Since the beginning of the lockdown imposed by the coronavirus crisis, Big Finish has been releasing weekly FREE DOWNLOADS of audio dramas – or #lockdownloads – for a limited time. 

Every Monday, a new story (or episode from a box set collection) can be downloaded exclusively from the Big Finish web site’s Weekly Deals page. 

These stories can be unlocked by anyone who has registered for a Big Finish account (which is free to create) and played on the Big Finish listening app (which is free to install).  

Each story will be available for one week only, and comes accompanied by a special discount offer on related titles.  

This week’s free title is:  

Doctor Who and the Star Beast – part one, adapted by Alan Barnes. 

Starring Tom Baker and Rhianne Starbuck, Doctor Who and the Star Beast is based on the Doctor Who Weekly comic strips written by Pat Mills and John Wagner, with art by Dave Gibbons. 

Nicholas Briggs, director of the story said: “The alien monster craziness is contrasted sharply with a dash of kitchen sink drama and a touch of Grange Hill, which predated the TV series exploring more domestic settings. It’s interesting how the brilliant comics writer of these strips, Pat Mills, kind of anticipated this. Alan has a great love for Pat’s work, and he was absolutely the right fit to adapt these beautiful, bonkers adventures of an extra-eccentric Fourth Doctor.” 

There is an interview with actor Rhianne Starbuck, who plays companion Sharon, here. 

Listeners can download this audio FREE, here from now until 23:59 (UK time) 14 June 2020..   

1980 AD! In Yorkshire, the authorities have dismissed reports that an Unidentified Flying Object was seen plummeting towards the ground… moments before the explosion that destroyed the Blackcastle Steel Mills. After all, Blackcastle is the last place on Earth aliens would ever want to visit… 

Local teenagers Sharon and Fudge know better. ’Cos they’ve found an actual space alien hiding in the allotments. He’s their alien. Their secret. And his name is… The Meep. 

He’s not the only alien in Blackcastle, though. His pursuers, the terrible Wrarth Warriors, are on his trail, along with their unwitting accomplice: the Doctor! 

For a limited time, Big Finish listeners can also download the entire box set of Doctor Who – The Comic Strip Adaptations volume one for 33% off, at the Weekly Deals page.  

All these download discounts will expire at 23:59 (UK time) 14 June 2020.  

Big Finish’s schedule of free lockdownload stories has been extended and new free adventures will continue to be released over the next three weeks.  

Please note that Big Finish has now re-opened its warehouse and commenced the shipping of back-orders. The mailout of collector’s edition CDs will still be delayed, but all purchases of CD titles unlock a digital copy that can be downloaded or played on the Big Finish app immediately from the release date.