It’s 2005 again, as the Doctor and Rose Tyler find an alien threat close to home on the Powell Estate.
The first Ninth Doctor and Rose audio drama from Big Finish begins where the relaunched television series made its home – with Jackie Tyler and her flat on the Powell Estate.
Snare
After the emotional wallop of ‘Father’s Day’, the Doctor has brought Rose home to spend some time with her mother. It’s a well-judged place to set a series of adventures (after ‘Dalek’ and before Captain Jack), but there’s also a slight stretch of the mind at play, The Tenth Doctor ‘doing domestic’ and joining the Tyler’s for Christmas dinner felt like a departure, but here we find his predecessor hosted, albeit reluctantly, at Jackie Tyler’s flat and eating waffles. That said, taking weird over waffles is a great line to bounce us into the credits.
Tim Foley’ tale takes us from the flat of a deceased neighbour into a landscape of alien fauna, with the Doctor seizing the chance to explore. It also grapples with the emotional impact of an estranged parents’ death, and prompts Rose to think about her childhood actions to a man who was, as she realises with adult eyes, unwell.
Well rooted in the Powell Estate, we see Jackie’s hospitality for good and ill. She looked out for Kevin (Alex Austin) as he grew up in difficult circumstances and, in her own way, is trying to make the Doctor welcome. As ever, alongside the comedy, Jackie Tyler (Camille Coduri) brings the heart.
Tim Foley drops in numerous nods to root this story, including Rose’s “disappearance” making the news, but none of these references overwhelm. He also channels this Doctor’s more abrasive side – the Time Lord is gloriously dismissive of Kevin’s photographer friend Marlene (Hannah Brown).
In Summary
‘Snare’ provides a solid (re)start to the Ninth Doctor Adventures and a great jumping on point for new listeners. All three of the regulars entertain and the story feels well-rooted in the Powell Estate setting of the mid-noughties.
Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Snare is available from Big Finish now.
Next Time: The Last Days of the Powell Estate
South London, 2036. The Doctor and Rose team up with an urban explorer to investigate the case of Mr Fingers, an invisible killer haunting an abandoned corner of the city. If you feel a hand on your shoulder: don’t look around…
Joining Christopher Eccleston, Billie Piper and Camille Coduri, the story also stars Dan Starkey (Strax) as Mr Fingers.
Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: The Last Days of the Powell Estate is available to pre order at Big Finish now. It’s released in October 2025, as the series alternates with new releases in The Thirteenth Doctor Adventures range.