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

The Dark Gallifrey saga takes something of a sharp turn for the next instalment.

Rufus Hound and Gemma Whelan star in… an audio sitcom? Hilarity will ensue in Dark Gallifrey: The Meddling Monks, beginning April 2026.

The Meddling Monk and the Meddling Nun are stranded on Earth with a broken TARDIS and find themselves involved in a series of odd escapades. Buying a house; getting a job; having a dinner party… all of these and others prove more onerous than expected. But the greatest challenge is still to come…

The next trilogy in the Dark Gallifrey saga stars two incarnations of the mischievous meddler in time known as the Monk – or, in female form, the Nun – as Rufus Hound and Gemma Whelan reprise their popular roles for six episodes of full-cast audio comedy.

This time, the Monks – who were last encountered travelling together at the end of 2021’s Missy and the Monk – are stuck with each other in middle England, where the challenges they face include buying a house, inviting the neighbours over, and getting involved in a local talent show. Not a typical setting for a Time Lord, then, but one more like a classic radio sitcom…

The guest cast comprises Radio 4 comedy legend John Finnemore and his regular collaborators Simon Kane and Carrie Quinlan. But who are their characters, John, Simon, and Carrie? And how does this all connect to Dark Gallifrey?

All will eventually be revealed, but there’ll be plenty of laughs along the way…

The six half-hour episodes, across three releases, are:

In Part One, due April 2026:

Monky House

A Blinovitch based accident with the TARDIS has curtailed the Meddling Monk and the Meddling Nun’s travels together. Now they’re trapped on Earth with no means of escape. Or are they? The Nun has a mysterious plan and the first step is for them to buy a house. What could possibly go wrong?

Monky Business

Our Meddlesome heroes need money to help their plan and so opt to get a job with a local business. But there’s only one role available so they soon find themselves at loggerheads competing for the position. What could possibly go wrong?

In Part Two, due May 2026:

Monky Nuts

It’s time to host the neighbours for an evening soirée. But is the Monk’s fish dish a winner or will their guests prefer the Nun’s baby chicken? There’s only one way to find out and soon culinary battle has commenced. What could possibly go wrong?

Monky Magic

There’s a big prize to be won at the local talent show. So the Monk and the Nun are soon brushing up their best stage acts in attempt to claim victory and ensure the success of their grand plan. What could possibly go wrong?

And in Part Three, due June 2026:

Monky Puzzle

An international jigsaw competition has come to town. Do the Monk and the Nun have time to compete before the arrival of a very special guest? There’s only one way to find out. What could possibly go wrong?

Monky About

What’s it all about? Well, it’s a Big Finish finale so there’s bound to be explosions, and chases with perhaps a starry cameo and a threat to all life on Earth. What could possibly go wrong?

Producer Robert Valentine said: “Dark Gallifrey continues, and this time John Dorney is serving us not one but two incredible incarnations of the Meddling Monk in one bumper story. Rufus Hound is back as the eponymous Monk, and Gemma Whelan returns as the Nun… and this time they’ve got their own theme song!

“The two Time Lord tricksters are trapped on Earth in what sounds suspiciously like a radio sitcom, but they’re not alone. Supporting (and thwarting) them are three mysterious recurring characters, John, Carrie and Simon, played by Radio 4 comedy luminaries John Finnemore, Carrie Quinlan and Simon Kane. This is an absolutely brilliant and bonkers story by John Dorney, impeccably directed by Jonathan S. Powell, and I was there too.”

The Worlds of Doctor Who – Dark Gallifrey: The Meddling Monks Parts One to Three are now available for pre-order for just £8.99 (digital download to own) or £10.99 (download to own + single-disc collector’s edition CD).