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The Companion Chronicles #5.03
Doctor Who: Find and Replace
Christmas 2010, and Jo Grant finds herself stuck in a department store elevator with an alien creature called Huxley.
Huxley is a narrator from Verbatim Six, and he is here to let Jo revisit the best time of her life – when she was the plucky companion to that eccentric Space/Time traveller known only as... Iris Wildthyme.
Confronted with memories she knew nothing about, Jo agrees to a meeting with Iris inside her transdimensional bus, and together the three of them take a trip back in time. Back to the 1970s, to UNIT HQ, and a meeting with the only person who knows the whole truth...
Huxley is a narrator from Verbatim Six, and he is here to let Jo revisit the best time of her life – when she was the plucky companion to that eccentric Space/Time traveller known only as... Iris Wildthyme.
Confronted with memories she knew nothing about, Jo agrees to a meeting with Iris inside her transdimensional bus, and together the three of them take a trip back in time. Back to the 1970s, to UNIT HQ, and a meeting with the only person who knows the whole truth...
Audio CD
First published September 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 24, 2023
I am the biggest fan of Jo Grants and Katy Manning and she purely kicks ass! She’s such a fantastic actor and to have her back voicing Jo was just delightful. She’s also incredibly broad ranging and can convincingly do a spot on 3rd Doctor and her as Iris Wildthyme was also brilliant. I didn’t know it was her at first until I looked at the cast list!
I always enjoy the BigFinish productions and the chance to experience a whole new Who story never gets old. I’m currently making my way through the 3rd doctors stories and I listened to this on Christmas Eve as well so it couldn’t have been more perfectly timed!
We rejoin an older Jo in 2010, as she’s last minute Christmas shopping but finds more than she bargained for in an elevator that leads her on a trip to the past and memory lane….
It made for great company on my Christmas Eve walk. This was my first companion chronicles and I’d love to listen to more after this one!
I always enjoy the BigFinish productions and the chance to experience a whole new Who story never gets old. I’m currently making my way through the 3rd doctors stories and I listened to this on Christmas Eve as well so it couldn’t have been more perfectly timed!
We rejoin an older Jo in 2010, as she’s last minute Christmas shopping but finds more than she bargained for in an elevator that leads her on a trip to the past and memory lane….
It made for great company on my Christmas Eve walk. This was my first companion chronicles and I’d love to listen to more after this one!
June 25, 2017
A Third Doctor story told from the perspective of Jo Grant.
This comes closer to being a true audio-play than the Companion Chronicles normally do, in that, for about half the story, there are only three characters in it, two of whom are being played by Katy Manning. The second of these, Iris Wildthyme, is, of course, Magrs' own creation, first appearing in some of the DW novels that he wrote, and subsequently appearing - played by Manning - in some of Big Finish's other audios. The idea of having Iris meet Jo, when both have traditionally been played by the same actress, must have been too good to pass up, and it works well here. (On the downside, those not already familiar with Iris on at least a basic level might find it all a little confusing).
Indeed, Manning proves herself to be an effective voice actress here, and it's possible that if you didn't know that one person was playing two of the leads, you might well not guess. This proves, however, rather less effective in the second half, when she's also called on to voice Benton and the Doctor. She does pretty well, all things considered, but the listener is in no doubt that these parts are being narrated, bringing up the usual weakness of the Chronicles as hybrids between plays and audio books.
As for the story, the first half is definitely played for laughs, with Iris's eccentricity and the Noveliser's meta-narration both feeding into the mix. This part is set in modern-day London, with an elderly Jo being interrupted in her Christmas shopping by the alien Noveliser (who was previously seen in Ringpullworld). But then we head back to the '70s, and, despite some initial humour, the story soon drops into a more emotional mood. It becomes one about the impossibility of returning to your past even when you can, you know... literally return to your past. It's a touching story, likely to strike a particular chord with those nostalgic for the Third Doctor's era on TV.
This comes closer to being a true audio-play than the Companion Chronicles normally do, in that, for about half the story, there are only three characters in it, two of whom are being played by Katy Manning. The second of these, Iris Wildthyme, is, of course, Magrs' own creation, first appearing in some of the DW novels that he wrote, and subsequently appearing - played by Manning - in some of Big Finish's other audios. The idea of having Iris meet Jo, when both have traditionally been played by the same actress, must have been too good to pass up, and it works well here. (On the downside, those not already familiar with Iris on at least a basic level might find it all a little confusing).
Indeed, Manning proves herself to be an effective voice actress here, and it's possible that if you didn't know that one person was playing two of the leads, you might well not guess. This proves, however, rather less effective in the second half, when she's also called on to voice Benton and the Doctor. She does pretty well, all things considered, but the listener is in no doubt that these parts are being narrated, bringing up the usual weakness of the Chronicles as hybrids between plays and audio books.
As for the story, the first half is definitely played for laughs, with Iris's eccentricity and the Noveliser's meta-narration both feeding into the mix. This part is set in modern-day London, with an elderly Jo being interrupted in her Christmas shopping by the alien Noveliser (who was previously seen in Ringpullworld). But then we head back to the '70s, and, despite some initial humour, the story soon drops into a more emotional mood. It becomes one about the impossibility of returning to your past even when you can, you know... literally return to your past. It's a touching story, likely to strike a particular chord with those nostalgic for the Third Doctor's era on TV.
November 17, 2014
This was one of the first companion chronicles I listened to and at that time I'd not heard of Iris before and found it rather confusing. This time, having heard and read many of Iris's adventures I enjoyed it much more. It was great to hear Katy swapping between Jo and Iris. It was fun to think of Iris and Jo having adventures together, even if Iris was a little more sober than usual in this adventure. As always Katy did a wonderful job as Pertwee and the scenes between them were very tender. I'm glad I went back and listened to this again.
December 4, 2018
FALSE ADVERTISING AS FAR AS BEING A REAL JO GRANT STORY OR ADVENTURE — AN ATTEMPT TO BANISH THE OLD (VINTAGE FANDOM AND CHARACTERS) AKA FINDING A REPLACEMENT
This is like the nice old guy at work, totally talented and able to do the job, but not serviceable by management’s eyes for the future, so we better find and replace, or attempt to instill a replacement asap.
“The agenda here is an attempt to exit stage left and replace both the Doctor and Jo with Iris Wildthyme as feature character”
As a sidenote: watching every episode with Jo Grant, repeatedly on VHS in the early 1980s as a child, I was obviously not happy with this release. Literally the antithesis. Jo’s trait was loyalty, something that obviously means little today and it shows here as it is 110% the motive and theme/plot. Also, Katy Manning sounds great as Jo. I understand at this time Pertwee was gone and there was no replacement probably in sight, but couldn’t we get ANY straight Jo Companion Chronicles to honor, respect and be loyal to the past. It would have been nice to have a good Jo story voiced by Manning as Jo, as she is certainly capable of doing just fine? No, we can straight attempts to focus and push the WildThyme character instead. Thanks for extinguishing, purposefully the memories.
—–
First 5 minutes I thought this Jo companion chronicle night be a good one but… then I hear that the strange man pesting Jo is the extremely annoying irritant known as the… Noveliser. Huxley the Noveliser. Damn it. I loathe this character, who I believe is the one and same as in the Turlough companion chronicle I also hated.
The stories featuring this framing character is usually the antithesis of a proper Doctor Who adventure or story and cheap excuse to squeeze out weak character back story or weak ideas to fill an hour at the expense of writing an original tale.
But as I would soon find out, this is not exactly the case here. Yet, It’s still pretty much an instant “find another and replace” in my audio book.
It’s basically a bad new school pseudo- “Jo” story. Enter Iris Wildthyme. Instead of “Find and Replace,” perhaps a better title might have been “Bait and Switch.” More evidence of the complete absence of Iris on the cover art. Not very ethical for those expecting a true Jo story, when it obviously features Iris Wildthyme (and her magic bus) story front-and-center with Jo relegated to literal and figurative background companion.
For younger listeners who may have grown up first experiencing the Doctor Who 2005 series this might be more acceptable. However, as in my case with those who grew up watching the 3rd Doctor and Jo Grant and really would want a Jo Grant companion chronicle with the sorely missed 3rd Doctor in Big Finish and all these decades later, it a might be a great disappointment, especially due to the cover promise which is no way implies 2 totally new school characters within a new school framing devoid of any classic appeal.
Worse in the final 20 minutes, the plot reveal involves the Doctor and Novelisor, spoiler be damned, which is really in truth an attempt to erase Jo off the canonical books replacing her with Wildthyme — a shockingly horrible way to test the waters in writing off Jo and a disservice towards the character’s foremost trait of loyalty to the Doctor.
Where is the loyalty of the writer and Big Finish here? The agenda here is an attempt to exit stage left and replace both the Doctor and Jo with Iris Wildthyme as feature character really (at least perceivably at the time of this release). Shockingly poor decision and a warning Caveat emptor for those considering releases.
PS. The Novelisor also mentions Google and Google Earth, seriously. Pathetic. Press erase permanently. Sorry, find and replace the Doctor not acceptable, and if you agree then in any case this release has to be a grand failure and waste. Bad plot shadily executed to introduce and force Iris Wildthyme on listeners, resulting in a loss of trust..
The title is fitting in the worst way possible.
This was 1/5.
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Writer: Paul Magrs
This is like the nice old guy at work, totally talented and able to do the job, but not serviceable by management’s eyes for the future, so we better find and replace, or attempt to instill a replacement asap.
“The agenda here is an attempt to exit stage left and replace both the Doctor and Jo with Iris Wildthyme as feature character”
As a sidenote: watching every episode with Jo Grant, repeatedly on VHS in the early 1980s as a child, I was obviously not happy with this release. Literally the antithesis. Jo’s trait was loyalty, something that obviously means little today and it shows here as it is 110% the motive and theme/plot. Also, Katy Manning sounds great as Jo. I understand at this time Pertwee was gone and there was no replacement probably in sight, but couldn’t we get ANY straight Jo Companion Chronicles to honor, respect and be loyal to the past. It would have been nice to have a good Jo story voiced by Manning as Jo, as she is certainly capable of doing just fine? No, we can straight attempts to focus and push the WildThyme character instead. Thanks for extinguishing, purposefully the memories.
—–
First 5 minutes I thought this Jo companion chronicle night be a good one but… then I hear that the strange man pesting Jo is the extremely annoying irritant known as the… Noveliser. Huxley the Noveliser. Damn it. I loathe this character, who I believe is the one and same as in the Turlough companion chronicle I also hated.
The stories featuring this framing character is usually the antithesis of a proper Doctor Who adventure or story and cheap excuse to squeeze out weak character back story or weak ideas to fill an hour at the expense of writing an original tale.
But as I would soon find out, this is not exactly the case here. Yet, It’s still pretty much an instant “find another and replace” in my audio book.
It’s basically a bad new school pseudo- “Jo” story. Enter Iris Wildthyme. Instead of “Find and Replace,” perhaps a better title might have been “Bait and Switch.” More evidence of the complete absence of Iris on the cover art. Not very ethical for those expecting a true Jo story, when it obviously features Iris Wildthyme (and her magic bus) story front-and-center with Jo relegated to literal and figurative background companion.
For younger listeners who may have grown up first experiencing the Doctor Who 2005 series this might be more acceptable. However, as in my case with those who grew up watching the 3rd Doctor and Jo Grant and really would want a Jo Grant companion chronicle with the sorely missed 3rd Doctor in Big Finish and all these decades later, it a might be a great disappointment, especially due to the cover promise which is no way implies 2 totally new school characters within a new school framing devoid of any classic appeal.
Worse in the final 20 minutes, the plot reveal involves the Doctor and Novelisor, spoiler be damned, which is really in truth an attempt to erase Jo off the canonical books replacing her with Wildthyme — a shockingly horrible way to test the waters in writing off Jo and a disservice towards the character’s foremost trait of loyalty to the Doctor.
Where is the loyalty of the writer and Big Finish here? The agenda here is an attempt to exit stage left and replace both the Doctor and Jo with Iris Wildthyme as feature character really (at least perceivably at the time of this release). Shockingly poor decision and a warning Caveat emptor for those considering releases.
PS. The Novelisor also mentions Google and Google Earth, seriously. Pathetic. Press erase permanently. Sorry, find and replace the Doctor not acceptable, and if you agree then in any case this release has to be a grand failure and waste. Bad plot shadily executed to introduce and force Iris Wildthyme on listeners, resulting in a loss of trust..
The title is fitting in the worst way possible.
This was 1/5.
Director: Lisa Bowerman
Writer: Paul Magrs
December 31, 2019
Juste pour le jeu d'actrice incroyable de Katy Manning, ce drame audio vaut définitivement le détour! C'est la première fois que je rencontre le personnage d'Iris Wildthyme (deuxième fois pour Huxley le narrateur, mais j'ai complètement oublié le personnage), mais c'était assez immergeant pour ne pas avoir à écouter d'autres audio avant.
Le récit de Paul Magrs est aussi vraiment bien maîtrisé, alors qu'une histoire avec un narrateur pourrait faire croire à une narration d'un épisode passé (et la série étant basé là-dessus), le récit nous amène plutôt vers une "aventure" actuelle.
Le récit de Paul Magrs est aussi vraiment bien maîtrisé, alors qu'une histoire avec un narrateur pourrait faire croire à une narration d'un épisode passé (et la série étant basé là-dessus), le récit nous amène plutôt vers une "aventure" actuelle.
May 17, 2021
I find Iris Wildthyme to be an acquired taste. One I haven't exactly acquired. I think much depends on who's writing her and who she's playing against.
Here Katy Manning takes on both roles: Jo Grant (well, Jo Jones at this point in her life) and Iris, along with Alex Lowe as Huxley, a "Novelisor" from the planet Verbatim Six, aliens obsessed with narrating the lives of people they find interesting. The conceit here is that Huxley seems to believe (or is trying to get Jo to believe) that it wasn't the Doctor she traveled with through space and time. Rather, it was Iris.
Then Iris pops up to take Jo back in time to get to the truth of the matter.
This is all window dressing, actually. The heart of the story is the Doctor's involvement and his tender affection for Jo. And that's really only why I'm giving this story as much as three stars. Because the rest of it is just . . . flat. Iris needs Panda. Iris without Panda just doesn't work for me.
I gather that this is intended to lead directly into The Elixir of Doom .
Here Katy Manning takes on both roles: Jo Grant (well, Jo Jones at this point in her life) and Iris, along with Alex Lowe as Huxley, a "Novelisor" from the planet Verbatim Six, aliens obsessed with narrating the lives of people they find interesting. The conceit here is that Huxley seems to believe (or is trying to get Jo to believe) that it wasn't the Doctor she traveled with through space and time. Rather, it was Iris.
Then Iris pops up to take Jo back in time to get to the truth of the matter.
This is all window dressing, actually. The heart of the story is the Doctor's involvement and his tender affection for Jo. And that's really only why I'm giving this story as much as three stars. Because the rest of it is just . . . flat. Iris needs Panda. Iris without Panda just doesn't work for me.
I gather that this is intended to lead directly into The Elixir of Doom .
March 10, 2020
It's Christmas Eve 2010 and Jo Grant has finished her shopping but when the novelist Huxley arrives, he is about to manipulate her memories making her think she was the plucky assistant of Iris Wildthyme. Soon she will need the help of the adventurer to go back in the 70's to find their old friend The Doctor who might just have the answers...
This was a brilliant story with some intriguing and fun ideas. Katy Manning and Alex Lowe have truly given their best performances yet! Making this feel like a full cast audio drama rather then just a regular companion chronicle! There is some lovely emotional moments too which really pull at your heart strings. Paul Magrs has written a lovely story and Lisa Bowerman brings it to life magnificently! 9/10
This was a brilliant story with some intriguing and fun ideas. Katy Manning and Alex Lowe have truly given their best performances yet! Making this feel like a full cast audio drama rather then just a regular companion chronicle! There is some lovely emotional moments too which really pull at your heart strings. Paul Magrs has written a lovely story and Lisa Bowerman brings it to life magnificently! 9/10
February 9, 2023
An interesting narrative concept that plays with the audience’s perceptions, although I feel like the crux was given away too quickly. This probably might have been better had it been longer. Having written all that … this was brilliant and really spotlighted Katy Manning’s talents. She’s does both Jo (Grant) Jones and Iris Wildthyme as well as some of the narration, but truly the whole production hangs on her performances. This is also a wonderful love letter to the era of the Third Doctor exiled on Earth and his adventures with UNIT and, or course, Jo Grant. A lovely little story, that is marred only in that it deserved to be longer.
December 27, 2024
This is a lovely feel-good story brilliantly performed by Katy Manning and Alex Lowe, acting as a vindication of Jo Grant as a character. It confronts the slight paternalism imbuing the Third Doctor’s era while pulling on your heartstrings by delivering a warm reunion for Doctor and companion. It also gives Manning an opportunity to double up with Iris Wildthyme, in a raucous performance that shows off just how much she can do. Huxley the narrator is a clever device though not the star focus, so fair play to Lowe for committing to this odd role with sincere conviction, too.
December 21, 2018
This one was hovering around 3 stars until that ending - and it got bumped up a star. Because older!Jo meeting the Third Doctor again was just... yep. There goes my heart. Especially given how Jo ended up leaving the Doctor and UNIT in the first place. Big Finish... dang... you guys just know how to hit all the warm-fuzzies.
Also, Iris Wildthyme is always a treat. Doubly so that she and Jo meet up. Katy Manning for all the things!
Also, Iris Wildthyme is always a treat. Doubly so that she and Jo meet up. Katy Manning for all the things!
March 8, 2022
A brilliant dual performance by Katy Manning as Jo Grant and Iris Wildthyme (not to mention a pretty good third Doctor!), and acres of strange emotion as the Jo of 2010 travels back to UNIT in the 1970s. From the extras, it sounds like Katy didn't even record the characters in separate sessions, and switched from one to the other live. Remarkable.
January 17, 2019
Wow! This is easily one of my favorite Big Finish audio dramas. Katy Manning is incredible all around. Not only does this one feature Ms. Manning as Jo, but as Iris Wildthyme, too! I love this mashup! That alone gets it 5 stars from me.
January 14, 2020
More stunt casting and nostalgia than actual plot and story. But that doesn't diminish the fact that the stunt casting and nostalgia was a lot of fun.
For our full thoughts, visit https://travelingthevortex.com/?p=9028
For our full thoughts, visit https://travelingthevortex.com/?p=9028
February 8, 2020
This short, tightly plotted story makes clever use of both Huxley (an alien narrator) and Iris Wildthyme (quasi Time Lady, owner of a transdimensional bus) in transporting Jo Grant back to the 70s and giving her one last scene with the Doctor.
December 25, 2021
There’s a character in this with whom I was unfamiliar. A closer look at the cover might’ve tipped me off if I had been familiar. And the title “Find and Replace” makes a lot of sense. The use of a character called The Noveliser makes this very meta and fun. Very thrilling as well.
May 28, 2024
It’s official: Katy Manning is Big Finish’s lucky charm. There’s just a higher level of fun and emotion in her stories. Special mention as well to Manning’s part of the bonus interview. There’s a hilarious moment relating to Peter Davison, and a moving moment that’s enough to generate tears.
May 8, 2018
bittersweet and lovely
December 13, 2024
Turns out the only person Katy Manning has more chemistry with than Jon Pertwee is Katy Manning!
May 15, 2025
I loved this. Katy Manning is a wonderful actor and I love anything that includes Jo Grant or Iris Wildthyme and this had both!
July 7, 2017
Find and Replace is somewhat between an audiobook and a full audioplay. Katy Manning doesn't merely read the story, she acts out the part of Jo Grant and the part of Iris Wildthyme. Alex Lowe acts out the part of Huxley. However, unlike Big Finish's audio plays where the play IS a full audio play, with sound effects, music, and a full cast - in this Katy reads the descriptive text then acts out her own dialogue, while Alex acts out the part of Huxley. So, for example, Katy might read a passage describing how Iris looks, but then perform (as Iris) her lines. It's an effective technique and I wasn't bored.
I listened to this on Christmas Eve, as I wrapped presents and did a little bit of last minute picking-up and cleaning. I was unaware when I started it that the story takes place on Christmas Eve. However, that made the story even more appropriate. And I enjoyed it immensely.
I can highly recommend this, especially if you are a Doctor Who fan who enjoyed the Jo Grant and Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) Era. It is an enjoyable trip down memory lane, again, appropriate for Christmas.
The Audio CD includes a bonus interview with Katy Manning.
I listened to this on Christmas Eve, as I wrapped presents and did a little bit of last minute picking-up and cleaning. I was unaware when I started it that the story takes place on Christmas Eve. However, that made the story even more appropriate. And I enjoyed it immensely.
I can highly recommend this, especially if you are a Doctor Who fan who enjoyed the Jo Grant and Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) Era. It is an enjoyable trip down memory lane, again, appropriate for Christmas.
The Audio CD includes a bonus interview with Katy Manning.
April 3, 2015
Ah, Huxley... Something of a one-joke character taken to extremes. I'm afraid his appearances are welcomed with the same enthusiasm as Mrs Worthington's daughter. I cannot help but feel the creator is a bit too enamoured of his own cleverness at creating Huxley in the first place and I can see no reason to continually trot out a one trick pony.
On the other hand, and completely blowing away any downside to this story is Katie Manning's two-hander as both the divine Jo Grant and her antithesis Iris Wiildthyme.
Don't make any attempt to make sense of the rationale behind the plot. Just sit back and let Jo and Iris take you for a ride.
On the other hand, and completely blowing away any downside to this story is Katie Manning's two-hander as both the divine Jo Grant and her antithesis Iris Wiildthyme.
Don't make any attempt to make sense of the rationale behind the plot. Just sit back and let Jo and Iris take you for a ride.
May 2, 2022
The plot is almost non-existent and unpleasantly creepy which is a shame as Katy Manning deserves all the stars for playing both Jo, Iris (and a recognisable Third Doctor)
It’s all nostalgia and no plot.
It’s all nostalgia and no plot.
February 4, 2013
A fun story with Katy Manning doing a great job voicing both Jo Grant and Iris Wildthyme. Nostalgic but not overly sappy, and I loved the idea of Huxley and his race.
July 12, 2016
With both Jo Grant and Iris Wildthyme, this is a Katy Manning extravaganza, with tons of 3rd Doctor & UNIT era "fanservice". Absolutely wonderful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2016
Jo in 2010 is approached by an alien to tell her of her adventures in time with Iris Wyldtime.
August 17, 2014
Oh yes, the best way how to annoy the Master is to send a journalist after him. Or a novelist.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews