With no sign of either the TARDIS or the Doctor, what can Ian, Barbara and Susan do to stay alive?

Guy Adams’ tale for the first Doctor and the original TARDIS team is another Big Finish exploration of the “sideways” tales that were meant to be a key part of Doctor Who’s make up from the start, coming alongside the historical and science fiction adventures. This one draws elements from The Space Museum (but worry not, continuity police, this is sorted out so the school teachers aren’t in possession of knowledge they shouldn’t be), and, thematically if not in specifics, Marc Platt’s very early Doctor Who New Adventure Time’s Crucible, with a very clever way of involving original series star Carole Ann Ford that stays completely true to what was done in 1963/4.

Mina Anwar, Susie Emmett and Belinda Lang are the other guest stars and, after an opening episode that also stays period-true by really involving the regulars, they make good foils for the time travellers. I know there’ll always be some people who have problems with the recasting of the leads, but I’m firmly one of those who hoped after An Adventure in Space and Time that we would somehow get either recreations of the lost episodes or (better) new stories with this team, and David Bradley, Jamie Glover, Jemma Powell and Claudia Grant have established their own interpretations of the original crew – but if I imagine what’s happening, it’s still Hartnell, Russell, Hill and Ford whose faces I see. That’s a neat balancing act to pull off, and kudos to all involved for making it seem effortless.

Ken Bentley joins as director for this set, and in conjunction with sound engineer and composer Joe Meiners, gives us a story that feels appropriate for the time it’s set while still taking advantage of 21st century technology to achieve it.

And don’t skip the extras disc – some fascinating insight into how it all came to be.

Verdict: Fifty-five years on, a fresh story for that vital first season feels as if it’s always been there. 9/10

Paul Simpson