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How did Ace and Tegan meet and join forces? As revealed in the new Big Finish audios, it’s thanks to River Song.

In the 2022 Doctor Who TV special The Power of the Doctor, the Time Lord reunited with two past companions, Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Ace (Sophie Aldred). It was clear these two were already firm friends, but how did this friendship begin? The answer involves a certain 51st-century archaeologist…

Ace and Tegan have been plucked from their twenty-first century lives and stranded in 1860. But who is responsible, and why is River Song mixing in nineteenth century society too?

Somebody is out to eliminate the three of them, as Ace and Tegan realise that this may not be their first meeting with River. Their lives are entangled, and to escape, somebody must pay the ultimate price…

The second volume in River Song’s brand-new audio series, The Death and Life of River Song: Ace and Tegan comprises four episodes of full-cast audio drama, which chart the course of the three characters’ interactions across their lifetimes. There are hauntings, monsters, and an arch-villain playing games with time but, through it all, strong friendships will be forged.

The four adventures are:

Castaways by James Moran

Driftwood by Roland Moore

Dead Rising by Roland Moore

The End is the Beginning is the End by James Moran

Producer David Richardson said: “Ace and Tegan – the pairing that, until The Power of the Doctor came along, we didn’t even know we were crying out for! Sophie and Janet made such a huge impact when they returned for Jodie Whittaker’s last story, and in this latest River Song box set, we get to explore the lead-up to that.

“How did Ace and Tegan first meet? And how did they encounter River Song? It’s a story told over decades and not necessarily in sequence. River has encountered many formidable things, but is she ready for the explosive properties of both Nitro-9 and Tegan Jovanka?”

The Death and Life of River Song: Ace and Tegan is now available for pre-order exclusively from http://www.bigfinish.com, as a limited edition four-CD box set (plus digital download) for £29.99, or as a digital download only for £22.99.