Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

The full cast has been announced for the latest War Master adventure, starring Sir Derek Jacobi.

Alongside the previously announced Katy Manning as Jo Jones, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa and Alexandria Riley as Calantha. are Ian Abeysekera (Valmont), Timothy Blore (Earl), Doña Croll (The Empress), Laura Doddington (Lady Sutlumu), Sarah Douglas (Mrs Mevel), Raj Ghatak (Second Vizier), Glen McCready (First Vizier), Francois Pandolfo (Officiencier), Prasanna Puwanarajah (Prince Gardam), Mali Ann Rees (Varnomium Computer), Harley Viveash (Waiter) and Fanos Xenofós (Professor Merc-Hodden).

For centuries, the Stagnant Protocol has been forgotten by the universe: an empire populated by a race that can never advance… a race the Master seeks to seize control of.  

Unfortunately for him, he has a rival – Calantha – and she understands how to manipulate the system better than he could ever hope. His only chance of defeating her lies in the hands of some old acquaintances, whether they realise it or not. 

Of working with Sir Derek Jacobi, Katy Manning said: “What a Master to land me with! I thought Roger Delgado was pretty scary when he looked into my eyes, but Derek! He is so wonderfully nasty – I could feel his eyes burning through the glass in recording.

“I had an extraordinary relationship with Roger as the Master – after he’d hypnotised me once and that was it, Jo thought “No, not again!” She had a very interesting relationship with the Master, there was a sort of respectful fear of him, and he had a sort of a strange respect for her.

“It was rather exciting actually – instead of going back, I’ve gone forward and it’s upped the game a little bit more. He’s more dangerous and she’s older, and I’ve found the whole experience quite wonderful. And the honour of working with Sir Derek Jacobi – well, my career is complete now, there’s nothing else I need to do!”

Sarah Sutton added: “It’s a long time since my character has been in contact with the Master, and for Nyssa, of course, that’s a major part of who she is and why she is as she is – because of what the Master did to her father, it’s part of her history. So this has been such a joy to do, and I’m very, very happy that I had the chance to work with Derek – it’s just been marvellous!”

The War Master: Killing Time is available for pre-order as a collector’s edition four-disc box set (on CD at £24.99) and as a digital download (at £19.99) from the Big Finish website. Big Finish listeners can save money by ordering a bundle of both The War Master Series 5-6 for £48 as collector’s edition CD box sets or £39 as digital downloads.