Christopher Eccleston and Rose Tyler are joined by BAFTA winner Doon Mackichan in a classic ghost spaceship mystery
The latest in the Big Finish series of Ninth Doctor Adventures is out now! In Doctor Who: Dark Tides, the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) takes Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) into deep space, where they find the long-lost mapping ship the Vesterbold. Its crew are all gone, except for one…
The time travellers also encounter the Knights of Atlas, a spacefaring gang of warriors who have their own sights set on the Vesterbold. Ben Arogundade plays the knights’ leader Sir Cal, Sam Stafford is his squire Mervyn. Meanwhile, David Shaw-Parker voices the wise man Holbrook.
Meanwhile, BAFTA winning Doon Mackichan voices Dr Vivian Rest, the Vesterbold’s mysterious sold survivor. The star of shows such as Smack the Pony, Good Omens, and Toast of London makes her Big Finish debut in Dark Tides. However, she’s already entered the Whoniverse with roles in The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Nightmare Man and as the older, 21st century, Madame Vastra in the BBC’s Doctor Who: Redacted audio drama.
The story is also a reunion with Christopher Eccleston, whom she starred alongside in the 1999 film With or Without You.
“Charismatic, amusing, and completely merciless”
Mackichan said: “It was fantastic working with Chris, and I love working in the audio medium. This story’s definitely got a claustrophobic feel, where everyone’s trapped and can’t get off, and the dark forces are at play.”
Christopher Eccleston said: “I like the idea here, with old-fashioned knights on a Holy Grail-like quest. And then we have Doon Mackichan, who I first worked with in 1998, in a fantastic part – very charismatic, amusing and oddly endearing, even though she’s completely merciless. There’s a bit of flirting too, which my Doctor is always very keen to do!”
Billie Piper added: “This feels like very familiar Doctor Who 2005 territory to me. It reminded me of episodes like The Girl in the Fireplace, with the clockwork men. I absolutely love the character of Vivian – it’s really fun to have a sassy female character, she reminds me of Cassandra from The End of the World.”
Doctor Who: Dark Tides
A long-lost ship, the Vesterbold, has returned to normal space. And the Knights of Atlas seek her treasure. But two strangers have joined their expedition – the Doctor and Rose, who warn of danger.
For the Vesterbold has drifted free of the Dark Tides at the edge of the universe. And she may have brought something back with her.
Not even the bravest knights are ready for the evil which lies inside…
Doctor Who – The Ninth Doctor Adventures: Dark Tides is now available to purchase for just £9.99 (download to own) or £11.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed.
