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

Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax encounter another incarnation of the Doctor in the third of the Trespassers series, No Place Like Home, out in December.

No Place Like Home is the third of four box sets in a 12-episode story arc in which Paternoster Row is infiltrated by an alien threat – and now, the secret of the shape-shifting trespassers will be revealed.

The trio also receive some help from a familiar friend with an unfamiliar face – the Second Doctor (Michael Troughton) joins them in the third episode, The Houseguest. This Doctor is new to Vastra, but can they work together to root out the villains hiding in Victorian London’s underworld?

No Place Like Home also marks the Big Finish writing debut of Neve McIntosh, who has scripted the second episode, Jellyfish!, with her fellow Paternoster Gang star, Dan Starkey.

The three new cases for Vastra and co. are:

Doppelgängers by Ken Bentley

After being imprisoned by a shapeshifting foe, Jenny has escaped through the London sewers and returned to Paternoster Row. Meanwhile, her captor (now disguised as Doppel-Jenny) infiltrates Paternoster Row with murderous intent!

Jellyfish! by Neve McIntosh and Dan Starkey

The Gang head to the coast for Madame Vastra to convalesce. But their holiday proves far from restful. This Cornish village is home to suspicious locals, strange storms and wreckers. Most dangerous of all, something lurks in the seas – something with a mysterious hold over Vastra…

The Houseguest by Matt Fitton

Vastra, Jenny and Strax return to London to find Paternoster Row changed. Houses lie empty, a crimewave grips the neighbourhood. A new criminal mastermind rules the underworld. What’s more, Number 13 has an unexpected houseguest. And he claims to be the Doctor…

The guest cast of No Place Like Home includes Maggie Service (Good Omens), Derek Hutchinson (The Way), and Big Finish executive producer and regular alien voice Nicholas Briggs.

Producer David Richardson said: “The secret of the Trespasser is revealed in this box set, and there are surprises in store! This is the first Paternoster Gang set written entirely by members of the team – Neve and Dan provide one very lovely episode, while the others are penned by our director Ken and script editor Matt.

“They are all writing with familiarity with the series while pushing it into new directions, and there are some wonderful belly laughs to be had too. I love this series – the real world can be a tough old place, but The Paternoster Gang is a cosy, warm place to exist and one that leaves the biggest smile on your face.”