Big Finish announce Rani Takes on the World audio series (updated)

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Anjli Mohindra is returning to her Sarah Jane Adventures role as the star of new audio drama. 

Updated 20/12/22: Story details emerge for Rani’s return.

Big Finish have released further details for the first boxset of Rani Takes on the World. The set is subtitled Beyond Bannerman Road and will see the intrepid journalist, who was Sarah Jane Smith’s protégé, tackling new threats.

Here’s the premise:

Life on Bannerman Road was always an adventure for Rani Chandra and her friends. A childhood of mystery and wonder, of meeting aliens, time travellers, lost princes, intergalactic robots and so much more – all alongside Sarah Jane Smith.

Sarah Jane is gone. Childhood ends. Everyone grows up eventually. But the story doesn’t stop there. When Rani and Clyde are reunited, adventure finds them once again – ready and waiting to take on the world!

Anjli Mohindra

In three full-cast audio dramas, Rani (Anjli Mohindra), now an award-winning journalist, faces a mysterious alien spaceship, discovers the trust cost of a picture-perfect wedding day, and takes her podcast listeners behind-the-scenes of her most terrifying investigation yet!

We also have synopses for the individual stories too:

‘Here Today’ by Joseph Lidster

Years after her adventures with Sarah Jane Smith and friends, Rani Chandra is a successful journalist – she’s brought down a government, and her podcast is making waves. And she’s about to be surprised by a visit from her best friend, Clyde Langer – who has an announcement of his own.

But, tonight, Clyde isn’t the only visitor to Ealing… In the skies above, a flying saucer approaches – and only one person on Earth can stop it destroying London!

‘Destination: Wedding’ by James Goss

Rani and Gita Chandra have been invited to a dream wedding on a luxury island resort. But how did Tiff from school end up marrying a film star? And why has she asked all the worst people from her life alongside the Hollywood A-listers?

While Gita samples the canapés and criticises the flower arrangements, Rani senses something amiss… The perfect wedding comes at a price – but who will be paying?

‘The Witching Tree’ by Lizzie Hopley

Chasing a podcast award, encouraged by a secret source, Rani investigates a ‘haunted’ restaurant built around a twisted tree. The owners could be faking the spooky activity, but Rani soon realises the tree is not what it seems.

As a terrifying threat to planet Earth is revealed, Clyde and Phoenix are dragged into the fight. Rani is torn between revealing the truth, or keeping a secret too terrifying to broadcast…

While there’s no artwork available yet, we do have a cute reunion snap of Anjli Mohindra and Daniel Anthony (Clyde)…

Anjli Mohindra & Daniel Anthony

… snapped in the salubrious surroundings of the Big Finish car park (where else?)

Script Editor Matt Fitton tells us a little more too:

“For all those youngsters (and not-so-youngsters!) who were avid viewers of The Sarah Jane Adventures, it’s time to catch up with some old friends and see what they’ve been up to.

Rani has of course followed in Sarah Jane’s footsteps, with a successful journalistic career of her own. But when she and Clyde meet up for the first time in a while, there are surprises in store. Not least of which is the total destruction of Ealing!

Then Rani and her mum are off to a wedding and Gita is most disappointed that it’s not Rani’s! An old school friend seems to have turned her life around and brought her friends to a paradise island resort, but what is it costing?

Finally, we go behind the scenes on one of Rani’s investigative podcasts. But her friend and producer Samira is worried when Rani gets too involved in the story of a witching tree, with a malign influence over those who come into contact with it. Secrets will be revealed in an explosive finale!”

Rani Takes on the World: Beyond Bannerman Road is available to pre-order on Collector’s Edition CD and download now, releasing in April 2023. Volume 2 is also up for pre-order too, both separately and as part of a bundle.

Original article continues…

Anjli Mohindra

Big Finish announce Rani Takes on the World audio series

Anjli Mohindra is returning to her Sarah Jane Adventures role as the star of new audio drama.

Rumours have been swirling for a while, but this evening Doctor Who audio producers Big Finish Productions have confirmed the return of Rani Chandra in her own series.

The character, a teenage protégé of Doctor Who companion and investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith appeared in four series of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Now, hot on the heels of a couple of guest spots, in The Eighth of March: Protectors of Time and the recent BBC Sounds drama Doctor Who: Redacted, Anjli Mohindra will reprise her role for a new run of box sets.

With the series titled Rani Takes on the World, the first release is called Beyond Bannerman Road.

Due in April 2023, it will comprise three stories;

‘Here Today’ by Joseph Lidster
‘Destination: Wedding’ by James Goss
‘The Witching Tree’ by Lizzie Hopley

It’s also confirmed that fellow SJA cast members Daniel Anthony and Mina Anwar are reprising their roles as Clyde Langer and Rani’s mum Gita too.

Speaking about the new series, Anjli Mohindra said:

“There’s something so ingrained in me playing this character that has made it all slide straight into place. But also, reprising the role of Rani in 2020 for [Doctor Who Lockdown story] Farewell, Sarah Jane was a real springboard into this. Rani is such a part of me and who I am, and I’m a part of Rani, that it just happened naturally.

“I think it’s gorgeous because you feel like Sarah Jane is very much a part of it and of who Rani has become later on in life. They still hold onto the life that they all shared together and the love and respect. ‘What would [Sarah Jane] do in this situation?’ is very much there in the background. I think this is a lovely tribute but also a lovely continuation of her work.”

There’s more information, plus comments from producer Emily Cook on the Big Finish website where she teases the return of “other familiar faces.”

Rani Takes on the World: Beyond Bannerman Road is available to pre-order on Collector’s Edition CD and download now. Volume 2 is also up for pre-order too, both separately and as part of a bundle.

We’ll keep you posted on Rani Takes on the World.