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

Podcast Doctor Who series Doctor Who Redacted is returning for a second run of six episodes, starting on 18 September.

Juno Dawson returns as the lead writer, alongside stars Charlie Craggs, Lois Chimimba and Holly Quin-Ankrah. Series two welcomes a host of guest stars from the world of Doctor Who and beyond including: Freddy Carter, Anjli Mohindra, Dervla Kirwan and Alexander Armstrong, directed by Bethany Weimers.

Lead writer Dawson says: “I’m so excited that Doctor Who: Redacted is back for a second series, it feels particularly special to be a part of such a big year for the show. We’ve got a stellar returning cast and welcoming guest stars, both old and new, into Cleo, Abby and Shawna’s corner of the Doctor Who universe has been brilliant. I can’t wait for fans to hear the series and see what is next in store for the trio.” Dawson writes episodes 1, 2 and 6 with Chris Cornwell (ep 3) Karissa Hamilton-Bannis (ep 4) Ken Cheng (ep 5).

Following on from last year’s debut series, Cleo (Charlie Craggs), Abby (Lois Chimimba) and Shawna (Holly Quin-Ankrah) are still hosting their podcast called ‘The Blue Box Files’, about their attempts to track sightings of a mysterious blue box that crops up throughout history, usually coinciding with some huge, apocalyptic events.

Last year the podcast led them to save the world from a killer-psychic-virus, with the help of a mysterious alien called The Doctor. But now, only Cleo has any memory of those events. She knows there’s something out there, which is why she’s going spare – yes, she’s repaired her relationship with her mum, but her life hasn’t caught fire. Meanwhile her best friends, Abby and Shawna, have coupled up and Cleo can’t help but feel like the third wheel. She’s focusing on the important questions in life such as, ‘are giant rats invading East London?’

Then an enigmatic spaceman lands into Cleo’s life, and it’s not The Doctor this time. Apex Costa has it all; style, good looks, teleportation device. But is he all he seems?