When I first read online about the unmade Doctor Who serial Operation Werewolf, I was wholly fascinated by the storyline and the blend of historical and spy elements with science fiction. That got me anticipating for a potential Lost Stories audio, for many years, until Big Finish finally answered my prayers with their official announcements in 2024. Adapted by Jonathan Morris, working from outlines by director Douglas Camfield and writer Robert Kitts, which were originally submitted to the BBC in 1967, it’s a real dream come true to have it turned into a full-cast audio drama as opposed to using the format of hybrid narration and dialogue.
The plot begins with the TARDIS taking the Second Doctor (Michael Troughton, Patrick’s son), Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines), and Zoe Heriot (Wendy Padbury) to Normandy, 1944, during World War II; three days before the D-Day landings. (And yes, Jamie refers to an aeroplane as a “flying beastie”, once again, before correcting himself.) Upon getting separated from his companions, who end up with the French resistance, the Doctor learns of the Germans conducting secret experiments in a chateau. That would be the titular “Operation Werewolf”, which the Nazis are hoping could rewrite history in their favour. While the conspiracy does involve teleporting across the English Channel from Nazi-occupied France, plus brainwashing people with gas, there are no alien races featured in the story; instead focusing on the realism of human traitors and spies in the midst.
Now, for the record, Operation Werewolf predates Series 1’s Bad Wolf arc and Series 2’s Tooth and Claw, the story being conceived in the 1960s. However, there is a reference to Ian McNeice’s portrayal of Winston Churchill, as a way of preserving continuity with the TV episodes and other Big Finish ranges. So to quote the Ninth Doctor in Boom Town, “Nah, just a coincidence.”
Morris said:
“I’ve been wanting to do Operation Werewolf ever since the Lost Stories range began back in 2009. What interested me about it was that it’s such an unusual story. It’s set in history – Normandy, a few days before the D-Day landings – with a science-fiction plot, but not one resulting from alien or time-traveller interference. I can’t think of another Doctor Who story that does that!”
I certainly couldn’t agree more. After adapting John Lucarotti’s original version of The Ark in Space, Morris excels at maintaining faithfulness to the source materials with outstanding results. Camfield and Kitts began outlining Operation Werewolf in 1965, later having to perform several rewrites alongside a full script for Episode 1, until being shelved altogether. Initially planned for Season 5 with Victoria Waterfield, I believe it works better with Zoe as the companion (no offence to Victoria), but you can read more about the writing process in Vortex 184.
From strong dialogue to consistent pacing, it’s incredible that all six episodes have turned out to be approximately 25 minutes long; the exact same length as how they would’ve been broadcast. And what I also find intriguing is that the episodes were given individual titles; a practice used during the majority of First Doctor serials, which was retained for the audio adaptation.
- The Secret Army
- The Chateau of Death
- Lair of the Werewolf
- Friend or Foe
- The Village of Lies (originally Village of the Swastika)
- Crossfire
It’s a brilliant opportunity for three main leads to take turns reading the titles, at the start of each episode, with clacking teleprinters and morse code beeps — an atmospheric choice of sound effects to convey the main setting and time period, like with The War Games and a few other Second Doctor serials doing stylistically themed title cards.
If Jamie Robertson’s meticulous sound design and music weren’t enough, there’s also the brilliant diverse casting and characters such as Françoise (Jordan Loughran), SS Gruppenführer Ulrich Schneider (Timothy Blore), Hauptsturmfüher Leni Bruckner (Leonie Schliesing), Sir Aubrey Fanshaw-Smith (Michael Higgs), and also Professor Hans Richter (Branko Tomović). Hearing several of these cast members perform in different accents helps elevate the narrative, even with the terrifying and threatening depiction of the Nazis which work better than portraying them as comical cartoon characters.
Let’s not also forget director David O’Mahony voicing Jamie’s descendant Fergus, along with Stéphane Cornicard as Jules. In case others hadn’t pointed out, the latter actor was also featured in Saving Private Ryan, released exactly 26 years before Operation Werewolf (on 24th July). Coincidental but perfectly timed, with this year also commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. History in the making!
After reuniting in Conspiracy of Raven, the magnificent third volume of the Second Doctor Adventures Season 6B audios, it’s symbolically touching to have Hines and Padbury voicing the younger versions of Jamie and Zoe once again. Their performances brilliantly capture the essence of how they portrayed them onscreen in the late 1960s. With Michael continuing his father’s iconic role on audio, he never disappoints. I’m sure Patrick Troughton himself would’ve been very proud of his son and his two companions, plus the production as a whole.
Had the story been filmed, I’m sure Douglas Camfield would’ve directed it, having done The Invasion as well as some of my favourite Classic serials including The Daleks’ Master Plan, The Web of Fear, and Inferno (Episodes 1 and 2 only, due to a minor heart attack). And I would also like to give Georgie O’Boy a shout out for her debut cover artwork, marvellously illustrating the lighting and atmosphere of the characters and setting.
Overall, Operation Werewolf is one of the very best entries in the Lost Stories range, after years of keeping my fingers crossed for it to be adapted. A perfect starting point for anyone who wishes to try out a full-cast Second Doctor audio, alongside Beyond War Games which I highly recommend.
Operation Werewolf is available now from Big Finish, with Episode 1 also available as a free digital download.
