The First Doctor adventures: The outlaws

A new era of The First Doctor Adventures has begun: the brand-new box set of authentic full cast audio dramas is released today by Big Finish Productions. The stories has been written by Lizbeth Myles & Lizzie Hopley and starring Stephen Noonan & Lauren Cornelius. They are on sale from €16.99 (pre-order).

In 1963, veteran film and TV actor William Hartnell became the Doctor, and a legend was born. Viewers young and old embraced him wholeheartedly, and his success in the part is unquestionably one of the central reasons why Doctor Who is still with us today. Since then, a number of actors have played the First Doctor, including David Bradley (on screen and still continuing at Big Finish) and now former Royal Shakespeare Company member Stephen Noonan takes on the iconic role.

The Doctor and Dodo Chaplet (Lauren Cornelius) embark on two adventures, set between the 1966 TV stories The Savages and The War Machines. The Outlaws is a four-part historical story, inspired by the legend of Robin Hood, but based far more on fact. And in The Miniaturist, a two-parter, the duo investigates a mysterious alien entity deep under the Earth.

As previously announced, Stephen Noonan and Lauren Cornelius are joined in the cast by guest stars Glynis Barber (Blake’s 7, EastEnders), Rufus Hound (Doctor Who, Hounded), Annette Badland (Ted Lasso, Doctor Who), and Paul Copley (Coronation Street, Torchwood).

After leaving Steven Taylor on the planet of the Savages, a new era of adventures begins for the First Doctor and Dodo Chaplet. From swashbuckling adventure in the 13th century to unsettling happenings in the depths of a 21st-century mine, the Doctor and Dodo experience new dimensions and meet an old adversary…

Details of the two exciting adventures in this box set are as follows:

The Outlaws by Lizbeth Myles

Landing in 13th-century Lincoln, the Doctor and Dodo are soon caught up in the battle between Sheriff Nicholaa de la Haye and outlaw gangs in the nearby forest. King John requires funds for his conflict with France, and Nicholaa is determined to provide it, whatever the efforts of William of Berkshire and his gang of wolves’ heads…

After taking refuge in Lincoln Castle, the Doctor and Dodo are separated. The Doctor is detained at the pleasure of the Sheriff, while Dodo indulges her adventurous spirit and plays forest outlaw with William’s gang.

But William is not acting alone. The outlaws’ true leader knows the Doctor and has a plan for revenge. A man with a passion for meddling. A man who wears a monk’s habit…

The Miniaturist by Lizzie Hopley

Coulton Salt Mine: a rare environment for geological exploration on the North Yorkshire coast. The Doctor is fascinated by the experiments of Professor Medra on the Zechstein seabed, but Dodo is distracted. Didn’t her family settle in this part of Yorkshire?

As the Doctor delves deeper into the work of Professor Medra, Dodo is helped by security guard Mick Huff, who is concerned about the strange happenings in recent weeks. Who are the children that keep appearing around the mine workings? Why are local landmarks vanishing? And how can the bedrock of a geological ‘quiet place’ be screaming?

Mark Wright, the producer, said: “Here we are at the start of a new era of adventures for the First Doctor and we’re pairing him with Dodo Chaplet — which hasn’t really been done before on audio. I was keen to do adventures that were both traditional and also slightly out there. This first volume shows off our TARDIS team to the best of their abilities.”

Director and Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs added: “Stephen Noonan is a really brilliant actor. There is such a phenomenal attention to detail in his work. Not only has he created a performance that feels uncannily like William Hartnell, he’s also brought to it the sense of a very real and unique energy.”

Actor Stephen Noonan said: “Having completed these two stories and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the preparation and the recording, it would be lovely to have another go and perhaps improve. It’s just been an unalloyed joy from start to finish.”

Praise for The First Doctor Adventures: The Outlaws:

“Noonan is most definitely channelling the softer, more whimsical version of Hartnell’s later seasons. His replication of the great man’s every inflection is uncanny.” — Doctor Who Magazine

“Noonan manages not only to capture the voice and intonation, but also the very heart and soul of the ever-elusive Hartnell’s performance…” — We Are Cult

“Quite possibly the most complete and rounded take on the First Doctor since Hartnell himself.” — Blogtor Who

Doctor Who — The First Doctor Adventures: The Outlaws is now available to own at just £19.99 (collector’s edition CD box set + download) or £16.99 (digital download only), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.