Articles by:

Ian McArdell

Big Finish Originals – Cicero Series 1 review

Starring Samuel Barnett (Netflix’s Dirk Gently), the pilot episode of Cicero was a surprise hit last year. Returning for a further five episodes, as part of the Big Finish Originals range, all six now form a first series. Set in ancient Rome, lawyer Marcus Tullius Cicero comes to prominence with his successful defence of a … >

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Torchwood: Believe boxset review

While Big Finish have been releasing Torchwood audios since 2015, Believe is the first to reunite the original television line-up with a three-part tale rooted in the latter part of the second series. The story focuses on Owen’s suspicions about “The Church of the Outsiders”, a religious organisation who believe that our destiny belongs in … >

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Doctor Who: The Helliax Rift review

Despite being an essential part of the Pertwee years, the Doctor’s connection with UNIT – his alien-fighting army allies – faded within two years of Tom Baker’s arrival in Doctor Who and they were not seen again en masse until the last series of the classic era. With Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and co hailing from the 1970s/80s … >

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Doctor Who – The Tenth Doctor Chronicles Vol 1 review

Following last year’s box set of The Ninth Doctor Chronicles from Big Finish, the partially narrated format has been used again to give stories drawn from David Tennant’s tenure. This collection offers one tale with each of his regular companions, though Donna is replaced with her mother, and one from the time of the 2009 specials, … >

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Doctor Who Short Trips 8.03 review – The Turn Of The Screw

After a quick schedule shuffle, the latest Doctor Who Short Trip release is an Eddie Robson penned tale featuring Warrant Officer Charlie Sato, a member of the UNIT team who guard ‘The Vault’. First created for the Companion Chronicles range, Charlie Sato is voiced by Jee Yee Tso who may be more familiar to fans … >

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Torchwood 19 – The Death Of Captain Jack review

After a six month break, which saw the launch of the Torchwood: Aliens Among Us series, a new run of monthly Torchwood releases from Big Finish began with the return of an old adversary. Before Captain Jack Harkness became Torchwood’s brooding immortal hero, we saw him as Doctor Who’s reformed temporal con man. Earlier than that, … >

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Torchwood: The Office Of Never Was review

From the roster of the Torchwood central cast, doubtless many would agree that Ianto Jones had the most to gain from the show’s audio revival. Presented as the ever-reliable background boy, albeit with a tortured past and a cyber-girlfriend stashed in the basement, his opportunities to shine on screen were limited at best. The audio … >

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Doctor Who Gallifrey: Time War review

Running in various formats since 2004, Gallifrey has chronicled eight series worth of political machinations at the heart of Time Lord society. Following the stories of the Doctor’s former companions Romana and Leela. Latterly, the series has added Ace to its roster, picking up on the notion that the Doctor was preparing her for life … >

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Torchwood Aliens Among Us 3 cover art crop

Torchwood: Aliens Among Us Part 3 audio boxset review

Big Finish’s Torchwood Series 5, Aliens Among Us, draws to a close across a third box set of four stories.  Set in a Cardiff radically altered since the heyday of the television show, the resurgent Torchwood work from the remnants of their hub, dealing with alien threats in a city riven with immigration issues and … >

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