The War Doctor (audio drama series)

Last updated

The War Doctor
Doctor Who The War Doctor Volume 1.jpg
Big Finish Productions audio drama
Series Doctor Who
Featuring War Doctor
Produced by David Richardson
Executive producer(s)
Starring
  • Sir John Hurt (2015–2017)
  • Jonathon Carley (2021–present)
MusicHoward Carter
Release dateDecember 2015 (2015-12) – present

The War Doctor, announced in October 2015, is a Big Finish Productions audio play series based on the TV show Doctor Who . It sees the return of Sir John Hurt as the War Doctor, a role he previously portrayed in the TV story "The Name of the Doctor" as well as more prominently in the 50th Anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor". The series consists of four box sets, each made up of three hour-long episodes, the first released in December 2015, the remaining three volumes followed across 2016 and into 2017. [1] [2]

Contents

Big Finish Productions announced October 2020 that the War Doctor would return portrayed by actor Jonathon Carley, stepping in for the late John Hurt. Nicholas Briggs stated in relation to the recast: "I can confidently say that what Jonathon is doing here will be a fitting tribute to John, in honour of his great work in the role.". Four volumes were announced to be released beginning June 2021. [3] [4]

Cast

List indicator(s)

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

ActorCharacterAppearances
The War DoctorThe War Doctor BeginsThe War Doctor Rises
S1S2S3S4S1S2S3S4S5S6S1S2
Sir John Hurt The War Doctor Does not appear
Jonathon CarleyDoes not appear
Paul McGann The Doctor Does not appearDoes not appear
Jacqueline Pearce Cardinal OllistraDoes not appear
Nicholas Briggs The Daleks TBA
Dalek Time Strategist Does not appearDoes not appearTBA
Louise Jameson Leela Does not appearDoes not appearDoes not appearTBA
Veronica Roberts Ohila Does not appearDoes not appearTBA
Lucy Briggs-OwenRejoiceDoes not appear
Carolyn Seymour Does not appear
Beth ChalmersVeklinDoes not appearDoes not appearDoes not appearDoes not appearTBA
Honeysuckle Weeks HeleynaDoes not appearDoes not appear
Dan Starkey General Fesk / The Sontarans Does not appearDoes not appear
Adèle Anderson TamasanDoes not appearDoes not appearTBA
Chris Jarman RasmusDoes not appearDoes not appearTBA
John Dorney Biroc Does not appearDoes not appear
Ajjaz AwadCaseDoes not appearDoes not appearDoes not appear
Angela Bruce AndartaDoes not appearDoes not appear
Stephen Frost RondigDoes not appearDoes not appear
Ken Bones The General Does not appearDoes not appearTBA
Nicholas Le Prevost The Barber-SurgeonDoes not appearDoes not appear

Episodes

The War Doctor faces the Daleks in four seasons of the Time War.

The War Doctor

Series 1: Only the Monstrous (2015)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"The Innocent" Nicholas Briggs Nicholas BriggsWar Doctor, Rejoice, Ollistra, DaleksDecember 2015 (2015-12)
The Doctor is discovered injured on the planet Keska and is nursed back to health by Rejoice. The planet comes under attack from an enemy and the Doctor assists with the defence.
2"The Thousand Worlds"Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsWar Doctor, Rejoice, Ollistra, DaleksDecember 2015 (2015-12)
The Doctor is sent to retrieve a lost Time Lord strategist from Dalek-controlled space.
3"The Heart of the Battle"Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsWar Doctor, Rejoice, Ollistra, DaleksDecember 2015 (2015-12)
The Doctor is shocked to learn that a Time Lord strategist is attempting to negotiate peace with the Daleks

Series 2: Infernal Devices (2016)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Legion of the Lost"Nicholas Briggs John Dorney War Doctor, Ollistra, DaleksFebruary 2016 (2016-02) [5]
When the Time Lords make a deal with the ancient Technomancers to resurrect their dead soldiers, the Doctor learns that there is more to the Technomancers' agenda.
2"A Thing of Guile"Nicholas BriggsPhil MulryneWar Doctor, Ollistra, DaleksFebruary 2016 (2016-02) [5]
Forced to work for Ollistra as a prisoner of war, the Doctor investigates a Dalek research base.
3"The Neverwhen"Nicholas BriggsMatt FittonWar Doctor, Ollistra, DaleksFebruary 2016 (2016-02) [5]
The Doctor and Ollistra become caught on different sides of a conflict where Time is shifting to such an extent that their weapons are being constantly adjusted.

Series 3: Agents of Chaos (2016)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"The Shadow Vortex"Nicholas Briggs David Llewellyn War Doctor, Ollistra, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistOctober 2016 (2016-10)
The Doctor tracks a Dalek agent to Berlin in 1961 to try to prevent a plan to change history.
2"The Eternity Cage"Nicholas Briggs Andrew Smith War Doctor, Heleyna, Ollistra, Daleks, Dalek Time Strategist, SontaransOctober 2016 (2016-10)
The Doctor must assist a Time Lord strike team in retrieving Ollistra after she's captured by a Sontaran strike force trying to take part in the Time War.
3"Eye of Harmony"Nicholas Briggs Ken Bentley War Doctor, Helayna, Ollistra, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistOctober 2016 (2016-10)
The Doctor and Ollistra are trapped on an out-of-control TARDIS as they are forced to face a traitor in the ranks.

Series 4: Casualties of War (2017)

Sir John Hurt died on 25 January 2017. Recording of the series had been completed and was released posthumously. [6] [7]

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Pretty Lies"Nicholas Briggs Guy Adams War Doctor, Ollistra, DaleksFebruary 2017 (2017-02)
Trapped on a distant planet, the Doctor and Ollistra must help defend a small colony while bothered by a time-travelling war correspondent.
2"The Lady of Obsidian"Nicholas BriggsAndrew SmithWar Doctor, Ollistra, Leela, DaleksFebruary 2017 (2017-02)
The Doctor investigates strange events in the Obsidian Nebula, which reveals that his old companion Leela is still alive despite being presumed dead in the early days of the Time War.
3"The Enigma Dimension"Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsWar Doctor, Ollistra, Leela, the Enigma, DaleksFebruary 2017 (2017-02)
The Doctor, Leela and Ollistra must protect Gallifrey from an other-dimensional assault organised by the Daleks.

The War Doctor Begins

Series 1: Forged in Fire (2021)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Light the Flame" [8] [9] Louise Jameson Matt FittonWar Doctor, Tamasan, Ohila, Sisterhood of Karn, RasmusJune 2021 (2021-06)
2"Lion Hearts" [8] [9] Louise JamesonLou MorganWar Doctor, Tamasan, TharilsJune 2021 (2021-06)
3"The Shadow Squad" [8] [9] Louise JamesonAndrew SmithWar Doctor, Tamasan, DaleksJune 2021 (2021-06)

Series 2: Warbringer (2021)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Consequences"Louise JamesonTimothy X AtackWar Doctor, Veklin, Case, Tamasan, AndartaDecember 2021 (2021-12) [10]
2"Destroyer"Louise JamesonAndrew SmithWar Doctor, Veklin, Case, Tamasan, DaleksDecember 2021 (2021-12) [10]
3"Saviour"Louise Jameson Jonathan Morris War Doctor, Veklin, Case, Rondig, DaleksDecember 2021 (2021-12) [10]

Series 3: Battlegrounds (2022)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"The Keeper of Light" [11] Louise JamesonPhil MulryneWar Doctor, Tamasan, Dorothy, DavidMay 2022 (2022-05)
2"Temmosus" [11] Louise JamesonRossa McPhillipsWar Doctor, Tamasan, Thals, DaleksMay 2022 (2022-05)
3"Rewind" [11] Louise JamesonTimothy X AtackWar Doctor, Tamasan, DaleksMay 2022 (2022-05)

Series 4: He Who Fights with Monsters (2022)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"The Mission" [12] Louise JamesonRobert ValentineWar Doctor, The General, The Barber-SurgeonDecember 2022 (2022-12)
2"The Abyss" [12] Louise JamesonRobert ValentineWar Doctor, Leela, The Barber-Surgeon, DaleksDecember 2022 (2022-12)
3"The Horror" [12] Louise JamesonRobert ValentineWar Doctor, The Barber-Surgeon, DaleksDecember 2022 (2022-12)

Series 5: Comrades-in-Arms (2023)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Mother's Love"Barnaby EdwardsNoga FlaishonWar Doctor, Case, VeklinMay 2023 (2023-05)
2"Berserker"Barnaby EdwardsTimothy X AtackWar Doctor, Case, DaleksMay 2023 (2023-05)
3"Memnos"Barnaby EdwardsPhil MulryneWar Doctor, Case, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistMay 2023 (2023-05)

Series 6: Enemy Mine (2023)

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"The Hybrid's Choice"Helen GoldwynAjjaz Awad-IbrahimWar Doctor, Case, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistDecember 2023 (2023-12)
2"Fear Nothing"Helen GoldwynMark WrightWar Doctor, Case, Tamasan, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistDecember 2023 (2023-12)
3"Exit Strategy"Helen GoldwynMatt FittonWar Doctor, Eighth Doctor, Case, Daleks, Dalek Time StrategistDecember 2023 (2023-12)

The War Doctor Rises

Series 1

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1TBATBDTBDWar DoctorAugust 2024 (2024-08) [13]
2TBATBDTBDWar DoctorAugust 2024 (2024-08)
3TBATBDTBDWar DoctorAugust 2024 (2024-08)

Series 2

No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1TBATBDTBDWar DoctorDecember 2024 (2024-12) [14]
2TBATBDTBDWar DoctorDecember 2024 (2024-12)
3TBATBDTBDWar DoctorDecember 2024 (2024-12)

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.
Audie Awards 2017Best Audio DramaOnly the MonstrousNominated [15]
Scribe Awards2023Best Audio DramaHe Who Fights with MonstersNominated [16]

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References

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  4. "Doctor Who is recasting one of the Doctors for all-new Time War series". Digital Spy . Digital Spy. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 "John Hurt returns to battle the Daleks in new War Doctor trailer". Radio Times . 14 March 2016. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  6. "John Hurt's War Doctor Returns in Final Audio Tales". geek.com. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2017.
  7. "John Hurt's Final Performance As The War Doctor". Bleeding Cool . 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Back to the beginning of the War Doctor". Big Finish Productions . Retrieved 11 March 2021.
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  10. 1 2 3 "2. Doctor Who: The War Doctor Begins 2". Big Finish Productions . Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "3. Doctor Who: The War Doctor Begins 3". Big Finish Productions . Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 "The Time Lord Who Fights Monsters". Big Finish. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  13. "1. Doctor Who: The War Doctor Rises 1 (Title TBA) - Doctor Who - The War Doctor - Big Finish". BigFinish.com. Big Finish. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. "2. Doctor Who: The War Doctor Rises 2 (Title TBA) - Doctor Who - The War Doctor - Big Finish". BigFinish.com. Big Finish. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. "2017 Audie Awards® - APA (En-US)".
  16. Hughes Media Internet Limited (13 July 2023). "Big Finish Scribe Award Nominations 2023 - News". Big Finish. Retrieved 13 July 2023.