Dark Gallifrey is a wide-ranging audio drama series comprised of eight trilogies. Each trilogy will focus on a different renegade Time Lord and will be written by a single writer. Tim Foley kicks off the series with a Frankenstein-inspired tale following the original renegade, the Time Lord of old who caused Gallifrey’s first civil war – Morbius. 

The first of the three instalments in Dark Gallifrey: Morbius is released today, and the story begins not long after that terrible conflict. 

The time has come for the last Time Lord battleship, the Proteus, to leave the planet Karn and return to Gallifrey victorious. But her voyage home will not be easy. The Captain is sick, the crew is restless, and there are dark forces lurking in the hold below... 

Rachel Atkins plays Captain Argento, tasked with bringing the Proteus home following Morbius’s defeat and execution. By her side are Sisterhood of Karn handmaiden Gilda (Lara Lemon) and first mate Mr Middlewitch (Hywel Morgan). They soon learn that their victory wasn’t quite as secure as they’d thought, and that Morbius is a very difficult Time Lord to kill. 

Dark Gallifrey: Morbius – Part One is now available to own for just £10.99 (collector's edition CD + download) or £8.99 (download only), exclusively here. 

Morbius first appeared in 1976 television story The Brain of Morbius, and is voiced for Big Finish by BAFTA-nominated actor Samuel West, who was recently seen in TV series All Creatures Great and Small and Slow Horses. He previously played Morbius in 2008 Eighth Doctor Adventures story The Vengeance of Morbius. 

West said: “I remember seeing The Brain of Morbius when I was nine years old. I remember of course the final mental duel – the visual effects were so cutting edge at the time, it was brilliantly acted by both of them, and it was properly frightening, not just for a nine-year-old. 

“I’m enjoying playing Morbius again very much. It’s a really fine script. Morbius is a revolutionary who believes that in order to make things better, you have to destroy them. He has an extra portion of chips on his shoulder about the way he was treated by Gallifreyan society, which has become twisted out of all proportion. World domination is a byproduct of cleansing society, but he’ll take it.” 

Writer Tim Foley added: “Imagine Dark Gallifrey: Morbius as a nautical gothic novel with twists and turns ahoy. We’ll explore Morbius’s origins, hear of Gallifrey’s recent civil war, and meet Time Lords old and new. Imagine Dan Simmons’ The Terror meets Doctor Who Magazine’s The Tides of Time. These three releases form a standalone mini-series, but they do set up events and questions for the Dark Gallifrey stories to come.” 

The first part of Dark Gallifrey: Morbius also guest stars Andrew French as Veritas, Mina Anwar as Rolko, Justin Avoth as the Shimmering Man, and Janet Henfrey as Narrata. 

Big Finish listeners can pre-order all six of 2024’s Dark Gallifrey instalments – which includes Morbius Parts One to Three and a second trilogy featuring  Sir Derek Jacobi as the War Master – for just £60 (on collector’s edition CD + download) or £50 (download only).  

The complete Dark Gallifrey pre-order bundle, including all eight trilogies, each following a different renegade Time Lord, is just £210 (on collector’s edition CD + download) or £188 (download only). 

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

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.