ve never been on the street itself. It’s very modern, it’s very angry, it’s very funny. It’s about life today, but with a lot of twists and turns. I’m very excited." He continued: "I think almost every message is in there; I’ve not held back. I think the main message is we’re in trouble, and I think a wave of hatred is heading our way, especially in the forthcoming elections, with enemies rising up against us in the vote. So it’s a call to arms." Davies went on to say that "these days it's hard work to be gay", explaining: "To cut your way through the world all day, every day, in some shape or form, you’re coming out. You’re presenting yourself. And we’re being attacked." Tip Toe is set to be released in 2026, with an exact release date yet to be announced. Doctor Who airs on BBC One in the UK and Disney+ elsewhere. Classic episodes of Doctor Who are available on BBC iPlayer in the UK. The new edition of Living Legends is here! Buy Gaga in newsagents or online, priced at just £8.99. Freelance Reporter, Digital Spy Rebecca is a freelance journalist who specializes in TV and film. After beginning her career as a digital entertainment journalist for the Express & Star and Shropshire Star, she embarked on a freelance career in 2021 contributing to the likes of Metro UK, The Sun, WhatCulture, Screen Rant, FilmHounds Magazine and more. Her particular field of interest is horror cinema and she has written for genre publications such as Ghouls Magazine and Moving Pictures Film Club. LinkedIn Read full bio

Alien: Earth is an American television series created by . It is the first television series in the and is set two years before the events of the 1979 film . The series stars , , , , , , and in main roles. Development for the series was reported to have begun in early 2019, with attached to executive produce for . It had started pre-production by April 2023, with Chandler cast in the lead role the following month, and further casting taking place from July to November that year. After principal photography was delayed due to the , production began in July 2023 but was halted in August due to the . Filming resumed in April 2024 and ended in July that year. Alien: Earth premiered on and FX on Hulu in the United States and on internationally on August 12, 2025. Premise The opening of the first episode introduces the premise of the series as involving three separate destinies for the immortality of mankind. These are: Cybernetically enhanced humans: Artificially intelligent beings: (Synths) Synthetic beings with downloaded human consciousness: When the space vessel Maginot crash-lands on Earth, a young hybrid woman and a group of tactical soldiers make a discovery that puts them face-to-face with the planet's biggest threat. Cast and characters Main , , , and play Wendy, Joe Hermit, Boy Kavalier, and Kirsh respectively. as Wendy, the first hybrid (a person who has their human consciousness transferred into a body) and leader of the "Lost Boys" (a group of six hybrid prototypes created from terminally ill children by the Prodigy Corporation). Formerly known as Marcy Hermit, she was renamed Wendy after becoming a hybrid. as Joe Hermit, a for the Prodigy Corporation , and Wendy's human brother as Dame Sylvia, an employee of the Prodigy Corporation and Arthur Sylvia's wife as Boy Kavalier, the CEO of the Prodigy Corporation and the world's youngest trillionaire as Morrow, the USCSS Maginot's (human with some synthetic parts) chief security officer as Slightly, a hybrid and member of the "Lost Boys". Formerly known as Aarush Singh, he was renamed Slightly by the Prodigy Corporation. as Curly, a hybrid and member of the "Lost Boys" as Nibs, a hybrid and member of the "Lost Boys". Formerly known as Rose Ellis. as Smee, a hybrid and member of the "Lost Boys" as Arthur Sylvia, a scientist and Dame Sylvia's husband Diêm Camille as Siberian, a Prodigy Corporation Security Service soldier as Rashidi, a Prodigy Corporation Security Service soldier as Atom Eins, a senior synthetic employee of the Prodigy Corporation as Kirsh, Prodigy Corporation's chief scientist, who serves as a mentor to the Lost Boys. Recurring as Yutani, the CEO of the as Tootles / Isaac, a hybrid and member of the "Lost Boys". He rejects his assigned name of Tootles by the Prodigy Corporation and renames himself after . Guest as Zoya Zaveri, the executive officer and later acting captain aboard the USCSS Maginot as Hoyt, a Prodigy Corporation Security Service soldier on the team with Joe as Anant, a Prodigy Corporation Security Service soldier on the search and rescue team with Joe Dean Alexandrou as Bergerfeld, a Prodigy Corporation Security Service soldier on the search and rescue team with Joe Amir Boutrous as Rahim, a medical officer aboard the USCSS Maginot as Chibuzo, a science officer aboard the USCSS Maginot as Shmuel, an engineer aboard the USCSS Maginot Jamie Bisping as Malachite, an engineer's apprentice aboard the USCSS Maginot Andy Yu as Teng, the navigator aboard the USCSS Maginot Max Rinehart as Bronski, a science officer aboard the USCSS Maginot as Petrovich, the chief engineer aboard the USCSS Maginot Tom Moya as Clem, a junior security officer aboard the USCSS Maginot Victoria Masoma as Sullivan, a crew member aboard the USCSS Maginot Tanapol Chuksrida as Dinsdale, the captain of the USCSS Maginot Episodes This section's plot summaries may be . Please by removing unnecessary details and making them more concise. (September 2025) () " Noah Hawley August 12, 2025 0.589 In 2120, five companies control Earth and the colonized , including the recently founded Prodigy Corporation. The USCSS Maginot , a Weyland-Yutani deep space research vessel, approaches Earth after a 65-year expedition to obtain extra-terrestrial specimens, among them . On Earth, at Prodigy's Neverland research island, a terminally ill child named Marcy becomes the first hybrid, having her consciousness transferred to an adult synthetic, and renames herself Wendy. Adjusting to her new body with the assistance of synthetic mentor Kirsh, Wendy oversees several other children who undergo the procedure. A malfunction compromises the Maginot's navigation, placing it on a collision course with Earth. Some specimens escape, and a grown kills most of the crew. It crashes into a tower in the Prodigy city of New , where Wendy's human brother Joe Hermit works as a medic and corporate soldier. CEO Boy Kavalier asserts the Maginot's contents now belong to Prodigy, and deploys Kirsh and the hybrids on Wendy's request to assist with search and rescue to test the hybrids capabilities. Security officer Morrow, who survived the crash in a reinforced , moves to protect the cargo and detains two Prodigy soldiers, who are killed by a -like specimen. Wendy remarks to Kirsh that she wants to save her brother from death. 2 "" Noah Hawley August 12, 2025 0.380 Boy Kavalier tells Dame Sylvia, that he formed the Hybrid project to allow humanity to compete with , and has granted Wendy additional abilities as he wishes to create a person smarter than him. Kavalier declines Weyland-Yutani's request to secure the Maginot's proprietary contents, warning any incursion on Prodigy's territory will be considered a hostile act. Joe is chased by a Xenomorph and separated from his colleagues. The Xenomorph tracks Joe to the higher floors of the tower, killing another soldier and massacring an apartment of wealthy residents who did not evacuate. Joe is saved by Morrow, who Joe and the Xenomorph, but the Xenomorph regains consciousness and escapes after killing numerous other soldiers, sparing Morrow. Arriving in New Siam, Hybrids Tootles, Smee, Nibs, and Curly encounter other extraterrestrial specimens. Wendy locates Joe along with Slightly but Joe does not recognize Wendy. Slightly reveals Wendy's true identity to a shocked Joe who believed Wendy/Marcy had died. The three encounter several Xenomorph eggs and are ordered by Kirsh to contain them until a team arrives. Joe is dragged away by the Xenomorph, and Wendy chases after it. 3 "" Dana Gonzales Noah Hawley and August 19, 2025 0.441 Nibs questions Curly about why the hybrids are all named after characters and why Marcy gets to be Wendy. Kavalier orders the specimens be brought to Neverland Island for study, despite objections from Kirsh and Dame Sylvia. Morrow finds Smee and Slightly guarding the Xenomorph eggs and interrogates them, suspicious of their childlike behavior. Morrow downloads all the data from the Maginot and erases the data from the source. Kirsh confronts Morrow and Morrow plants a device on Slightly's neck before escaping. Meanwhile, Wendy and Joe fight the Xenomorph with a , and Wendy kills the Xenomorph, although both sustain serious injuries. Returning to the island, Joe undergoes surgery and the Arthur and Dame tend to Wendy. Having escaped into New Siam, Morrow calls Ms. Yutani, and insists on retrieving the specimens despite being ordered to return home. Curly confronts Kavalier about his favoritism towards Wendy, asserting herself to be the best hybrid. Morrow contacts Slightly via the embedded device, convincing Slightly to be Morrow's friend. Kirsh, Tootles, and Curly dissect a facehugger and introduce its larva to Joe's damaged lung, removed during surgery. Wendy awakens, seemingly intercepting signals from the Xenomorph eggs which cause pain. Wendy ultimately collapses in the laboratory containing the eggs. 4 "" Ugla Hauksdóttir Noah Hawley and Bobak Esfarjani August 26, 2025 0.393 When Wendy wakes up, Arthur adjusts her hearing so Wendy can hear the Xenomorph eggs without experiencing pain, and Wendy discovers she can speak the Xenomorphs' language in a frequency audible to humans. Kirsh and Tootles test Trypanohyncha Ocellus (an octopus-like creature) on a sheep, and it implants itself in the sheep's brain via its eye socket. Tootles names himself as Issac. Kumi Morrow pressures Slightly into revealing his real name, Aarush Singh, and he is from India, as a sign of trust, and asks Slightly to steal a Xenomorph egg. Nibs, claiming to be pregnant, becomes violent after Dame Sylvia tries to interrogate her about the rescue mission, and is unknowingly put under house arrest. Joe, jaded after seeing how Wendy is treated as an experiment, attempts to quit and leave. However, Atom Eins tells Joe that if he does, Joe will be sent a large bill for his new lung and never see Wendy again. Slightly contacts Morrow to tell him that he cannot steal an egg, but the latter reveals he used Slightly's real name to track down his family, and uses them as blackmail. Morrow instructs Slightly to take a human near the eggs so they can be infected by a facehugger. It is revealed that Kirsh had been eavesdropping on Morrow and Slightly's conversations. Later, Wendy observes the Xenomorph-infected lung as the newborn Xenomorph bursts out, and Wendy placates it by communicating. 5 "" Noah Hawley Noah Hawley September 2, 2025 0.361 A flashback shows the events that occurred on the Maginot before it reached Earth. Junior security officer Clem wakes Morrow from cryo-sleep and tells him that a fire has led to two facehuggers escaping containment, which latched onto Captain Dinsdale and Science Officer Bronski. Dinsdale dies from the facehugger's acid blood when medical officer Rahim attempts to cut its tail. After being told by engineer Shmuel that the ship's navigational systems were also damaged in the fire, Morrow concludes that someone has sabotaged the ship. Executive officer Zaveri assumes command of the ship, but Morrow threatens to relieve her if she does not prioritize the creatures above the crew. Bronski is placed in cryo-sleep to prevent the gestation of the Xenomorph, but this fails. In science officer Chibuzo's lab, one leech specimen manages to open its test tube from the inside, and lays its larvae in her water bottle. Witnessing this, the Ocellus also escapes afterwards. Apprentice engineer Malachite drinks the water, and the larvae kill him internally; Chibuzo and Rahim are killed by their defensive toxic gas when trying to extract them. Navigator Teng is killed by the now full-grown Xenomorph. Chief engineer Petrovich is revealed to be behind the sabotage, having been promised a hybrid body by Kavalier if the ship crashes in Prodigy territory. Petrovich kills Clem and is in turn killed by Morrow, who retreats to the control room and seals himself in. Zaveri is killed by the Xenomorph outside the door. With everyone dead, Morrow locks himself in the panic room and awaits the crash. Back in the present, Morrow meets with Yutani, offering to retrieve the specimens by force and kill Kavalier. 6 "" Ugla Hauksdóttir Noah Hawley and Lisa Long September 9, 2025 0.478 As the Xenomorph grows, Wendy works on communicating with it. Nibs undergoes testing, prompting Atom Eins to demand her memory be reset to before the Maginot's crash. Dame reluctantly accepts, but Arthur refuses, and is fired under threat of execution if he is not gone by the end of the day. Wendy, disturbed by Nibs' behavior afterwards, learns she was reprogrammed. Meanwhile, Kavalier meets with Yutani over the ship's return and outwits her, securing 20 billion in damages while keeping the specimens for 6 weeks due to quarantine. Kirsh asks Tootles to feed and water the specimens while he is away. However, the Ocellus surprises him into accidentally locking himself in the same cage as two fly-like creatures, who kill him with acid and feed on his body. Slightly tries to lure Joe to the alien eggs, but he declines due to reassignment. Joe later visits a packing Arthur, who covertly deactivates Wendy's tracking device and gives Joe a boat code to allow them to escape. Noticing Tootles is disconnected, he goes to the lab accompanied by Slightly, who opens the cage of the Xenomorph eggs and locks him in, allowing a facehugger to latch onto Arthur. Kirsh watches this through security cameras, but does not tell Kavalier. Slightly hides along with Arthur's body in an air vent as the flies leave their cell. 7 "" Dana Gonzales Noah Hawley and Maria Melnik September 16, 2025 0.385 Smee discovers Slightly hiding an incapacitated Arthur, and the latter convinces him to help deliver Arthur to Morrow on the beach. Security re-secures the lab specimens. Wendy is disgusted by Kavalier's attitude to Tootles' death, and convinces Nibs to join her and Joe in escaping the island. On her way out, Wendy hacks the lab system, releasing the grown , which rampages and escapes into the forest. Kirsh finds Slightly and Smee carrying Arthur's body, but helps them take a faster route to the beach. Outside, Arthur awakes after the dies. Shortly after, a newborn Xenomorph bursts from his chest and escapes. The hybrids take the corpse to the beach, where Morrow's Yutani team meets them. Having failed to bring him the newborn, Morrow takes them captive. After Kirsh shows him the Ocellus caused the lab accident, Kavalier becomes fascinated with the creature's intelligence, and wants to place it into a human host. Outside, Wendy, Joe, and Nibs are held at gunpoint by Yutani forces, but Wendy calls the Xenomorph which kills them. She comforts it, sparing them. Morrow's team enter the facility, but they are taken captive by Kirsh, who has also captured the newborn Xenomorph. Wendy, Joe, and Nibs reach the boat, but they are intercepted by Neverland security. Nibs, frustrated, brutally kills a soldier, prompting Joe to incapacitate her. A shocked Wendy scolds Joe, as the Xenomorph watches in the distance. 8 "" Dana Gonzales Noah Hawley & September 23, 2025 0.469 The hybrids have been imprisoned in one cell, with Joe and Morrow in another. Wendy uses her abilities to block the facility's cameras and communications. She struggles with Joe's decision to shoot Nibs, believing he chose to ally himself with humans instead of her, but ultimately unlocks his cell. Kavalier approaches the hybrids and reveals that at six years old, he built his own synthetic which he used to kill his abusive father. Wendy unlocks their cell, Nibs kills Kavalier's bodyguard, and Kavalier flees. Morrow attacks Kirsh in the lab; Kirsh is badly damaged, but ultimately chokes Morrow unconscious. Smee and Slightly arrive in the lab and they take both Kirsh and Morrow, while Nibs captures Dame. Meanwhile, Atom lures Joe to Kavalier's room and locks him in with the Ocellus. Wendy arrives to save him and fights Atom, who reveals himself as a synthetic, allowing Wendy to control his motor functions. The Ocellus escapes to the beach, where it possesses Arthur's corpse. With the help of the older Xenomorph, Wendy and Joe capture Kavalier and lock him in a cell with Kirsh, Atom, Dame, and Morrow. As Yutani and her team approach the island, Wendy, with both Xenomorphs nearby, declares, "Now, we rule." Production Development In February 2019, reported that two television series were in development, one animated – – and one live-action, from for the network . In December 2020, as part of Disney's Investor Day presentation, the latter television series project was officially announced to be in development for the network, with as showrunner and Scott as executive producer, being set on Earth in the near future. On February 17, 2022, revealed that the series is a taking place before the events of (1979). Hawley himself confirmed that the series would be tied more into the style and mythology of the original 1979 film rather than the prequel films (2012), and (2017). In April 2023, chairman of , , stated that the series was in active pre-production. According to president Gina Balian, the scale of the production of Alien: Earth was much bigger than that of the 2024 FX series , whose budget has been reported as $250 million. Casting In May 2023, was cast in the lead role, followed by , , , and in July. and would be among those added to the cast in November 2023. Filming was scheduled to begin in March 2022, but was delayed due to the . Production on the series began on July 19, 2023, in . Filming (without the American cast including Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, and David Rysdahl) was allowed to occur during the due to the series' British cast working under an contract. In late August, the production was halted due to the strike with most of the first episode completed. Filming resumed in April 2024, and wrapped in mid-July. , Bella Gonzales and serve as cinematographers. Music The score for the series was composed by . The soundtrack was released on on August 12, 2025. It will get a vinyl release in December 2025 on Mutant. The episodes end on famous , and songs because Hawley decided to highlight the endings by "mak[ing] an arena show, something that feels bigger than a small theater", featuring tracks by , , , , , , , , and . The soundtrack from the fifth episode "In Space, No One…" was released as a stand-alone album on September 2, 2025. Release Promotion Alien: Earth's promotion included immersive experiences such as The Wreckage, which was displayed at the and , and The Hunt, an activation staged in major cities worldwide. also partnered with several companies for promotional tie-ins, offering limited-time meals and beverages through food and hotel chains, as well as exclusive merchandise. Release The first episode of Alien: Earth was screened early at the series' panel at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 25. The series premiered on and with its first two episodes on August 12, followed by weekly releases of the remaining six episodes. Internationally, Alien: Earth was made available to stream on . Reception Viewership The Walt Disney Company announced that the first episode of Alien: Earth garnered 9.2 million views worldwide within its first six days of streaming. This total was calculated by dividing the total hours watched by the episode's runtime, reflecting viewership on , , and . Analytics company , which gathers viewership data from certain and content providers, reported that Alien: Earth was watched by 1.8 million U.S. households during its live-plus-five-day period. Boomer households (ages 65–74) over-indexed in viewership by 8% compared to other demographic groups. , which records streaming viewership on some U.S. television screens, reported that Alien: Earth was watched for 464 million minutes between August 11–17, ranking as the seventh-most-streamed original series. In the following week, from August 18–24, it recorded 337 million minutes of watch time, making it the ninth-most-streamed original series that week. Alien: Earth was later streamed for 326 million minutes from August 25–31, making it the tenth-most-streamed original series of the week. Critical response On the website , 93% of 189 critics' reviews are positive, with a critics consensus of: "Stylistically bold and scary as hell, Noah Hawley's Alien: Earth transplants the Xenomorph mythos into the television medium with its cinematic grandeur intact while staking out a unique identity of its own." , which uses a , assigned a score of 85 out of 100, based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". James Dyer of gave the first season five out of five stars, praising its exploration of "the nature of consciousness, mortality, [and] humanity", concluding that "Hawley's series is a rare prequel that serves to enrich its source material, breathing new life into a once-tired franchise". For , Brian Tallerico wrote, "'s work on feels like a logical comparison, and that's the quality tier on which this show resides as well. ... [Hawley] delivers an 8-episode first season that somehow marries the philosophical depth that fans of admired with the intense action and bone-chilling imagery of 's ." Angie Han of described it as a "heady, sprawling, occasionally unwieldy but eventually thrilling epic about personhood, hubris, and of course, the primal pleasure of watching people get absolutely rocked by space monsters", noting its production design and "new beasts with their own deliciously horrible ways of killing". Not all reviews were positive. Dominic Baez of criticized the show's pace and uneven story, writing, "Its examination of identity ... is less insightful than it wants to be, buckling under the weight of its own unanswered questions. And far too often it feels like two separate plots stitched together, a of existentialism and aliens ripping people apart." of called the feeling of the show "tedious" and wrote that it "struggles to resolve the tension between replicating the core Alien appeal and building a broader narrative suited for long-form television," at the same time questioning if Hawley is fit for the genre versus his previous stylings. , who portrayed in the original movies, praised the series, noting how it expands the franchise's scope and calling it "much more profound than just an Alien movie." Future According to series creator Noah Hawley, work has not yet begun on a second season, but conversations are ongoing. He is ready to begin immediately if Disney decides to renew the show. Hawley expects a renewal decision to be made "soon" after the airing of the season finale on September 23, 2025, once its viewership can be evaluated. In another interview, Hawley said that he hopes to have a decision "in the next couple of months."

A Doctor Who fan from the tender age of nine, my first Doctor was Tom Baker (and I have the long scarf to prove it!) I like New Who and the classics as well as classic cars and classic rock. Geek by profession and by choice, happily married and never ready for Winter.

And so we go back to where it all began when we reach the climax of The Invisible Enemy, the starting point of your host's rather bizarre decision to dedicate pretty much his whole life to Doctor Who. What a peculiar thing to do. And yet he'll still manage to shoehorn in a reference to The Other Programme, the scarlet capsuled temptress that is Quatermass: he has a book out about it you know. And his guest, Iain Key ALSO has a book out. But will they be on the same page when it comes to choosing their favourite things about this adventure...? #doctorwho #doctorwhoreaction #doctorwhocommentary #doctorwhocomedian #tobyhadoke #doctorwhofacts #positivedoctorwho #classicdoctorwho Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month: patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter: @tobyhadoke And these podcasts: @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club: @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.

Robert Shearman, who wrote 2005’s Dalek, has said that Doctor Who “is probably as dead as we’ve ever known it.” The writer told Doctor Who Magazine: “I go through phases. I have a real push/pull thing with the show. At the moment, I’m in a ‘pull’ phase. It’s weird because the show is probably as dead as we’ve ever known it. “After 1989, we had, for years, a current Doctor. Now, everything that is ever going to be produced in Doctor Who terms is going to feel retrogressive. At least with the New Adventures and then the BBC Books, you thought, ‘It’s the current Doctor – [Seventh Doctor, Sylvester] McCoy or [Eighth Doctor, Paul] McGann’. No one’s going to start writing Doctor Who books with a Billie Piper Doctor, because no one knows what that means. In a funny way, the closing moments of The Reality War seem to put a full stop on things. We didn’t have that before.” It’s hard to argue with that. The franchise is pretty up in the air right now, with Disney+ still not confirming whether or not it’ll pick up the programme for another season — though it seems unlikely at the moment. And heck, even showrunner, Russell T Davies, has said that he’s not sure whether Billie Piper really is the next Doctor; this might be subterfuge because, in the time since Series 15 aired, with Ncuti Gatwa departing the role of the Fifteenth Doctor, a rough plan must surely have been sketched out. The BBC has assured fans that Doctor Who does have a future, fortunately, so something will happen at some point in the future. Nonetheless, Shearman has pretty accurately summed up the current mood of Who fandom! Like this: Like Loading...