Old Sixie is back for a tale which features enemies from all across his era. 

This year, Big Finish are celebrating Colin Baker’s four decades as the Sixth Doctor.

They’ve done this with two longer tales, each bringing in elements from his time onscreen and his many audio dramas.

The first audio box set, The Quin Dilemma, drew inspiration from his debut. The title of the second nods at his last onscreen adventure, but actually owes more to his first full season in the role.

Joining Old Sixie for The Trials of a Time Lord are Mel Bush (Bonnie Langford) and Nicola Bryant as Peri. However, it’s the older Warrior Queen version of Peri, years on from her original TARDIS travels.

On the villainous front, both David Banks and Terry Molloy reprise their roles as the Cyber Leader and Davros, respectively. Plus, Jon Culshaw is on hand to represent the Androgum race we met in ‘The Two Doctors’.

The Trials of a Time Lord

The tale begins with the Doctor answering a distress call from an old friend, Tiff. She’s trapped in Cyberia, a slave camp run by the Cybermen, but has somehow managed to send a distress call out. However, the Doctor’s hackles are soon raised when the metallic monstrosities do not behave as normal.

With Tiff taken for cyber-conversion, despite Mel’s best efforts, all seems lost. Until it’s revealed that the Doctor is caught within a reality TV world called the LudoSphere – and that he’s impressed the producers enough to become the star of his own show.

As the tale progresses, we meet Androgums on a cookery show, while the Doctor attempts to help Tiff battle the influence of the Cyber Leader. Later, the story introduces Peri, the Warrior Queen of the Krontep, who’s also trapped within this world. And the big bad is revealed as Davros. Or is it?

Unlikely alliances must be formed for the Doctor and his friends to bring down the Ludosphere from the inside…

Audience Appreciation

‘Trials’ draws in elements from across this Doctor’s era. As well as both David Banks and Terry Molloy, reprising the Cyber Leader and Davros, respectively, it was fun to re-encounter the Androgums – Jon Culshaw ably taking on the role of Stunrib, echoing the monstrous Shockeye.

From a fannish point of view, we also enjoyed the suggestion that the Cyber Leader’s personality – with David Banks’ sonorous tones – is a piece of software. It neatly explains the actor’s casting throughout the 80s, despite his destruction on each occasion.

The LudoSphere

With the LudoSphere itself, there’s a level of knowing cynicism with spin offs that outshine the original, and brutal cancellations if a show fails to instantly perform. It’s all very on point satire for our current reality TV obsessed, streaming environment, building on the “video nasties” meta narrative of 1985’s ‘Vengeance on Varos’. The story also echoes that tale with its isolated viewers who watch and comment on the action. However, with multiple sets of them, we found it difficult to invest in the relationships in the same way as we did with Arak and Etta.

One thing the story does do very well is give Mel agency. While this version of Peri is battle-hardened and able to handle herself, Mel demonstrates her remarkable computer skills and works with the rebels away from the Doctor.

In Summary

There’s so much going on in ‘The Trials of a Time Lord’, with its multiple reveals and big characters (and even bigger accents). To be honest, it was all a bit exhausting to listen to! Perhaps there’s one twist too many here to keep track of? Certainly, this is a story to be digested in instalments, not binged.

However, it was great to hear old villains returning, especially the 80s Cybermen. The story also feels well-rooted to its era, or in Season 22 at least, with its use of recurring villains. There’s plenty to celebrate over Colin Baker’s forty years, even if ‘Trials’ tries to do it all at once.

Doctor Who – The Sixth Doctor Adventures: The Trials of a Time Lord is out now. It’s available on Collector’s Edition CD (+ download), or digital download only, from Big Finish.