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Big Finish has released details of the next story in the Dark Gallifrey arc – and it features the final appearance of David Warner as the Unbound Doctor.

Lisa Bowerman, David Warner, James Marsters, and Sir Derek Jacobi star in Dark Gallifrey: The War Master, a trilogy of full-cast audio dramas beginning in July 2024.

Many have sought the legendary Dark Gallifrey over the millennia, Professor Bernice Summerfield and Captain John Hart among them. But there is another who has his eyes on that glittering prize; one who knows how such power could be wielded – the War Master himself!

The second trilogy brings together a variety of heroes and anti-heroes from across the Doctor Who universe as they search for Dark Gallifrey, a legendary alternative version of the Time Lords’ home planet.

Leading the search is Professor Bernice Summerfield (Lisa Bowerman), assisted in Part 1 by her regular companion, a parallel universe version of the Doctor (David Warner – in his final appearance for Big Finish, recorded before he passed away in 2022). But there are rogues who seek Dark Gallifrey for their own nefarious purposes, including Captain John Hart (James Marsters, reprising his role from the Torchwood TV and audio series). And, of course, the War Master (Sir Derek Jacobi) has a plan… The third instalment in the trilogy also guest stars Jonathon Carley as the War Doctor, as events spiral out of control and bring the Master into conflict with his arch-nemesis.

The three episodes, all written by James Goss, are:

Part 1, due for release in July

Intrigued by rumours of a hidden Gallifrey – the Dark Gallifrey of Time Lord myth – Bernice Summerfield resolves to find it. But as the Doctor points out, some things should never be found, and some doors should never be opened. Especially ones that want to be…

Part 2, due for release in August

Amid the dreaming spires of Braxiatel University, Benny is dividing her time between her lectures, her cats, and managing the romantic advances of one of her students, John. The new Provost – such a nice old man – doesn’t approve of their dalliance, and advises her not to get involved. For John wants to know about Dark Gallifrey, which is something Benny has done her best to forget, and thinks he can help her find it again. The funny thing is, the dear old Provost wants to find it first…

Part 3, due for release in September

The Master and Captain John are trapped amid the ruins of Dark Gallifrey, where familiar faces and infinite impossibilities gather. With his dream of the ultimate weapon almost within his grasp, the Master revels in the chaos. But all roads lead… to the Imbomination.

Producer Scott Handcock said: “David Richardson asked me to do a Dark Gallifrey box set with the War Master, and there were certain other characters he wanted in the mix. So I turned to James, with a Terrance Dicks-style Five Doctors shopping list, and asked, can you work up a story featuring the War Master, Captain John Hart, Bernice Summerfield, and the David Warner Doctor, and even a little cameo from the young War Doctor? Very quickly, he came up with a storyline that accommodated everyone, that made sense and celebrated those combinations of characters.”

Writer James Goss added: “Only Big Finish would be able to go, ‘We’ll get that man from Buffy and that national treasure and we’ll have them acting together’. They’re both great actors but from very different worlds.

“I love the idea that the War Master is the effective Master. All the other Masters come with ridiculous, overarching plans which never come to fruition, but the War Master is meticulous – when he makes a shopping list, he sits down and goes – kale, must it be kale? Captain John is the antithesis to the Master. He’s never had a plan in his life. They both have a different approach to their goals, they’re forced to work together, and it doesn’t quite work.”

Each part of Dark Gallifrey: The War Master is now available for pre-order as a single-disc collector’s edition CD (+ download for just £10.99) or download only (for just £8.99).