dwst0612_thehesitationdeviation_1417Benny decides to wipe the Doctor from her memory. Has she finally had enough?

James Goss’s seasonal tale is full of Christmas cheer – at least initially – and seems as if it’s going to be a slight contribution to the mythos; one of those stories of things which happen to the Doctor and his companion that don’t have major consequences. But then things turn and the time travellers are in for a very bumpy ride. (And no, despite the title, there’s no connection to Just A Minute – not even any unnecessary repetition.)

Lisa Bowerman has been playing Benny for nearly 20 years now, and is adept at pitching her performance to the different parts of Professor Summerfield’s timeline. You can work out where this fits in that convoluted scale for yourself – it’s definitely the 7th Doctor (as the cover gives away) although it’d be interesting to hear this one reworked for either McGann or Warner’s incarnations – but the pair know each other well. The central conceit is one that you’re sure can’t stick… but it’s James Goss writing, and that tends to mean you can’t take anything for granted.

Verdict: A clever and rather more convoluted tale than, um, you might initially expect. 8/10

Paul Simpson