Back in our universe, Bernice and the Doctor visit a market – where Benny makes an incredible find…

I’d forgotten till I was preparing this review that this box set of Bernice stories is the one created in conjunction with The Time Ladies, and features new female writers to Big Finish, all of whom were partnered with an “old hand” (in this case, director Scott Handcock). New voices are always to be welcomed – they provide perspectives that those who’ve written, in some cases, scores of audios may not have considered. I have to say, though, that it never occurred to me while listening to Alyson Leeds’ intricate tale that this was the work of a newcomer.

We’ve seen Bernice over the years with a number of different Doctors – primarily of course with the 7th, but also the 8th and 12th (in Gary Russell’s novel). Her relationship with the alternate Third Doctor, as played by David Warner, is very different from those, and has developed well over the previous box sets. It’s that history that Leeds has built her story upon, as well as a good understanding of what might push Benny in what feels like a very unusual direction, returning her in many ways to her roots.

Lisa Bowerman and Warner spark well off each other, making for a very different sort of TARDIS team, served well by this script. It’s still very definitely Benny’s series – but having a Doctor around (particularly an unbound one!) adds a certain edge!

Verdict: A new perspective on Bernice Summerfield is hard to find after heading for 30 years of stories, but this story provides it. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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