The Time War for the Eighth Doctor is far from over, and it’s taking unexpected turns with his established team of Cass and Alex. Producer David Richardson highlights the exciting dynamic: “A new start in the Time War, with our now-established team of the Eighth Doctor, Cass and Alex. I loved the chemistry between this trio in the previous box set, Cass, and so it was inevitable we should get them back together and send them off in new directions. The journey is just beginning and it’s crashing towards some unexpected turns…” This new audio drama series promises to plunge listeners deeper into the chaos and complexities of the Time War.
Script editor Matt Fitton teases a narrative where the TARDIS crew faces immediate separation, throwing them into distinct and dangerous scenarios. “We are back with the Eighth Doctor in the Time War, where he has picked up not one, but two rather unexpected companions! To begin with, the TARDIS crew is separated: while the Doctor and Alex languish in a military hospital plagued by air raids, Cass finds herself in what seems to be 1950s suburbia, with a very friendly neighbour. Their journey back together crosses one of the Time War’s most dangerous fronts – a Void which leads them into uncharted territory.” This setup suggests a thrilling, interwoven storyline where survival and reunion are paramount against the backdrop of temporal conflict.
Fitton emphasizes the creative freedom given to writers to explore the bizarre nature of the Time War, ensuring a wild ride for Cass and Alex. “We gave the writers free rein to play with the strangeness of the Time War, and they fully embraced the challenge! Cass and Alex are put through the wringer, as time and reality shift around them. The Doctor can no longer be sure who his friends and enemies are, and by the end of this series, things have changed for the TARDIS crew which will have huge repercussions to come!” Listeners should expect a narrative that challenges perceptions and loyalties, pushing the characters to their limits.
Paul McGann, portraying the Eighth Doctor, points out a unique element in these adventures – the family dynamic introduced by Alex. “In all the years I’ve been doing the Doctor Who stories, it’s novel for there to be a family element, as there is when Alex is around. And it’s kind of poignant. But in many of the Doctor’s adventures, there’ll come a point when people suddenly can’t trust him – the Doctor’s not always what he purports to be.” This adds a layer of emotional depth to the Time War narrative, exploring trust and familial bonds amidst universal conflict.
Sonny McGann, who plays Alex, delves into his character’s existential questions and memory gaps. “In the previous Time War release, Alex was offered another chance at life, to grow and be an adult. He has the opportunity to experience things and not have his time cut short. It’s a comparable feeling to being given another chance to play a character. But Alex is having an existential crisis of not really knowing what’s happening. There’s something missing – a memory, a detail, a piece of information – which is a throughline in these stories, and Alex is trying to coax that out of the Doctor when the time feels right. ‘What’s the deal? Who am I? Why am I here? What’s going on? Is there something you’re not telling me?'” Alex’s quest for identity and truth becomes a central thread, adding intrigue and personal stakes to the overarching Time War plot.
Emma Campbell-Jones shares her enthusiasm for playing Cass and her character’s relentless journey through time and space. “I love playing Cass. She’s such a fun character. And I feel very privileged that she’s been given another bite at the apple, as it were, to have that adventure that she never took when given the opportunity. She’s having a bit of a mare, though – falling through time and space again and again and again and again!” Cass’s chaotic experience promises to be both humorous and harrowing, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the Time War itself.
This new series sets the stage for a thrilling exploration of the Doctor’s Time War era, filled with personal challenges, shifting realities, and high stakes for the Doctor and his companions. Fans eager for more Eighth Doctor adventures and Time War narratives will find this new release an unmissable chapter in the Doctor Who universe.
