On the backwater planet of Falk, the mayor of the small town of Oakview has been murdered. Two investigators are sent in to catch the killer. 

But unbeknownst to everyone on Falk, they’ve just been caught up in a war beyond their imagination. A war that will change Falk forever. 

The next The War Doctor Rises box set will move the focus away from the Daleks and Gallifrey and onto a remote planet affected in its own way by the universe-spanning Time War. 

When a puzzling murder is discovered, two detectives are dispatched: Agents Wyatt Smith (Jonathon Carley) and Louise Tickson (Daisy Ashford). The case seems strange enough to start with – possibly the strangest of Smith’s career – but what does it have to do with someone called the Doctor? 

This three-part mystery story is scripted in its entirety by Alfie Shaw, and has a guest cast including Christopher Naylor (The Fourth Doctor Adventures), Kerrie Taylor (The Bay), and Ian Conningham (Insomnia). 

The War Doctor Rises: Fallen Heroes is now available to pre-order from 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 1,000 copies and will not be repressed. 

The story is divided into three chapters: 

Chapter One: The Dead Sea 

Galactic Investigations Bureau Agents Smith and Tickson have been dispatched to the remote coastal town of Oakview to investigate a bizarre murder. 

Who killed the mayor? And why did they draw a clock around his body? 

Chapter Two: Unit 26 

As Wyatt and Louisa examine the links between the Clock Face Killer and a cold case, they realise their entire investigation could hinge on a single question. Who is the Doctor? 

Chapter Three: Yesterday is Tomorrow and Tomorrow is Today 

Warrior No More. 

Producer David Richardson said: “From the very first scene, we’re thrown into something very different – a dark story in which two agents are on the trail of a killer, in a place that is familiar but so very different. It’s a tale packed with surprises and left turns, as Alfie throws everything into this brilliantly conceived Time War story.” 

Writer Alfie Shaw added: “When Matt Fitton asked if I wanted to do a War Doctor box set, I’d just finished doing a war against the Daleks box set for The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles, so I wanted to do something completely different. There are no Daleks and no massive space battles in Fallen Heroes. It’s a little backwater town on a backwater planet that’s about to be messed up by the greater conflict.  

“The inspiration for this set was stuff like True Detective and Alan Wake 2. Yes, there’s a murder to be solved, but the focus is more on how the crime affects those caught up in it rather than a Christie-style whodunnit. I really wanted it to almost not be Doctor Who, and the fact it must become Doctor Who again is part of what messes things up for everyone.  

“It’s weird – possibly the weirdest one I’ve done – but if you’re doing a whole box set in the Time War, you need to take a big, bizarre swing. I adore Daisy and Jonathon and have wanted to work with them both on something for ages. I’m over the moon that we were able to make it happen for this one.” 

Big Finish listeners can save money by pre-ordering Fallen Heroes in a multibuy bundle with 2025’s second The War Doctor Rises box set (title TBC), due for release in December, from just £38 (download to own) or £47 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set).  

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.