An iconic duo has been reunited, as the Third Doctor is travelling with Jo Jones – née Grant – once again. Their latest adventure brings them face to face with one of the Doctor’s oldest enemies – the Mondasian Cybermen. 

The setting for this dangerous encounter is an isolated planet where the TARDIS travellers find what seems to be a Victorian manor house. Here they meet the unusual Pepperdine family, and are drawn into a haunting mystery – how are the Cybermen connected to Nethara Reach, and what are they planning? 

The Quintessence is a six-part adventure, in keeping with the classic format of the Third Doctor’s TV stories, and is written by Stewart Pringle and Lauren Mooney. Tim Treloar plays the Doctor (as originally portrayed on screen by Jon Pertwee) alongside original TV series star Katy Manning as his capable companion Jo Jones. 

Doctor Who – The Third Doctor Adventures: The Quintessence is now available to purchase as a collector’s edition CD box set (+ download for just £22.99) or a digital download only (for just £18.99), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be repressed. 

The Doctor and Jo Jones arrive at ‘Always’, a Victorian manor house perched impossibly on the distant storm-world of Nethara Reach.  

Greeted by the peculiar Pepperdines, a couple frantic with worry about their ailing daughter, they discover terrible secrets hiding within the panelled walls and gruesome oil paintings.  

Secrets that will bring the Doctor face to face with one of his most ancient and implacable enemies, and put his relationship with Jo to the ultimate test. 

The guest cast includes Chris Larkin (Outlander) as Arthur Pepperdine, Emily Joyce (My Hero) as Lucy Pepperdine, Felicity Cant (The Mousetrap) as Emmeline Pepperdine, Gary Turner (Emmerdale) as Drexel, and regular Doctor Who monster voice Nicholas Briggs as the sinister Cybermen. 

Actor Tim Treloar said: “It’s always great fun to be back doing a Third Doctor story, and this a brilliant one – very ethereal and atmospheric. It's something new for The Third Doctor Adventures to have the Doctor and Jo outnumbered by a family unit, and the Cybermen are my favourite Doctor Who baddie.” 

His co-star Katy Manning added: “Tim and I had a wonderful time together in this very different story, with a lovely script by two writers I haven’t worked with before. There are a lot of very strange goings on for Jo in this, but she’s a tough little cookie! It was really quite incredible to perform. 

 “From the second I met Tim, I had that same kind of rapport that I got when I first met Jon. What Tim’s brought to it is not just an impersonation – he’s doing a very good Jon Pertwee, but there’s also that camaraderie, that naughty giggly thing, and that's what comes across to people listening.” 

Praise for Revolution in Space, the previous box set in The Third Doctor Adventures range: 

“An outer-space thriller that truly feels like a missing story from Season 11.” – Doctor Who Magazine  

“Gives listeners everything they could want and then some.” – Sci-Fi Pulse 

“Tim Treloar sparkles as the Doctor and the robust, almost spiky relationship with Sarah is well realised.” – CultBox 

“A remarkable piece of writing.” – Sci-Fi Bulletin 

Big Finish listeners can save money by purchasing The Third Doctor Adventures: The Quintessence and Revolution in Space together in a multi-buy bundle for just £44 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £36 (download only).

Alternatively, listeners can buy this series as part of a bundle of all 15 Classic Doctor Who box sets due in 2024 for £318 (collector’s edition CD + download) or £264 (download only). Similarly, a bundle containing 12 Classic Doctor Who 2024 box sets is available from £216 (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.