Jack takes Jackie Tyler for the trip of a lifetime – but it starts to feel all too familiar…

Guy Adams kicks off the most recent set of tales for Jack Harkness teaming him back up with Jackie Tyler, and in so doing produces a great piece about Rose’s mother that sits nicely alongside Love & Monsters for delving beneath the character’s surface. Camille Coduri (who takes the opportunity to get Jackie’s full name into her reading of the credits!) gives a great performance reflecting the many different sides of Jackie that are revealed – including a game-changing speech. Jack isn’t neglected – John Barrowman’s reactions to the situation, and that speech in particular, are nicely judged.

Other than Coduri, it’s something of a cast reunion for the new Torchwood team, with Paul Clayton having fun as an automated jobsworth, and Samantha Beart and Jonny Green providing other voices alongside John Barrowman’s Jack.

Some of the themes in these have become eerily appropriate now we’re in lockdown, with talk about people being isolated emotionally, and director Scott Handcock and sound engineer Richard Fox ensure that the varying tones of Adams’ script are given full weight.

Verdict: An engaging and tonally varied piece of drama. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order The Lives of Captain Jack Volume Three from Big Finish