The Eighth Doctor Returns in Big Finish’s Doom Coalition

Philip Bates is a writer at Kasterborous Doctor Who News and Reviews - All the latest Doctor Who news and reviews with our weekly podKast, features and interviews, and a long-running forum.

Dark Eyes has been a mostly-successful series of sets featuring the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann, most often coming up against the Daleks. With a fourth box, that story came to a close. Fortunately, its successor has been unveiled – and it’s an extremely exciting prospect!

Doom Coalition is released by Big Finish in October and once again pairs McGann with Liv Chenka, played by the wonderful Nicola Walker (Spooks; Last Tango in Halifax). Only this time, they’re joined by a new companion, Helen Sinclair, played by Mr. Holmes‘ Hattie Morahan. Producer, David Richardson called it “the most effortless casting ever,” because Paul McGann was especially keen to work with her!

“Helen is from 1963,” continues David. “She was, in part, inspired by Doctor Who’s first producer Verity Lambert – she’s a driven, career-minded woman in a male-dominated profession. And she’s a head-strong and capable companion in the mould of Barbara Wright, Sarah Jane Smith and Tegan Jovanka.”

As thrilling as the prospect of a new companion is, the main nemesis of Doom Coalition is the most exciting thing about these upcoming adventures. Though we first meet The Eleven in the first episode of this box set, he’s an old enemy of the Doctor’s – a renegade Time Lord who retains each of his personalities every time he regenerates! It’s an utterly brilliant idea, particularly as the Eleven (obviously in his eleventh body) just keeps getting more insane. The Seventh Doctor imprisoned him on Gallifrey… but now, he’s escaped, and it’s up to the Eighth Doctor to stop him again.

Who is Helen Sinclair? A new era starts for the 8th Doctor in #DoctorWho – Doom Coalition. Details tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/iuJqOpbgRY

— Big Finish (@bigfinish) March 27, 2015

The Eleven is played by Mark Bonnar, who you may know from The Rebel Flesh/ The Almost People (2011), but anyone who’s seen The Line of Duty knows that he can do scary. I’m certain he’s a perfect choice for this!

Here’s what the series promises:

1: THE ELEVEN written by Matt Fitton

When one of Gallifrey’s most notorious criminals attempts to escape from prison, Cardinal Padrac turns for help to the Time Lord who put him there in the first place.

2: THE RED LADY written by John Dorney

A London Museum holds the key to many secrets from the past. But some secrets are so deadly they should remain locked away. Forever.

3: THE GALILEO TRAP written by Marc Platt

With a mysterious plague sweeping through Florence, a rampaging alien behemoth comes between the Doctor and the answers he seeks.

4: THE SATANIC MILL written by Edward Collier

Long buried animosities come boiling to the surface on an ancient and powerful satellite, in a final confrontation that could have unimaginable consequences.

“Doom Coalition is unlike anything we’ve attempted before,” says director and co-creator, Ken Bentley. “It’s on a scale that we hope will satisfy loyal listeners. It’s also a new, completely stand-alone adventure, making it a great place to start if you’re listening to Doctor Who on audio for the very first time.”

The set will also star Robert Bathurst, Caroline Langrishe, Ramon Tikaram, David Yelland, Harry Myers, Esther Hall, Matthew Cottle – and John Woodvine from The Armageddon Factor!

Just like Dark Eyes, there will be four volumes, each one available at the pre-order price of £20 – though they’ll likely go up to £40 after release.

Doom Coalition Volume 2 comes out in May 2016, followed by further releases in October 2016, and May 2017. Volume 1 is out this October, Dark Eyes having concluded this month, and looks to be one of the most interesting series released in recent memory.

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