The Writers’ Script Opportunity encourages new writers in memory of the late Big Finish staffer Paul Spragg.

The much missed Paul Spragg was a champion of new writing talent. To honour his memory, Big Finish holds an annual open opportunity for authors to write a Doctor Who short story. The winning script is produced and then released for free.

For 2024, the chosen theme was the Time War – the devastating temporal conflict between the Time Lords and the Daleks. Forming part of the Doctor’s backstory in the modern series, it also sits at the heart of many audio ranges.

The judges chose War Stories, an adventure featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Bill, written by Patrick Ross.

War Stories

The Intergalactic Fringe Festival spans a whole planet. Its programme offers millions of shows, so the Doctor and Bill can choose anything from anti-grav acrobats to the quantum cabaret.

But the Doctor is alarmed when he attends a play about the Time War. It’s not just that it tells his personal history – its performance could unravel the universe.

War Stories is performed by Alan Cox. It’s directed by Lisa Bowerman, with sound design and music by Alistair Lock.

The 2024 judging panel were Big Finish’s creative director Nicholas Briggs, former Doctor Who brand editorial manager Gabby De Matteis, Doctor Who – Short Trips producer Peter Anghelides, and Big Finish producer Dominic Martin.

“All the universe is a stage!” said Dominic Martin. “War Stories is such a creative take on the impact of the Time War, told through a narrow lens in the life of the Twelfth Doctor. It’s a thrill to revisit this era, and explore that Doctor’s perspective of the Time War through such a stellar idea.”

Doctor Who – Short Trips: War Stories is released as a free download on December 29th, 2024. The writer’s original proposal and studio script also comes with the download.

Check out our reviews of the previous winners: Forever Fallen, Landbound, The Last Day at Work, The Best-Laid Plans, Free Speech, The Lichyrwick Abomination, The World Tree and The Hoxteth Time Capsule. They’re available to download for free from Big Finish.