His Last Bow?
Last updated: 10/09/2007 - 12:35
BBC Audio releases the singular swan song of the last ongoing TV Doctor Who.
As the nation continues to enjoy a brand new series of Doctor Who adventures starring David Tennant, we take a look at the singular swan song of a previous Time Lord.
Dr Who: Death Comes to Time Special Edition MP3 CD
"Even Time Lords die..."
As BBC Wales continues to produce brand new seasons of Doctor Who - television’s longest running science fiction series – BBC Audio has already entered the next dimension with an innovative MP3-CD release of what turned out to be the swan song of Doctor number seven: Sylvester McCoy.
Originally available to download and view as ten-minute segments on the BBCi cult website (from July 2001 to May 2002) this web production from Fiction Lab was written by Colin Meek and directed by Dan Freedman.
The production represented a singular, somewhat darker take on the Doctor’s television adventures, asking questions about his past, about the nature of the Time Lord race to which he belongs and about just how dangerous things have to get before the Doctor will let himself step in and save the day – if he can, at all!
The Minister of Chance
The non interventionist resolve of the Doctor’s race – the Time Lords - is severely tested when two of their number are seemingly killed - and the Doctor finds himself embroiled in the struggle against an apparently unstoppable empire builder, the militant, expansionist – and ruthless dictator - General Tannis (John Sessions – in a supremely arch performance). The Doctor’s companion Ace (Sophie Aldred, reprising her television role from the close of the Doctor’s previous TV adventures, which ended in 1989) is absent, training for a future beyond her wildest imaginings and he is travelling with a new companion, the mysterious Antimony.
As General Tannis begins his invasion of Santine the Doctor arrives, but something is different this time – this is not just another planet, with another rebellion to ferment by the end of the last episode, for the General is no ordinary villain – and these are not ordinary times. The Doctor must use all his guile to save not just the subjugated people of the Santine Republic, but also the population of Tannis’ next target for conquest: the planet Earth.
Using an unusual (for ‘Who) classical music score and with a brooding script featuring some stunning, moody performances from acting luminaries as: comedian John Sessions, all-rounder Stephen Fry (stunning as one of the Doctor’s fellow Time Lords, The Minister of Chance), impressionist Jon Culshaw and Buffy’s Anthony Stewart Head, amongst many others.
‘Gold Award for Best Drama’
The production initially divided Doctor Who fandom: some loved it, some thought its innovation – some said ‘liberties’ with the established ‘Whoniverse’ heresy, but few could ignore it. The production won much acclaim, not least for it’s imaginative use of a new medium – partial animation married to a specially recorded new play accessed for free via the web – and garnered a ‘Gold Award for Best Drama’, which commended its originality and innovation, from the Spoken Word Publishers Association.
Previously released – and still available - as a three CD pack, containing just the audio elements of the production, this new MP3 CD release marks a new era in entertainment from BBC Audiobooks. This unique Special Edition features a wealth of visual material, available to PC and Mac users. Now the original, full-colour animated version of Death Comes to Time is available for the first time.
This title is without doubt the most advanced, multi-functional, interactive, multi-media (audio focused) product BBC Audio has ever released and will make a fine addition to any science fiction fans’ collection – as well as forming a fitting swan song for the last ongoing television ‘Who team, while we all wait to see what new ‘Who Christopher Eccleston, will be like.
Special ‘DVD style’ extras included on the packed single disc include:
Two further interactive MP3-CDs in the Doctor Who range: Tales from the TARDIS Volumes 1 and 2 have also been released. These release come from previous - and long since unavailable - cassette-only releases, comprised of Doctor Who abridged novelisations, read by some of the actors to have played the Time Lord.
Other Doctor Who related links that might be of interest include:
Death Comes to Time - winner of a 'Gold Award' at the Spoken Word Awards in 2003 - is out now and can be purchased directly from the BBC Shop.
PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external websites.
More information available in Home Electric, TV & Radio