In the TARDIS, the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) receive a distress call from Minnie McKeith (Máiréad Tyers) and Gary Purdue (Joe Pitts), the only human inhabitants on planet 3121169 Point 7 Alpha (or is it spelled “3121169.7 Alpha”?) which is entirely populated with robots. Minnie has a best friend named Alice JNKL520 (Nicole Davis), while Gary has a boss named Peter Ampersand Hashtag (Glen McCready); both who behave as if they’ve been programmed with exaggerated human emotions and personalities, hence the story title False Friends. (Try not to get carried away with laughing at their weird names.)
This planet suspiciously bears an uncanny resemblance to Earth, with the main setting being what appears to be London. Rose knows it isn’t home, as everything surrounding her and the Doctor looks a bit off and wonky. Once they meet Minnie and Gary, there is double trouble when the Time Lord’s companion gets her very own duplicate. You may think the Kraals from Terry Nation’s The Android Invasion are involved at first, but no… it’s a sequel to the Series 1 opener Rose. Because the Autons are back and more deadly than before!
Released on 13th October, the Autons’ return was previewed in DWM 619 but intentionally avoided spoiling when they were going to appear, hence why it was a huge surprise to me. After writing The Last Days of the Powell Estate, Timothy X Atack takes his second 9DA Series 4 script to a whole new level by depicting the Autons as robots instead of plastic and establishing an artificial worldbuilding, like generative AI slop becoming increasingly advanced and realistically deceptive. With the Nestene Consciousness also reverted back to its tentacled form, after having its DNA rewritten to appear as a vat of molten plastic, it has evolved into something more strategic beyond the 2005 invasion of Earth.
On that note, when the Doctor talks about the environmental impact of plastic polluting Earth, it clearly references the Target novelisation of Rose by Russell T Davies, which brilliantly expands upon the Nestene mythology. If you need more context, I highly recommend reading it alongside rewatching the original TV episode.
For the narrative to be primarily told from Minnie and Gary’s perspectives just makes both characters so engaging and relatable. I love how their internal monologues are like field reports being documented in real time. Although Minnie and Gary don’t end up in a romantic relationship, they do have a lot in common from their chemistry to their knowledge of the Doctor. Couldn’t be more impressed with Máiréad and Joe’s performances throughout.
Auton Mickey was an obvious cheap copy, but Auton Rose is far more intelligent and near flawless. Done in the cleverest way possible, like Martha Jones in the Sontaran two-parter and Donna Noble in Wild Blue Yonder, Billie Piper finally gets the duplicate treatment by excelling at channeling both versions of Rose Tyler, which makes it difficult to tell them apart without making either sound robotic. Same goes for Christopher Eccleston’s performance, he stays true to the Doctor being more restrained yet troubled when he encounters the Nestene, in contrast with showing justified hostility towards the Daleks. “Prove you’re human,” as he deliberately repeats to Rose and her false counterpart.
Overall, I consider False Friends to be the strongest entry yet in 9DA Series 4, and one of the best Big Finish releases of 2026; right up there with Pandemonium. A fresh and organic take on the Autons with gritty concepts and character development, serving as a perfect successor to the Series 1 opener, and also an optional starting point for Doctor Who fans and casual listeners alike. Absolutely fantastic!
And coming in December: the Doctor and Rose are once again back on the Powell Estate where they encounter The Rag Man, written by Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle. Make sure to check out this nostalgic “Next Time” style trailer!
The Ninth Doctor Adventures: False Friends is available now from Big Finish.
