Rose’s latest trip takes her to a world under multiple threats…

Alison Winter’s surprising tale starts off the second box set of adventures for Rose Tyler, following her quest for the Doctor that forms the background to part of Series 4 of the TV show. If you’ve not heard this audio series before, then you’ll just need to take on trust that Clive, Jackie and others are able to transport Rose through the multiverse, using a McGuffin that can, of course, be taken from her (shades of the early days of the TV show with its emphasis on the travellers being separated from the TARDIS), and keeping in contact by phone.

The story starts with a shock for Rose – this world’s Pete and Jackie are dead, murdered in an arson attack – and piles on various obstacles that she is determined won’t stop her, particularly when she learns that society here has developed a particular piece of technology that could help her quest. She’s challenged more than once on her motives in helping the people she meets, and there’s a great scene between Billie Piper and Camille Coduri where Jackie delivers a pep talk as only a mother knows how.

Helen Goldwyn handles the tonal shift in the episode adroitly, and you may be surprised at just how few cast members there are, given the large number of speaking characters in the story. The sound design by Joe Kraemer and Aiden Van Lier Kraemer is a little overwhelming in the scenes depicting an attack but does a good job of ensuring we know which universe we’re in when certain characters are talking together.

Verdict: An enjoyable start to the second run. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order from Big Finish