The Doctor and Rose can’t seem to escape the Powell Estate as figures from its history emerge.

Across this latest series, we’ve spent plenty of time on the Powell Estate, in both the present and the future. Now, the Doctor and Rose find themselves back there again and it appears they are not the only time travellers…

Pandemonium

While modern Doctor Who has given us various takes on historical figures, from Charles Dickens to Mary Seacole, ‘Pandemonium’ takes a fresh approach. Here, we find them out of time and appearing in the flats of the Powell Estate, circa 2006. They’re a diverse bunch too, from the drunk Samuel Pepys to the campaigning author Edith Nesbitt – who is sharing the flat with Jackie Tyler and driving her crazy.

As the Doctor and Rose investigate the chaos, they realise the link between the visitors – all of them were at one time local to the area. We also meet Jackie’s neighbour, local history buff Glen, Rose’s former babysitter, whose knowledge becomes invaluable.

As ever, the regulars are on fine form and there are touching moments between Rose and Jackie (Camille Coduri). In the guest cast, Clive Hayward gives a touching performance as Glen, with Nick Denning-Read doubling as both Paul and the spirited Samuel Pepys. Kate Harbour entertains as the redoubtable Edith Nesbitt, while Holly Jackson Walters is the colourful wartime agent Violette Szabo.

In Summary

There’s a lot going on in this story, but each of the three principal historical characters, among the over 120 arrivals mentioned, gets their moment to shine. The character of Glen is a welcome addition to the residents of the Powell Estate too, and it’s a nice touch that, as Rose’s former babysitter, he gets a free pass to still call her “little Rosie.”

While playing with the mystery, Katherine Armitage’s tale focuses on grief and how we live with it. Principally, that comes through the story of Glen as he reunites with his long-dead partner in a time where their love for each no longer has to be concealed. However, it also provides temptation for Rose as the events of ‘Father’s Day’ still loom large for her.

‘Pandemonium’ is another terrific entry in this consistently strong run of Ninth Doctor stories.

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Pandemonium is available from Big Finish.

Next Time: Thirteen O’Clock

June’s release is ‘Thirteen O’Clock’ by Robert Valentine.

The Doctor and Rose return once more to the Powell Estate, but now the Doctor has a dreadful suspicion about the malevolent power that keeps pulling them back. The estate is shrouded in a strange fog, most of the residents have vanished, and the sinister Mrs Crook guards the ominous Flat 13.

What’s more, Saffron Windrose has arrived in search of the Doctor, because once he helped her face a nightmarish entity at a railway station called Underbridge… and it’s happening again.

Alongside the regulars, Indigo Griffiths returns as Saffron Windrose from the previous Ninth Doctor tale ‘Station to Station’. The cast also includes Will Chitty, Dan Starkey and Sophie Thompson.

Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Thirteen O’Clock is available to preorder from Big Finish now.