For its fifth audio series Star Cops tackles international tensions amid the increasing scarcity of vital resources on planet Earth. Is international conflict inevitable on the high frontier?
We were thrilled when Big Finish turned their attentions to Star Cops. The late 80’s futuristic police procedural, set on the Moon and in orbit, mixed sci-fi concepts with the good old-fashioned coppers of the International Space Police Force.
Devised by Chris Boucher (Doctor Who, Blakes’ 7), its witty dialogue and clever plots were beloved by those in the know. Unfortunately, the show failed to gather a mainstream audience during an all-too-brief television run.
On audio since 2018, Star Cops has gone from strength to strength tackling terrorism, organised crime, Martian colonisation and more. Original stars David Calder, Trevor Cooper and Linda Newton have reprised their roles as Nathan Spring, Colin Devis and Pal Kenzy, with Philip Olivier’s Paul Bailey and Lynsey Murrell’s Alice Okaro currently rounding out the team.
Suspicion and Sabotage
In his role as Moonbase Coordinator, we find Commander Nathan Spring speaking at an international conference, discussing two controversial projects.
Firstly, a mission to mine 16 Psyche, a metal-rich asteroid, and send vital resources back to Earth. Second, the recently deployed Guardian missile platform; ostensibly deployed to protect us from large asteroid impacts and widely suspected to be capable of dealing with threats closer to home. Nathan, as a trusted impartial voice, is there to allay concerns. However, with Devis in tow, the pair soon find themselves dealing with an attempt on the conference organiser’s life.
Meanwhile, on the Moon, Kenzy is following up on suspected sabotage of a water reclamation centre. Rather than bring water to the Moon, ice is mined and melted there, as well as broken down into its constituent parts. Inspector Paul Bailey has been undercover at the facility, trying to track down the cause.
The thread that connects these seemingly disparate strands? Hobbs Astral – an American corporation who are running the Psyche Mission, own the water reclamation plant and who built Guardian. But are they just a front for US imperialism?
From the Earth to the Moon
Andrew Smith’s series opener delivers a lot of setup, but it comes deftly through the conference and as Kenzy understands ice harvesting. Not that it’s all talk, far from it! The story delivers thrilling action, both at Niagara Falls and on the Moon’s surface, sold by Steve Foxon’s engaging sound design.
Two new characters seem destined to be important to Conflict and director Helen Goldywn has cast them perfectly. The politically savvy Alexandra Myers (Jesscia Martin), leader of the Space Agencies Assembly, is a worthy match for Nathan. With a complicated history that calls her allegiances into question, she’s also seemingly caught the eye of the loveable lothario Devis too.
The other is Ben Miles’ flirty Howard Lesser, who runs the ice collection station and appears to have breached the romantic defences of the usually guarded Kenzy. However, as he works for Hobbs Astral, expect heartache ahead!
As the plot draws together, there are echoes of the onscreen tale ‘Conversations with the Dead’ and a feeling that the team are again becoming entangled in political machinations.
In Summary
While Blood Moon dealt with the personal, this series seems to have its eyes on a bigger picture. It also dangles romance and it was great to hear Linda Newton play Kenzy in a new light.
While recorded in late 2024, the battle for resources and escalating global tensions here are bang on the money for 2026! Brimming with intrigue, Conflict is off to a terrific start.
Star Cops: Conflict: Suspicion and Sabotage is available as a download to own from Big Finish.
The series continues with ‘Shadow of the Moonlight’ in February and ‘Prisoner and Escort’ in March.
Conflict concludes with three further monthly releases, dropping between September and November 2026.