This title was released in March 2026. It will be exclusively available to buy from the Big Finish website until 30 April 2026, and on general sale after this date.
The British government has a plan to drastically improve environmental conditions, thanks to the Gynt Foundation and its mysterious benefactor, 'Mr Hammond'. But the plan is bold and crucially requires the endorsement of a prominent green campaigner to allay any public fears.
When the Doctor's former companion Polly sets off to investigate a fantastic, new, net zero city, nothing goes quite according to plan. For one thing, the Doctor himself unexpectedly appears. And for another, the city contains a terrible secret.
With an older Dodo working for the government, the Doctor and Polly must fight a threat that endangers the whole of humanity.
**Please note: the collector's edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed.**
Recorded on: 26-28 August 2025
Recorded at: The Soundhouse
Producer Mark Wright said: "Beware the City of Illusions brings to a close this trilogy of stories that see the First Doctor reunited with former companions decades after their adventures together. The return of Anneke Wills as Polly was always part of our plan, and in writing this story, Nick Briggs was keen to reflect Anneke's own passionate interest in environmental issues, discussing the plot with her as the script developed.
"Beware the City of Illusions features action, mystery and monsters, and above all it honours the place that Anneke holds in the worlds of Doctor Who and the hearts of fans sixty years after her first appearance."
Lead actor Stephen Noonan said: "I think, without any word of a lie, this is the one I've enjoyed the most, the most successful of the stories, although some of the others have been absolutely terrific too. Nick really knows how to write the First Doctor, the duologue scenes between the Doctor and Polly are just sublimely written, it’s a really good story and very, very topical."
And Anneke Wills, returning to the role she originally played on TV from 1966 to 1967, added: "When Nick called me up and explained the story, I laughed so much, I fell off the sofa. It's brilliant. I read the script and I thought, absolutely blooming brilliant, because it has everything. It has every quality that you want from Polly’s story - the compassion that Polly has, and lovely scenes with the Doctor, meeting him again after all that time. It's been so exciting working on it."
Anneke Wills and Nicholas Briggs © Barnaby Edwards
Becky Wright, Anna Crichlow, Nicholas Briggs, Stephen Noonan, Amy Rockson, Lauren Cornelius, Tom Alexander, Barnaby Edwards
Stephen Noonan and Lauren Cornelius © Barnaby Edwards
