A house in Tudor times is being haunted… by Ace…

Georgia Cook’s 80-minute audiobook interlude for the Seventh Doctor and Ace hits the spot in a number of ways, not least (with one small exception – psychic paper? Really?) in being a very good evocation of the period in which it’s set in Doctor Who history, not too long after Survival and everything that preceded that between the Time Lord and his companion. It’s told from Ace’s perspective and includes something that has often been overlooked in portrayals of the character – she’s still, at this stage, a teenager and that’s not a time when you necessarily interpret things the right way (even without being involved with a manipulator on the lines of the Doctor). The final scene between the travellers is unusual – and works all the better because of it.

Sophie Aldred does a great job narrating, with her portrayal of the Doctor obviously a little higher-pitched than Sylvester McCoy, but otherwise capturing his tones perfectly, and giving us a number of other distinct characters. Naomi Clarke’s sound design brings the period to life when applicable but becomes more otherworldly as required as the truth is revealed.

Verdict: An enjoyable historical excursion. 8/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order Silver & Ice, the box set with which this was a bonus