Murray Melvin reprises his portrayal of Machiavellian, time-travelling Torchwood nemesis, Bilis Manger, in a creepy new full cast audio drama, Torchwood: Dead Man’s Switch, available now from Big Finish Productions.
But this time the eerie manipulator isn’t facing off against Captain Jack and his team. Instead, Bilis features as the central figure in a chamber piece faintly reminiscent of Amicus portmanteau horror movies such as Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors…

This release features distinguished actor Murray Melvin, who rose to public fame in the 1961 movie, A Taste of Honey. In this story, he reprises the role of Bilis Manger, whom he originally played in the televised Torchwood episodes Captain Jack Harkness and End of Days.
Of his return to Torchwood in audio form, Murray Melvin said: “I call it Bilis’ retribution! What is fascinating is that, these days, you can do anything on screen, but the really frightening ghost stories have no ghosts. And this is one of them. If your audience is interested, they’ll have their own image of what’s going on. All the characters are lovely parts, which every actor is always grateful to come across.”
Torchwood: Dead Man’s Switch
A devious antiques dealer, a property developer and a heartbroken hairdresser. Three strangers sit on a train that’s going nowhere.
They are joined by a mysterious figure.
Bilis Manger wants to tell them how they died.
Please note that Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.
Cast
- Murray Melvin (Bilis Manger)
- Timothy Blore (Piers)
- Maxine Evans (Rowena)
- Mali Ann Rhys (Zoe)
Credits
- Additional themes by Ben Foster
- Cover Artist: Lee Binding
- Director: Scott Handcock
- Executive Producer: Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
- Music: Blair Mowat
- Producer: James Goss
- Script Editor: Scott Handcock
- Sound Design: Lee Adams
- Written by David Llewellyn
- Theme Music by Murray Gold