Concluding the Sixth Doctor and Flip trilogy which began with January’s ‘Antidote to Oblivion’, we find the pair taking enjoying a view of the Earth from a mile wide International Space Station in the year 2071.

Their arrival coincides with the launch the ‘Clean Up Space’ programme, an Anglo-Indian project designed to deal with the dangerous build-up of space junk in orbit. With a ring side seat for the mission they befriend Jyoti Cutler, a young payload specialist with film director’s aspirations, who is tasked with recording the mission.

While the programme is coordinated by the Indian Space Agency, mission controller Salim has more than just space junk on his mind; he has to handle the scrutiny of pushy British representative Jessica Alloway (Kate McEwen).

With talk of sabotage and some space junk that takes on a life of its own, the Doctor finds himself having to intervene with the TARDIS to affect a course correction and save the Space Station. He limits the damage to a glancing blow, but not before it hits the observation module. Within moments, Flip finds herself floating in space with finite air reserves and companion who seems more concerned with capturing the view…

‘Scavenger’ is a great thriller which pulls in a rather unexpected direction, while taking in zombie satellites, orbital mechanics and underhand political machinations. Rooted in proper space science, there are some nice touches here such as calling the Station the “Nelson Mandela” and having spacesuits which namecheck world record free-faller Felix Baumgartner.

While it would have been easy set this tale amid a familiar space programme like NASA, post-colonial tensions provide a much more interesting backdrop. Also, the use of an Indian Space agency throws a nod in the direction of 2012’s ‘Dinosaurs on a Spaceship’, although that television tale was set almost three centuries later.

Splitting her from the Doctor, Lisa Greenwood’s gusty Flip Jackson is paired with astronaut Jyoti Cutler. Funny and smart, Culter is brought to life by Anjli Mohindra who starred as Rani in The Sarah Jane Adventures although in this case she employs an Indian accent.

The remainder of the guest cast are strong too; Tariq Bhatti as the Mission Controller with a long held secret and Kate McEwen creating a monstrously self-serving queen of spin, prepared to do anything in order to claim British credit for the mission.

The sound work that has gone into this production is simply stunning. From claustrophobic space suits to distorted comms, we felt fully immersed in the action through some really tense moments.

Although one of the closing elements of the tale was well signposted, the story leaves this TARDIS team in a very interesting position and we look forward to seeing the outcome… though we fear we may be waiting for a while.

Extras: Approximately 15 minutes of interviews with Colin Baker, Lisa Greenwood, Anjli Mohindra & Executive Producer/Director Nicholas Briggs covering the story and the trilogy’s wider themes. Additionally, a 10 minute suite of Howard Carter’s superbly dramatic score.

Released in March 2014 by Big Finish Productions Ltd.

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