Romana and Narvin attempt to help a fellow Time Lord in distress…

David Llewellyn kicks off this next set of adventures for the Gallifrey cast – focusing here on Romana and Narvin, who are on the run from their home planet (in a rackety old TARDIS, no less). Arriving on a wrecked spaceship (the old-fashioned way!) they encounter Leah Harvey’s Trellick – as well as Mark Elstob’s Qatal. In a war where Time itself is a weapon, maybe the two refugees shouldn’t be quite so surprised at someone being able to play tricks with it, but you don’t think of such things as you go along – Harvey’s deliberately overly blasé performance draws you in.

This is something of a change for Elstob, whose normally urbane tones sound quite different in this tale. It’s an eloquent performance, and you can feel the anguish that Qatal is experiencing, particularly in the final quarter of an hour. Lalla Ward and Sean Carlsen are also given a chance to show other sides to their characters.

Russell McGee’s sound design has to do a lot of the heavy lifting at times, and combined with Scott Handcock’s direction, you experience the disorientation of the leads as appropriate – but things are equally clear where required.

Verdict: We’re never allowed to forget that both sides in the Time War are willing to get their hands dirty – sometimes with unintended consequences. A strong start. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order Gallifrey: Time War Volume 3 from Big Finish