A quartet of adventures for the Fifth Doctor as he travels through Earth’s history…

At the end of the last main range adventure for the Fifth Doctor, he abandoned his companions and decided to travel on his own. Obviously there’s no question of him eventually returning to travel with Tegan and Nyssa (although there’s bound to be a query over Mark’s future), but it provides scope for the Doctor to fly solo. Very sensibly, co-producer and script editor Scott Handcock decided not to have the Doctor spend ages mulling over his choices, and instead he becomes embroiled in four very different stories, all linked in some way or other with escaping.

Steve Lyons’ Ghost Station starts things off with the Doctor arriving in one of the Berlin underground stations that was sealed off when the Berlin Wall was built. Peter Davison notes in the extras that it’s a period that fascinates him, and it’s one that I’ve also researched and written about. Border guard Peter Meier sees travellers from the West every day as the tube trains pile through the stations not stopping, and knows he has a risky chance of freedom – but is the Doctor there to test him? It’s a spooky story, with something of a Twilight Zone feel to it.

Jacqueline Rayner’s The Bridge Master follows, taking the Doctor back to a more superstitious time. He runs headlong into trouble the moment he arrives, but it’s his reaction to what he’s got caught up in that very much fits this Doctor (and by no means all the others – you can imagine Colin Baker having fun with such a scene were it his incarnation). There’s also indication of the ruthless streak that usually stays beneath the surface as he deals with the person at the heart of the problem.

Tommy Donbavand’s What Lurks Down Under is, sadly, his first and last contribution to Big Finish audios, following his death from cancer shortly after delivery (in a nice touch, the release is dedicated to him at the very start). It’s another historical, bringing the Doctor to a transport ship on its way to Australia and encountering Mary Wade, the youngest person ever transported. The conditions on board ship are well recreated, and Laura Aikman’s Mary is a character that I’d love to see return.

Kate Thorman’s The Dancing Plague brings the set to a close, taking the Doctor to Strasbourg in the early 16th century. This feels as if it’s been slightly over-compressed, and the sense of time elapsing isn’t as clear as perhaps it could be. That said, it takes a less well known historical event (as Rayner’s does) and gives Davison a chance to demonstrate other sides to his Doctor.

The supporting cast – Timothy Blore, Wayne Forester and Kate Harbour – each get a story in which they’re the main lead, and director Jamie Anderson allows each tale to develop at the pace it requires. Wilfredo Acosta is presented with many different challenges for the sound design and score, with each story having is own distinct feel.

With the main range coming to an end within the year, I wonder if there’ll be a place in future for these anthology releases. I hope there is – they’ve given opportunities to new writers, and as with the Short Trip releases, can tell tales that would often feel overextended even at the 45-50 minute length of a new series episode.

Verdict: Four slightly different interpretations of the Fifth Doctor make for an enjoyable anthology. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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