Tyler Steele’s life has been turned upside down – but even he had no idea how the homeless were treated on the streets of Cardiff…

The warning about the adult nature of Torchwood is reiterated at the start of this harrowing hour of audio for good reason – it’s not the extraterrestrial element of the story that it refers to, but the very human one. Drones feature heavily throughout the story, but it’s only really in the last few minutes that it feels as if it’s part of the ongoing Torchwood saga: it’s far more about the depths to which people are pushed as they become overlooked by the rest of society. “You can’t see me,” Tyler realises as he is forced into ever more degrading activities in order just to survive, and it’s a line that may well hit home with the listener.

It’s not an easy listen, and it’s not meant to be. Ash Darby’s script takes the listener to places that objectively you may know exist but which most people won’t think about as they walk the streets. Jonny Greene is given strong material to work with, and he demonstrates here why he’s become a core member of the Big Finish repertory society. Director Scott Handcock doesn’t shy away from any of the realities of the tale, and gives the topic the weight it deserves. Would I want every episode of Torchwood to be this gritty and realistic? Probably not – but commendation to the production team to committing to the story.

Verdict: Torchwood can often make you feel uncomfortable – but maybe it will have a lasting effect on the listener this time around. 8/10

Paul Simpson