The Fourth Doctor, Romana and K9 return in 2016 for a full season of Doctor Who audio adventures from Big Finish. The eight releases will see the return of some old foes and friends, and include a stellar line-up of guest stars.

The Wave of Destruction by Justin Richards kicks off the run, as the travellers become involved with strange occurrences on a pirate radio station in the 1960s. Karl Theobald (Primeval, Twenty Twelve) plays disc jockey Mark Lanchaster.

In February’s The Labyrinth of Buda Castle by Eddie Robson, the Doctor and Romana decide to holiday in another exotic European city, but find that death is stalking the local population. Kate Bracken (Misfits, Being Human) guest stars as supernatural investigator Celia Soames.

March’s The Paradox Planet and April’s The Legacy of Death, both by Jonathan Morris, take us to the world of Aoris, where two different time zones have declared war on each other. And the Doctor and Romana are trapped on different sides… Simon Rouse (Doctor Who: Kinda) plays Drang, Tom Chadbon (Doctor Who: The City of Death, Del Grant in Blake’s 7) plays scientist Embery while Emma Campbell-Jones (Doctor Who: The Wedding of River Song and The Night of the Doctor) is his assistant Shola.

‘How brilliant to have Tom Chadbon back with his City of Death cast mates!’ says producer David Richardson. ‘And while it wasn’t a return for the detective Duggan, it was still a joy to watch them sitting together on the sofa, fondly reminiscing about their times filming in Paris back in 1979.’

The Gallery of Ghouls by Alan Barnes, released in May, finds the Doctor and Romana investigating a waxworks exhibition in Brighton in 1833. Celia Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Doctor Who: The Bells of St John) plays Madame Tissot, while Nickolas Grace (Robin of Sherwood, Brideshead Revisited) is the waxworks manager Goole.

The cockney Time Lord Drax, whose only TV appearance was The Armageddon Factor in 1979, makes his comeback in June’s The Trouble With Drax by John Dorney. Ray Brooks (Big Deal, Mr Benn, Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 AD) takes on the role originally portrayed by Barry Jackson, while the cast also includes John Challis (Doctor Who: The Seeds of Doom, Only Fools and Horses, The Green Green Grass, and recently interviewed for the free Big Finish podcast Toby Hadoke's Who's Round #111) and Hugh Fraser (Agatha Christie’s Poirot).

‘We devised The Trouble With Drax for Barry,’ says producer David Richardson, ‘but sadly he passed away before the script was even completed. We searched hard for an actor to continue his legacy, and Ray Brooks was the ideal choice - so charming, so naughty… I think people will love the new incarnation of Drax when they hear him.’

The season ends on an epic story spread over two releases - The Pursuit of History in July, and Casualties of Time in August, both by Nicholas Briggs. David Warner makes his comeback as the mysterious Cuthbert, and his former assistant Mr Dorrick (Toby Hadoke) is back too. Both characters appeared in four releases during the second season of The Fourth Doctor Adventures.

‘I’d always intended to continue the story of Cuthbert and Dorrick and the mysterious Conglomerate,’ says Nick, ‘but when we lost dear Mary Tamm all plans for that storyline were put aside. However, with Lalla signing up to these stories I decided to return to some of my original ideas, melded them with some new thoughts, and the result is the huge season finale. It’s quite a ride!’

The guest cast also includes David Troughton (Doctor Who: Midnight and The Curse of Peladon) as the Black Guardian.

‘Could it be that the past is finally catching up with the Doctor and Romana?’ teases Nick...

The fifth series of Doctor Who - The Fourth Doctor Adventures can be Subscribed to today on CD or Download at a price that saves considerably on buying the stories individually. The next story in this range is Doctor Who - Death Match which comes out later in the month.