It’s our third visit to the Powell Estate, where Rose and the Ninth Doctor’s adventures began…

We’re back on the South London estate where Rose Tyler grew up. It is also where her mother, the indomitable Jackie Tyler, still resides.

Dare You

Lisa McMullin’s ‘Dare You’ rounds out a Powell Estate trilogy. It has been a natural place to kick off this series, re-introducing Rose and the Ninth Doctor, and spending more time with her mother Jackie (Camille Coduri) in the wake of seeing her father’s death.

In this third visit, the time travellers return to find a minor epidemic of impulse control loss. People are listening to their inner voices, before being dared to act upon devious suggestions. From acting out in class, or in social situations, to speaking plainly – the filters are off! However, all the dares are disruptive and daft, rather than dangerous, until the Doctor becomes involved. That’s because he is dared to do something that imperils us all.

In Summary

A quirk of the schedule brings a Lisa McMullin story for the Ninth Doctor and Rose just a month after her tale for the Thirteenth and Yaz. They are quite different though, with ghostly festive goings on last month replaced here by a dare that goes dangerously wrong.

With a straightforward premise, the story scratches the surface of society to see how close we are to anarchy, and it’s really not that far. Like Russell T Davies’ ‘Midnight’ before it, we see that people are easily able to turn upon each other and forget the better angels of the nature. However, the trickster-like Hellion’s provocation of the Doctor really escalates the threat here, and only Rose’s faith in him that brings him back from the edge. She also stops him going too far in revenge on the temping menace. Director Helen Goldwyn ably manages the escalating tension, both with the Doctor and the Hellion, as well as the ensemble of Powell Estate residents – including Dan Starkey in a non-monster role for once.

Also, prompted into some plain speaking with Jackie at the story’s end, it cements Rose’s relationship with her mother beyond anything mere words could destroy. The script really nails the conversational tone between the Doctor and Rose, and the fractious yet loving bonds between mother and daughter too.

Now, after three visits to South London (can you see how this series was originally planned as a box set), it must be time to journey elsewhere…

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Dare You is out at Big Finish now.

Next Time: Cloud Eight

The Doctor and Rose travel to the 47th century, Earth’s ‘Second Dark Age’, but when they arrive in the floating box city of High High Wycombe, it’s more like a paradise. The residents live an existence of endless leisure, and at night sleep a blissful, dreamless sleep.

But cracks soon begin to show on its perfect, polished surface, and something terrible is brewing in the mind of teenage Elsa – something ancient and hungry – something that sounds like a nightmare.

Starring Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, the story comes from writers Lauren Mooney & Stewart Pringle. The guest cast are Felicity Cant, Charlie Condou, Lawrence Boothman and Louise Falkner.

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Cloud Eight is up for pre-order now and out in February 2026.