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

There’s more adventures on the way for Michelle Gomez’s incarnation of the Master as Missy returns to Big Finish.

Due for release in May 2024, slightly later than originally advertised, Missy: Bad Influence will show just how coming into contact with the Time Lord brings out the worst in humanity.

Among the guest cast joining the mayhem are Paterson Joseph (Wonka, Boat Story), Natalie Gumede (Titans, Strictly Come Dancing) and David Shaw Parker (This England, The Muppet Christmas Carol).

Missy… alone, unleashed, and unfettered. What does she get up to when the Doctor isn’t around?

Sometimes, Missy isn’t the only bad person in the room. Sometimes, she meets others with their own naughty plans. And whoever they might be – medieval thieves, wayward students, renowned assassins – Missy will bring out the worst in them…

Missy and the Time Assassin by David Quantick

Missy gets to meet a hero. But James Blakelock, Time Assassin doesn’t quite live up to the legend – although he is very easy on the eye. Although she has places to be and species to annihilate, Missy can’t help herself, so she tags along on James’ next mission. After all, a little bit of assassination never hurt anyone…

Bad Apples Brigade by Freddie Valdosta

Missy finds herself stranded on Brownsea Island with a troop of girls sent there to improve themselves. But these girls are troublemakers, and Missy has a few lessons to teach them. Only, they’re not alone. Something lurking in the woods has history with Missy – but for her, that might be the future…

The Baron Robbers by Lou Morgan

Bored and stranded in the 14th century, Missy is looking for a way out. Any way at all. Luckily the spectacular ruby owned by Edward, the famed Black Prince, might be just what she needs to get her broken vortex manipulator working again. But someone else is after the ruby too – and the question is, who wants it more… and how low are they prepared to go to get it?

The series has a new producer, Noga Flaishon, who said: “This box set has more of an episodic feel to it with Missy bouncing across time and space at the whims of her vortex manipulator… not nearly as reliable a mode of transport as a TARDIS.

“The core theme of these stories is Missy’s presence as a deceiver and a corruptor – she actively brings out the worst in the people she crosses paths with in an unapologetic and fabulous manner. There is something really delicious about a villain who owns what they are.

“Working with Michelle has been a career highlight – she’s a wonder in the booth and had me in stitches for the majority of the recordings. She’s spent so long with this character her work has such a natural and easy quality to it even when she acts the most bizarre scenarios.”

The Worlds of Doctor Who – Missy: Bad Influence is now available to pre-order as a collector’s edition box set (on CD for just £24.99) or a digital download (for just £19.99), exclusively at http://www.bigfinish.com