The fifth volume of Big Finish’s Third Doctor Adventures brings back the much-loved characters, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, Liz Shaw, and Sergeant Benton – played, respectively, by Jon Culshaw, Daisy Ashford (daughter of the original Liz Shaw, Caroline John), and John Levene!
They’re joined by Tim Treloar as the Third Doctor and Katy Manning, returning as Jo Grant. Producer, David Richardson says:
“It’s been really rewarding to see how Doctor Who fans have embraced these new Third Doctor stories. We knew Tim’s performance (and it is a performance, not a mere impersonation) as the Third Doctor was extraordinary – and it’s clear that listeners feel the same way too.”
Culshaw takes the role of the Brigadier, and Executive Producer, Nicholas Briggs explains:
“After listening to Jon’s rendition of the Third Doctor in the BBC Audiobook of The Five Doctors, we just gave him the job! It was a very tricky thing casting someone to do justice to Nicholas Courtney’s brilliant, original performance, but Jon has done this with honour and love for what the splendid Mr Courtney did all those years ago.”
The Haisman Estate, who hold the rights for the Brigadier, were also delighted at the casting:
“We’re thrilled at the choice Big Finish has made. We’ve always admired Jon’s voice work, and in particular enjoyed his rendition of the Brigadier in The Five Doctors audiobook. We look forward to hearing the Brigadier returning to Big Finish in such a substantial way!”
The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Five features two serials:
5.1 Primord by John Dorney
Prisoners are escaping from incarceration all around the country and UNIT have been called in to aid in the search. But the Doctor is unwilling to agree to the Brigadier’s request for help as he and Jo have opted to take a holiday – they’re going to visit his old assistant Liz Shaw, now working in Cambridge University.
But, unfortunately for Jo, the Doctor can’t relax for very long. Soon the Time Lord and his friends are facing an old enemy – creatures they’d long since thought they’d put to ground.
The Primords have returned – and this time the danger may strike very close to home.
5.2 The Scream of Ghosts by Guy Adams
When the Brigadier and Jo are called in to look into a breakthrough in the field of portable communication, the Doctor has to stay behind with communications problems of his own – a strange signal coming through the TARDIS console that’s burned out its circuits.
When Benton approaches the Doctor with an odd story about an old friend, the Time Lord realises his troubles and the Brigadier’s investigations may be connected, and hot-foots it in pursuit.
Soon they discover that terrifying sounds are walking in the woods of the English countryside… but what lurks behind those sounds may be even more dangerous…
Katy Manning adds:
“Working with Tim has been so much fun, watching him become the Doctor more and more. And it was a joy working with Jon Culshaw. He came in and in an instant (and I won’t tell him how!) caught the Brigadier immediately!”
The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Five is out now, £24.99 on CD and £19.99 on download.
