Much to Kate Stewart’s annoyance, UNIT are babysitting pioneering British tech – but mysterious monster sightings are the prelude to an ever more surprising arrival…

Guy Adams’ two-part story to conclude this eighth UNIT box set brings Alex Kingston’s River Song into UNIT’s orbit, and she seems to be taking the place in Kate’s life that the late lamented Doctor Lawrence did for her father fifty odd years ago in Doctor Who and the Silurians – someone who resents UNIT’s presence, despite apparently understanding why they’re there. Of course, it being River Song there’s far more going on than first appears, and the episode takes us, and Kate and her team, down various unusual routes.

Warren Brown and Tracy Wiles make a very strong pairing as Sam Osgood and Jacqui McGee (have I missed the line where someone tells her, ‘Miss McGee, don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry…’) while Enzo Squillino Jnr delivers a performance worthy of the late Peter Miles as Mr Chant. But it’s Jemma Redgrave who’s simply excellent in this – Kate is faced with an unbelievably stressful situation (and no, not just the coffee maker not working), and Redgrave makes us understand the weight on the UNIT leader’s shoulders.

Verdict: A very strong, well-written and acted opener. 9/10

Paul Simpson

Click here to order UNIT: Incursions from Big Finish