Doctor Who – Page 12

BBC7 has Doctor Who, Oscar Wilde and Piers Anthony

Online Audio

BBC7’s the 7th Dimension will be airing three outstanding aural delights this coming week…

Doctor Who – The Stones of Venice (an 8th Doctor Adventure)
By Paul Mags; Performed by a Full Cast
BROADCASTER: BBC7
BROADCAST: Sunday at 6pm and midnight (U.K. Time)
This Doctor takes his companion, Charley, on a break. But has he got the right time? Soon they’re embroiled in the decadent court of a tired Duke and his search for his beloved wife. The curse of the long since dead Duchess has finally come to pass and the enchanted city of Venice is sinking beneath the canals. Starring Paul McGann as the Doctor and India Fisher as Charley.
This is a Big Finish production!

The Canterville Ghost
By Oscar Wilde; Read by Alistair McGowan
BROADCASTER: BBC7
BROADCAST: Monday to Wednesday at 6:30pm and 12:30am (U.K. Time)
When American Minister, Hiram B. Otis signs the deeds for Canterville Chase he not only buys a piece of English heritage, he also inherits a most troublesome ghost. No sooner have Mr Otis and his family moved into their new home than they come up against this unruly spirit. A battle of wills ensues – the ghost devising ever more elaborate hauntings to oust the interlopers who just refuse to be frightened.
It is the Minister’s only daughter, Virginia, who tries to look beyond the ghost’s evil ways and understand why he behaves as he does. Characteristic of Wilde’s early fairy tales, where innocence and true love triumph over evil, this beautifully crafted story combine’s wry amusement with poignancy.

The Ghost Galexies
By Piers Anthony; Read by Stephen Hogan
BROADCASTER: BBC7
BROADCAST: 6:30pm and 12:30am (U.K. Time)
In the not too distant future, when travelling at light speed is in its infancy, the crew of the spaceship, Meg II, are sent on a mission to discover the fate of their sister ship, Meg I. As they hurtle at mind-bending speeds towards the outer limits of the Milky Way, they are forced to confront the terror of the unknown – what lies beyond the rim of our universe?

These will all be avilable via the Listen Again service shortly after they air.

posted byJesse Willis

Two FREE Doctor Who audio adventures still online

Online Audio

Our U.K. correspondent, Roy, points out that “several interesting items are available free on the old BBC Cult website” and that the site has been “closed for some time now and is no longer supported by the BBC.” Among the items there are two audio Doctor Who adventures. Given that they may dispapear at any time click on over soon and enjoy…

Doctor Who: Real Time (A 6th Doctor Adventure)
By Gary Russell; Performed by a FULL CAST
25 Streaming Real Audio Files – Approx. 60 Minutes [AUDIO DRAMA]
WEBCASTER: BBC.co.uk
WEBCAST: 2002

There has been a series of mysterious vanishings on the desert planet Chronos in the 33rd century. Survey teams working for a university seem to have simply vanished amongst the pyramids on the planet. Alongside two other survey teams and an expert on cybernetics, the Doctor and Evelyn learn the deadly truth: that the planet Chronos is being used as a base for one of the Doctor’s oldest and deadliest foes — the Cybermen.

An extended version of Doctor Who: Real Time was released on CD by Big Finish Productions. The additional scenes are designed to help the plot along, including an opening scene set inside the TARDIS. Buying it would probably make listening about 10 times easier.

In 2003, the BBC commissioned Big Finish Productions to remake Shada (a famously uncompleted Doctor Who adventure) as an audio play. The result was webcast in six episodic segments, accompanied by limited Flash animation, on the BBC website using illustrations provided by comic strip artist Lee Sullivan. The illustrations are still available, but I’ve seen them and find they don’t add to the story.

For an expanisve list of Doctor Who on audio check out THIS Wikipedia entry. For an even more complete listing check out THIS one!

posted by Jesse Willis

Doctor Who’s Eighth Doctor on the BBC Radio 7

Online Audio

SFFaudio reader “Bradford” laments our lack of Doctor Who content but suggests a quick fix… he writes: “BBC7 will be playing some Big Finish Dr Who productions.” After following the link he provided it looks like Bradford is right! The Eighth Doctor’s adventures, as produced by Big Finish Productions and starring Paul McGann began on Sunday on BBC Radio 7‘s The 7th Dimension with episode one of Shada, and will continue with Storm Warning, Sword of Orion, The Stones of Venice, Invaders from Mars and The Chimes of Midnight. Thanks for the heads-up Bradford!

Now as to our lack of Dr Who content, I too lament it, unfortunately our reach into the U.K. is not completely masterful yet. We’re trying to keep a stiff upper lip about it but haven’t adopted this as our natural attitude yet. Until then, we will rely on the kindness of our British brothers and sisters across the Atlantic.

posted by Jesse Willis