Long-standing Doctor Who fans might find it hard to believe it’s been four decades since Colin Baker first donned the Sixth Doctor’s flamboyant coat for his debut TV story. His incarnation of the Time Lord only had two full series of TV adventures, but since 1999, he’s been a regular star of Big Finish audio productions. As he's travelled on countless adventures and picked up new companions, the Sixth Doctor has also grown in appreciation and gathered many fans. 

Marking this anniversary, The Quin Dilemma is an epic adventure, told across six parts (of course), released as one box set. It features the Sixth Doctor at four different points in his timeline, joined by a plethora of companions from TV and audio: Mel (Bonnie Langford), Peri (Nicola Bryant), Constance (Miranda Raison), and Flip (Lisa Greenwood). 

Doctor Who – The Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Quin Dilemma is now available to purchase for just £22.99 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £18.99 (download only) exclusively here. The collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1500 copies and will not be repressed.   

The six stories in the box set are: 

The Exaltation by Jacqueline Rayner

Hints of a temporal anomaly bring the Doctor and Mel to Arunopal on the day King Otho steps down as ruler. But Otho has a dilemma – which of his five sons should succeed to the throne? He has a deadly game in mind to solve the problem – and the target is a certain Time Lord…  

Escape From Holy Island by Chris Chapman 

The history books tell us that on the 8th June, 793 AD, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne was burnt to the ground by Viking raiders. But history also records that “fiery dragons were seen flying in the sky” - can that be true? With time running out, the Doctor, Peri and a young H.G. Wells try to mobilise the island’s monks as the real raiders of Lindisfarne thunder over the North Sea - and they don’t look like Vikings…  

Sibling Rivalry by Robert Valentine 

The Doctor, Constance and Flip are stuck on an alien planet in the middle of a civil war. To make matters worse, the Sontarans have invaded. To make matters even worse, two of the dastardly quins – the volatile Clarent and the odious Dellan - are both on the scene... and the Doctor may not survive their furious competition.  

Children of the Revolution by Robert Valentine 

With their plans causing havoc, wicked quins Clarent and Dellan are at loggerheads. But as the schemes of Sontaran Battle Marshal Skurr reach their climax, the only thing more dangerous than the brothers’ competing against each other… is the brothers joining forces.  

The Thousand Year Thaw by Chris Chapman  

Once every thousand years, the frozen planet of Zycros thaws, revealing the most fertile soil in the universe. For a brief window, Zycros becomes the farming capital of the cosmos, and that brings with it many visitors - including a small blue box and its two occupants, keen to stretch their legs. But as the ice melts and the temperature rises, the Doctor and Peri realise that this pleasant stroll may be the last one they ever take together...  

The Firstborn by Jacqueline Rayner 

The Quins have succeeded in their quest – a little too well. Multiple Doctors congregate on Arunopal, bringing with them a terrible threat to reality… 

The box set’s cast also includes Philip Labey (On Chesil Beach) as H. G. Wells and Jonnie Broadbent (Thomas and Friends) as the evil Quins, while Andrew Dunn (Coronation Street), Carrie Quinlan (John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme), and Sanjeev Kohli (Still Game) make their Big Finish debuts. Regular Doctor Who star Dan Starkey plays a variety of Sontarans. 

Colin Baker said: “It’s always lovely to have a celebration, and in The Quin Dilemma I play the Doctor with all my companions. The writing is very clever, because it looks back over the years and shows the Doctor at his various slight but important evolutionary moments. 

“The Doctor has changed a lot from the maniac who tried to strangle his most wonderful companion, Perpugilliam Brown! I’ve always said it’s interesting when characters don’t hit the ground fully formed and evolve, and I’ve always wanted Ol’ Sixie to be like that. This story has given me the opportunity to major on that element of him.”

Nicola Bryant added: “I started playing Peri in 1984, so for two thirds of my life, I have been Peri. And the idea, which didn’t cross my mind at the time, that I would still be doing this now in the 2020s is both crazy and amazing. 

“With Colin as the Doctor, what’s allowed the character to endure is his sense of joy and engagement, both as the Doctor and as Colin Baker. I think Colin cares a great deal about the show and the fans, and that comes through in his wonderful portrayal of the Doctor, who is of course mad and eccentric, but also warm and wonderful. Just like Colin.

“We all know our characters inside out, what they would and wouldn’t do, so we approach each story not with any trepidation, but always with excitement, because we are very comfortable in this place.” 

This box set also includes The Ultimate Poe by Andrew Collins, the first of 2024’s bonus Interludes. This replaces the previously-advertised story. Interludes are hour-long audiobook adventures with special music and effects, bundled exclusively as download extras with selected classic Doctor box sets. Details of how to download this story will follow next month. 

A second Sixth Doctor Adventures (Title TBC) box set will follow later in the year. This can be pre-ordered in a bundle with The Quin Dilemma for just £44 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £36 (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.