Synopsis: Four new adventures from the time of the Tenth Doctor told by impressionist and actor Jacob Dudman have been released. The Tenth Doctor Chronicles features some familiar faces plus old enemies returning – and we can’t wait to hear them.
Review: As with The Ninth Doctor Chronicles, The Tenth Doctor Chronicles combined modern Doctor Who concepts and performers with the narrative structure of The Companion Chronicles. While I missed David Tennant, I thought that Jacob Dudman did an eerily good job playing Ten in four stories about exploitation and greed.
In “The Taste of Death” by writer/director Helen Goldwyn, Ten and Rose encountered The Slitheen. I have to say I’ve never been a fan. However, if their televised exploits had been as well crafted as this story of illegal export practices and slavery, I dare say I would have reacted to them more favorably. The social commentary within the tale had a marvelously Pertwee-esque flavor to it, and Goldwyn’s characterizations of Ten and Rose were spot on. Additionally, the protagonist aliens were the sort of brilliant creations writers can get away with in audio productions.
In “Backtrack,” writer Matthew J Elliott gave listeners a well thought out time travel gone awry story with Ten and Martha. Dudman gave a spot on performance as our favorite medical student in a story that made excellent use of her background. I particularly enjoyed how Martha problem solved throughout in this tale about the consequences of cutting corners.
In “Wild Pastures” by James Goss, Dudman couldn’t possibly do Sylvia Noble justice, so Big Finish brought back the brilliant Jacqueline King to reprise the role. I adored how Goss wrote Sylvia as unabashedly herself, and King played the part for the first time in nine years with absolute relish. The beauty of this care home morality tale was that listeners came to fully understand that Sylvia was Donna through a glass darkly and just as capable of saving the day.
The final installment, “Last Chance” by Guy Adams, was my favorite in the set. Species conservation is vitally important and a natural theme as Ten approached regeneration. Added to that, Michelle Ryan made an effervescent return as Lady Christina de Souza. Even if she hadn’t reprised the role, any Doctor Who story featuring black rhino pseudo companions named Ermentrude and Douglas gets top marks from me.
- You can purchase The Tenth Doctor Chronicles here.
Written By: Matthew J Elliott, James Goss, Helen Goldwyn, Guy Adams
Directed By: Helen Goldwyn
Cast
Jacob Dudman (Narrator / The Doctor), Jacqueline King (Sylvia Noble), Michelle Ryan (Lady Christina de Souza), Jon Culshaw (Nathan Hobb), Arinzé Kene (Orentino). Other parts played by members of the cast.
Producer Scott Handcock
Script Editor Matt Fitton
Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
- Story9.0
- Performances9.0
- Audio Production10
