Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures

Last updated

The Ninth Doctor Adventures
Big Finish Productions audio drama
SeriesDoctor Who
Featuring
Executive producer(s)
Release dateMay 2021 (2021-05)

The Ninth Doctor Adventures, announced in August 2020, is a Big Finish Productions audio play series based on the television series Doctor Who . It sees the return of Christopher Eccleston reprising his role as the Ninth Doctor and will span four boxsets comprising an entire audio season that was released between May 2021 and February 2022. A second audio season of four more boxsets followed in 2022 and 2023; a third audio season of four followed in 2023 and 2024. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

History

The Ninth Doctor, as portrayed by actor Christopher Eccleston, first appeared in 2005 for the relaunch of Doctor Who . Eccleston is notable for portraying The Doctor for one series before departing. Since, Eccleston had vowed never to return to the science fiction series, even declining to portray the character in the fiftieth anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" due to his feelings that the story "didn't do the character any justice" and felt the BBC still owed him an apology. [5]

In 2018 the actor stated about his exit, “What happened around Doctor Who almost destroyed my career... I gave them a hit show and I left with dignity and then they put me on a blacklist. I was carrying my own insecurities as it was something I had never done before and then I was abandoned, vilified in the tabloid press and blacklisted.” [3] [4]

As of August 2020, Eccleston, having felt healed from meeting fans at conventions and their feelings towards his portrayal of The Doctor, ultimately agreed to participate with Big Finish after discussions with Big Finish co-chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery. [2] Eccleston, in response to his return, stated “After 15 years, it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor’s world, bringing back to life a character I love playing.” [1]

A second season was announced on 13 September 2021. [6] Subsequently, a third season was announced on 9 March 2023. [7]

Production

Nicholas Briggs revealed that he would direct some episodes of the series and that other directors would also be involved. He also revealed he has written a story but was not sure if the BBC would accept it. [8] Christopher Eccleston posted a picture on Instagram showing him holding the script, which revealed title of the first episode, Sphere of Freedom, and writer Nicholas Briggs. [9]

Cast

Main cast

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in at least one season.

  •   A green cell indicates the actor is a main cast member.
  •   A red cell indicates the actor is a recurring cast member.
  •   A light blue cell indicates the actor is a guest or special guest cast member.
ActorCharacterAppearances
S1S2S3
V1V2V3V4V1V2V3V4V1V2V3V4
Christopher Eccleston The Doctor
Camilla Beeput NovaDoes not appear
Jayne McKennaAudreyDoes not appear
Nicholas Briggs Cybermen Does not appearDoes not appear
Sea Devils Does not appearDoes not appear
Zzargol Does not appearDoes not appear
Jon Culshaw Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart Does not appearDoes not appear
Warren Brown Sam Bishop Does not appearDoes not appear
Elinor Lawless Fiona McCallDoes not appearDoes not appear
Adam MartynCallen LennoxDoes not appearDoes not appear
Harki Bhambra DoyleDoes not appearDoes not appear
Alex Kingston River Song Does not appear

Guests

Series 1

  • Ben Lee as Farraday (Sphere Of Freedom / Cataclysm / Food Fight)
  • Jamie Parker as Halloran (Sphere Of Freedom / Cataclysm / Food Fight)
  • Dan Starkey as Marcus Aurelius Gallius (Sphere Of Freedom / Cataclysm / Food Fight)
  • Claire Corbett as Ravager (Cataclysm / Food Fight)
  • Anjella MacKintosh as AI / President / Café Owner (Cataclysm / Food Fight)
  • Pearl Appleby as DC Jana Lee (Girl, Deconstructed)
  • Mirren Mack as Marnie / The Serapheem (Girl, Deconstructed)
  • Forbes Masson as Kurt (Girl, Deconstructed)
  • Damian Lynch as Artie Berger (Fright Motif)
  • Gemma Whelan as Zazie Vincent (Fright Motif)
  • Adrian Schiller as Maurice Le Bon (Fright Motif)
  • Jan Francis as First Incorporation (Planet of the End)
  • Nick Fletcher as Second Incorporation (Planet of the End)
  • Annette Badland as Mrs Goose / Fleshkin 3 (The Hunting Season)
  • Don Gilét as Streatham / Fleshkin 2 (The Hunting Season)
  • Alex Jennings as Lord Hawthorn (The Hunting Season)
  • Anthony Howell as Macbeth / Siward (The Curse of Lady Macbeth)
  • Neve McIntosh as Gruach (The Curse of Lady Macbeth)
  • David Rintoul as Kinade / Priest / Bishop (The Curse of Lady Macbeth)
  • Peter Bankolé as Dieter Jovanovic (Monsters In Metropolis)
  • Nick Wilton as Fritz Lang (Monsters In Metropolis)
  • Helen Goldwyn as Anna Dreyfus (Monsters In Metropolis)
  • Raj Ghatak as Olaf Richter (Monsters In Metropolis)
  • Sienna Guillory as Idara Beckett (Fond Farewell)
  • Juliet Stevenson as Winifred Whitby (Fond Farewell)

Series 2

Series 3

Episodes

Series 1 (2021–22)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
Volume 1: Ravagers
1"Sphere of Freedom" Nicholas Briggs Nicholas BriggsNinth Doctor, Nova, AudreyMay 2021 (2021-05)
2"Cataclysm"
3"Food Fight"
Volume 2: Respond to All Calls
4"Girl, Deconstructed"Helen GoldwynLisa McMullinNinth Doctor, Marnie, Kurt, SerapheemAugust 2021 (2021-08)
5"Fright Motif"Tim FoleyNinth Doctor, Artie Berger, Zazie Vincent, Maurice Le Bon
6"Planet of the End"Timothy X AtackNinth Doctor, First Incorporation
Volume 3: Lost Warriors
7"The Hunting Season"Barnaby EdwardsJames KettleNinth DoctorNovember 2021 (2021-11)
8"The Curse of Lady Macbeth"Lizzie HopleyNinth Doctor
9"Monsters in Metropolis" John Dorney Ninth Doctor, Fritz Lang, Cybermen
Volume 4: Old Friends
10"Fond Farewell"Helen GoldwynDavid K BarnesNinth DoctorFebruary 2022 (2022-02) [10]
11"Way of the Burryman"Roy GillNinth Doctor, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Sam Bishop, Fiona McCall, Cybermen
12"The Forth Generation"Roy GillNinth Doctor, The Brigadier, Sam, Fiona, Cybermen

Series 2 (2022–23)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
Volume 1: Back to Earth
1"Station to Station"Helen GoldwynRobert ValentineNinth Doctor, Saffron WindroseMay 2022 (2022-05)
2"The False Dimitry"Sarah GrochalaNinth Doctor
3"Auld Lang Syne"Tim FoleyNinth Doctor, Mandy Litherland
Volume 2: Into the Stars
4"Salvation Nine" [11] Helen GoldwynTimothy X. AtackNinth Doctor, Sontarans August 2022 (2022-08)
5"Last of the Zetacene" [11] James KettleNinth Doctor
6"Break the Ice" [11] Tim FoleyNinth Doctor, Jack Frost
Volume 3: Hidden Depths
7"The Seas of Titan" [12] Ken BentleyLizbeth MylesNinth Doctor, Sea Devils November 2022 (2022-11)
8"Lay Down Your Arms" [12] Lisa McMullinNinth Doctor, Bertha Kinzky
9"Flatpack" [12] John DorneyNinth Doctor, Liv Chenka, Tania Bell
Volume 4: Shades of Fear
10"The Colour of Terror" [13] Helen GoldwynLizzie HopleyNinth DoctorFebruary 2023 (2023-02)
11"The Blooming Menace" [13] James KettleNinth Doctor
12"Red Darkness" [13] Roy GillNinth Doctor, Callen Lennox, Doyle, Vashta Nerada

Series 3 (2023)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
Volume 1: Pioneers
1"The Green Gift"Helen GoldwynRoy GillNinth Doctor, Callen, Doyle, Giant Maggots May 2023 (2023-05)
2"Northern Lights"Robert ValentineNinth Doctor, Fridtjof Nansen, Hjalmar Johansen
3"The Beautiful Game"Katharine ArmitageNinth Doctor, Daphne
Volume 2: Travel in Hope
4"Below There"Helen GoldwynLauren Mooney and Stewart PringleNinth Doctor, Vyx LeesonAugust 2023 (2023-08) [14]
5"The Butler Did It"James MoranNinth Doctor
6"Run"Robert ValentineNinth Doctor, Zzargol, Alpha Centauri
Volume 3: Buried Threats
7"A Theatre of Cruelty"Helen GoldwynLisa McMullinNinth Doctor, Antonin Artaud, Beatrice Cenci February 2024 (2024-02) [14]
8"The Running Men"Mark WrightNinth Doctor, Ambika Desai
9"Ancient History"Matt FittonNinth Doctor, Bernice Summerfield
Volume 4: Star-Crossed
10"Swipe Right"Helen GoldwynJohn DorneyNinth Doctor, River SongMay 2024 (2024-05) [14]
11"Face of the Apocalypse"Lizzie Hopley
12"Archiepelago"Tim Foley

Awards and nominations

Name of the award ceremony, year presented, category, nominee(s) of the award, and the result of the nomination
Award ceremonyYearCategoryWork(s)ResultRef.
BBC Audio Drama Awards 2023Best Podcast Audio DramaThe Ninth Doctor AdventuresShortlisted [15]
Scribe Awards2022Best AudioThe Curse of Lady MacbethWon [16]
Girl, DeconstructedNominated
Monsters in MetropolisNominated

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References

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  3. 1 2 Lewis, Isobel (10 August 2020). "Christopher Eccleston to reprise Doctor Who role for first time in 15 years". The Independent . Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  4. 1 2 Bray, Abbie (9 August 2020). "Christopher Eccleston to reprise role as Doctor Who despite saying he'd never go back". Metro . Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  5. Fullerton, Huw (18 September 2019). "Christopher Eccleston turned down Doctor Who's 50th anniversary because it 'didn't do justice' to the Ninth Doctor". Radio Times . Retrieved 10 August 2020.
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  7. "Christopher Eccleston Returns for Third Audio Series!". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  8. "Podcasts - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
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  10. "4. Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures Volume 04". Big Finish Productions . Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "The Ninth Doctor v Sontarans!". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 "Liv and Tania's Love Story Continues!". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 "Frank Skinner Meets the Ninth Doctor!". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 "Christopher Eccleston Returns for Third Audio Series!". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  15. "The 2023 Shortlist". BBC .
  16. "Big Finish Scribe Award Nominations 2022". 20 June 2022.