From the recent past to the far future, the Doctor, Harry and Naomi find themselves battling foes old and new. From the malevolence of the Master to the traps of the Toymaker, danger lurks round every corner... and sometimes in the last shape you'd expect...
13.3 Matryoshka by Aurora Fearnley (2 parts)
When a strange force drags the TARDIS to Earth, it's clear that the Doctor, Harry and Naomi are up against an incredibly powerful being. And when they encounter Lord Pearson, inventor of games and toys, searching for his vanished daughter... it becomes clear exactly who that being might be. Hide and seek is one of the simplest games devised by man... but in the hands of The Toymaker... it may also become the deadliest.
13.4 The Caged Assassin by Matthew Sweet (2 parts)
It's very unusual to find a tiger in the TARDIS. But it’s even more unusual to find one heavily dosed in radiation. But this is far from the most unusual occurrence the Doctor, Naomi and Harry are going to encounter today. Because they are about to meet Charles Jamrach, supplier of exotic animals to the rich and royal, who is unaware that his famous menagerie conceals a deadly terror. A strange creature out for blood...
13.5 Metamorphosis by Lisa McMullin (2 parts)
The people of the planet Jaxus are vanishing. When the Doctor and his friends land, Naomi is snatched away by a mysterious fog and taken to a prison run by a very old foe of the Doctor's. The Master is here and he has, as ever, a sinister scheme underway... but neither Naomi nor Harry know who he is... Can the Doctor stop his plans and rescue the prisoners? Or will his companions inadvertently aid his enemy's plans?
**Please note: the collector's edition CD box set was strictly limited to 1,500 copies. It is now out of print on CD**
Recorded on: 9 April, 13 September and 28 October 2019, 1 and 3 June 2020
Recorded at: Audio Sorcery
Director Jamie Anderson said: “Some of the Doctor’s enemies have an ‘I’m smarter than you‘ vibe about them and it’s always nice to beat villains who really think a lot of themselves. I’m very glad that the Doctor has got another chance to come up against the naughty Toymaker.”
Tom Baker said: “Playing the Doctor continues to be fun for me. Matthew Sweet, a very bright and eloquent man and good egg all round, has written us The Caged Assassin. It’s a lovely mixture of whimsy and muscle. The language is elegant and mischievous and loving.”
Christopher Naylor added: “We’re very established as a team now – we’re having a great time and we’ve all found our characters – though Tom found his some time ago, of course! And it’s lovely to be working with Geoffrey Beevers. His Master is so seductive – he has a wonderful smile to his voice the whole time, he’s so delighted in how evil he is.”
Eleanor Crooks said: “Harry and Naomi are completely chalk and cheese; she’s so confident in her own abilities and Harry’s more unsure about things. But I really got freaked out by Matryoshka! Creepy toys used to really scare me as a kid, so reading the script was like having to relive that, but I loved it!”
Actor Annette Badland added: “I really engaged with this script and was intrigued from the outset by the idea of Russian dolls and changing personalities. The Toymaker is quite fascinating – complex, unpleasant, seductive!”
Guest star Lydia West added: “It’s great to work with Big Finish again – there’s something about working with audio that’s really powerful, and the privilege of working with Tom is just dreamy!”
Christopher Naylor, Tom Baker, Eleanor Crooks © Paul Midcalf
Geoffrey Beevers and Tom Baker © Paul Midcalf
Tom Baker and Mark Gatiss
Tom Baker and Matthew Sweet
