Best known as MI5 agent Roddy in Slow Horses, Christopher Chung is joining Doctor Who, meeting The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) for a thrilling adventure in the upcoming 15th season of Doctor Who, which will air this year.
Chung is an Australian actor making waves in the world of TV, film and theatre, most recently seen as the tech-savvy M15 agent Roddy Ho in spy thriller Slow Horses, where he’s been appearing alongside Gary Oldman since 2022. He has also recently starred as Fred in Steve McQueen’s Blitz. His West End credits include Kurt Kelly in Heathers: The Musical.
Russell T Davies, Showrunner says:
“I’m a huge fan of Slow Horses, and I was so excited to get Chris involved. He brings all of his strength and style and talent to one of the darkest, toughest episodes we’ve ever made. As for whether Cassio is an ally or an enemy of the Doctor, you’ll have to wait and see, but I can promise, it’s one hell of a meeting!”
Christopher Chung, says:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to step into Doctor Who as Cassio for series 15! This show is legendary, and getting to be part of this new era feels surreal. Working with Russell and Ncuti has been a dream! This episode is huge – packed with everything Who fans love: heart, adventure, and a touch of madness. I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s in store – it’s going to be iconic. Get ready!”
The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television, and will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK, and exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK where available.
Doctor Who radiophonic archive made available for first time
Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop in the 1960s
The BBC has announced that its groundbreaking Radiophonic Workshop archive has been made available to musical artists and producers for the first time.
The archive includes samples of sounds and music made for a huge range of BBC shows from Doctor Who to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, all of which were created using the Workshop’s unconventional methods – including hitting lampshades and manipulating tape loops with milk bottles.
The work done at the studio has been cited as an influence by a number of major musicians including Brian Eno and Hans Zimmer, and the BBC has said that by making the archive available, it will preserve “an important musical heritage for generations to come”.
The key features of the new library include authentic sounds from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop archives, new recordings and experiments by Workshop members and associates, and a wide range of sounds, including archival content, found sounds, junk percussion, tape loops, and vintage synthesisers.
You can get a closer look at the Workshop by watching the below trailer:
Describing the Workshop as “a department at the BBC that was purely for making bonkers noises”, archivist Mark Ayres explained further why the decision had been made to open up the archive.
“I’m the youngest member of the core Radiophonic Workshop – and I’m 64!” he said. “We’re not going to be around forever.
“It was really important to leave a creative tool, inspired by our work, for other people to use going forward. I hope we’ve made an instrument that will inspire future generations.”
He added:
“This instrument is all formed from the work, processes and equipment that the Workshop created and used.
“You know, sampling now really looks like sampling then, but with a few more twiddles. I’ve been saying for years that Workshop composers such as Delia Derbyshire and John Baker were really samplists.”
Meanwhile, Harry Wilson, head of recording at Spitfire Audio – which has collaborated with the BBC on the project – said:
“We’re not just looking back at what the members were doing way back when. We’re projecting a strand of their work into the future and saying: if the Workshop was engaged with a similar process now, what would it sound like?”
And Dominic Walker, global business director for BBC Studios, said:
“We are thrilled to be collaborating once again with Spitfire Audio in bringing the legendary sounds of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to a new generation of musicians and composers with this valuable online library.”
Access to the library costs £149 at full price, although there as introductory offer of £119 that will run until 17th March – you can access it now.
New Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda Chandra novels coming in May
Northumberland, 1838. The TARDIS crash lands on board a sinking steamship. Stranded, the Doctor and the few survivors fight for their lives – while the local lighthouse keeper’s daughter, Grace Darling, risks her life to row to their rescue.
Lauded a heroine, Grace struggles to cope with her new-found fame. But the Doctor senses something else is troubling Grace. She’s been tormented by the terrifying vision she saw out at sea in the storm. There’s a monster in her mind, wrecking ships and stealing the souls of the drowned. And it’s real.
When a psychic shriek for help nearly overwhelms the TARDIS, the Doctor and Belinda track the source to a distant planet. There they find a sentient, telepathic bioship named Adama and ragged colonists descended from the original crew. Adama is dying, and their spectral screams are growing strong enough to kill anyone in the vicinity.
When Adama crashed 100 years ago, it was with a great treasure on board, stolen from the ruthless Gangnax Imperium – technology that could either unite worlds or destroy them. If they are to save the bioship, the Doctor and Belinda must survive suspicious colonists, greedy bounty hunters and military forces determined to reclaim what’s theirs – before Adama’s final death throes destroy them all.
Both titles will be released on hardback and audiobook (Digital and CD) on 29th May, 2025. Spectral Scream will be read by Michelle Asante (who had a brief role in In the Forest of the Night) and Fear Death by Water will be read by Susan Twist (best known to fans as the omnipresent Susan Triad in Ncuti Gatwa’s first season as the Doctor).
About the authors
Emily Cook will be known to fans for organising the ‘Doctor Who: Lockdown’ initiative in 2020 which saw the likes of David Tennant, Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Catherine Tate tweeting to Whovians across the world whilst watching episodes. She has also worked with Big Finish and Apple TV.
Hannah Fergesen is a freelance editor and former literary agent who has represented New York Times bestselling authors and since written their own debut novel, The Infinite Miles, a time-travelling science fiction odyssey and homage to Doctor Who.
The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler return for a new series of audio adventures
Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper star in a brand-new series of full-cast audio dramas, beginning in August 2025 from Big Finish Productions.
In 2005, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, as the Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler respectively, took a whole new generation of Doctor Who fans on the trip of a lifetime into time and space.
Twenty years later, the trip continues, as they’re set to star in a brand-new series of twelve, hour-long, full-cast audio adventures, due to be released from August 2025.
Christopher Eccleston said:
“I am so happy to be back recording more adventures for the Ninth Doctor with Billie. I don’t think my Doctor exists without Rose. He’s a ‘one man, one companion’ kind of alien. We’ve explored him on his own at Big Finish, as a loner. But there’s a resilience and a bravery and a deep empathy to Billie as Rose, that’s why I do this. They complete each other.”
Billie Piper added:
“I can’t think of a better time for Rose to reunite with her first Doctor than now. Twenty years after she first ran into the TARDIS and towards adventure, here we are again, me and Chris, ready to have fun facing the universe – and the monsters – together.”
Producer Matt Fitton said:
“Twenty years after the Ninth Doctor and Rose burst onto our screens, Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper are back with that brilliant dynamic – the Doctor showing Rose the universe, and Rose showing him the best of humanity.
“Across twelve episodes, slotting neatly into that 2005 series, we have more Jackie Tyler, more Powell Estate, plus friends and enemies old and new through time and space. Our writers have done an amazing job recapturing the spirit of that very special season, and Chris and Billie have embraced these scripts with delight and gusto. They’re having a blast, back on that trip of a lifetime – and they sound fantastic!”
You can now pre-order Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures on CD + download (or download only) exclusively from bigfinish.com.
The Doctor Who 2006 episode Fear Her is now back on BBC iPlayer after being removed from the streaming platform last year.
It was announced back in August 2024 that the episode had been removed from iPlayer after it featured disgraced newsreader Huw Edwards.
In the original episode, Edwards made a cameo appearance as himself, briefly presenting BBC News about the events in the episode, where people were vanishing due to the powers of a possessed young girl, Chloe Webber.
Edwards pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children back in July 2024, with it later decided that the former broadcaster would be given six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and would be required to complete a sex offender programme.
Now, the Doctor Who episode has been redubbed to remove any trace of Edwards, being replaced by actress Becky Wright, who has previously worked on the Doctor Who podcast series.
In terms of what has been changed within the episode, the main story of course remains the same, but certain pieces of dialogue have been changed.
Within the original episode, Edwards can be heard narrating coverage, saying:
“My God, what’s going on here? The crowd has just vanished, right in front of my eyes. It’s impossible. Bob, can we go to you in the box? Bob? Not you too?”
After the crisis is resolved, he is heard again saying:
“They’ve reappeared! It’s quite incredible. And a mystery man, we’ve no idea who he is, has picked up the flame. It’s more than heat and light, it’s hope and it’s courage and it’s love.”
Now, the lines have been replaced with:
“My God, what’s going on here? The crowd has vanished, they’re gone, everyone has gone. Thousands of people have just gone, right in front of my eyes, it’s impossible. Bob? Bob, can we join you in the box? Not you too Bob.”
As well as Wright narrating:
“Just look at this, utterly incredible scenes at the Olympic Stadium. 80,000 athletes and spectators, they disappeared, they’ve come back. They’ve returned, they’ve reappeared. It’s quite incredible.”
The episode now features the iPlayer disclaimer: “This programme has been edited since broadcast. There are a number of reasons why a programme may have been edited including legal, contractual or technical issues.”
Previously speaking on archive material, a BBC spokesperson told RadioTimes.com: “As you would expect we are actively considering the availability of our archive.
“While we don’t routinely delete content from the BBC archive as it is a matter of historical record, we do consider the continued use and re-use of material on a case-by-case basis.”
Celebrate Record Store Day 2025 with ‘The Tenth Planet’ on Vinyl
The First Doctor’s final adventure gets an exclusive audio release in 2025
Demon Records present, exclusively for Record Store Day 2025, The Tenth Planet, one of the most celebrated Doctor Who stories ever, for the first time on double vinyl.
This narrated BBC soundtrack adventure, first broadcast in 1966, features the debut appearance of the Cybermen and includes the show’s first ever regeneration – from William Hartnell’s First Doctor to Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor. Doctor Who lore would never be the same again!
Whilst one of the 1966 original television episodes was lost, all four episodes are now presented here in soundtrack form. The adventure co-stars Anneke Wills as Polly, Michael Craze as Ben, Robert Beatty as General Cutler, and Earl Cameron as Williams.
Record Store Day is an annual event where thousands of independent record shops all over the world come together to celebrate their unique culture. The Tenth Planet will only be available from participating stores – click here to see where your nearest is.
A stunning designed monochrome outer cover, featuring silver foil detail on the Cyberman, houses two illustrated inner sleeves with Radio Times-style billings for each episode. The 12” discs – one white, one silver – are on 140g vinyl.
Record Store Day 2025 takes place on April 12th, 2025 – full details here.
Candy Jar & Andrews UK Partner Bring Doctor Who Spin-Off Titles Worldwide
Candy Jar Books and Andrews UK are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership to bring Candy Jar’s beloved Doctor Who spin-off novels to a global audience. This collaboration marks a major milestone in the expansion of Candy Jar’s Doctor Who catalogue, offering Whovians around the world the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history and characters of the Doctor Who universe like never before.
The partnership kicks off with a special Amazon-exclusive hardback edition of The Forgotten Son by Andy Frankham-Allen, the book that launched the Lethbridge-Stewart series back in 2015. As a dedicated home for fans of Doctor Who’s expanded universe, Candy Jar Books has earned a reputation for celebrating the show’s rich legacy through its engaging titles.
Keren Williams, Head of Marketing at Candy Jar Books, says:
“The Forgotten Son is the book that started it all, so it’s only fitting that it leads us into global distribution. Since its release, we’ve published numerous titles, including Doctor Who art books, non-fiction works, and, of course, the ever-expanding Lethbridge-Stewart series. We’re now in our eleventh series, and this partnership represents an exciting next step for the brand.”
The Lethbridge-Stewart series, a fan-favourite Doctor Who spin-off, focuses on Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart’s life and adventures, both before and during his time with UNIT.
Alongside the release of The Forgotten Son, fans will be pleased to see the initial rollout also includes hardback editions of Mutually Assured Domination by Nick Walters, (featuring the Dominators and Quarks), 100 Objects of Doctor Who by Philip Bates, Times Squared by Rick Cross, Mind of Stone by Iain McLaughlin, Jill Curzon: 2023 AD (who appeared in the film Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 AD), and the eagerly anticipated Life of Evans by John Peel — the first in a series of out-of-print Lethbridge-Stewart novellas.
Shaun Russell, Head of Publishing at Candy Jar Books, says:
“Partnering with Andrews UK allows us to take the magic of our books to a global audience. This year marks Candy Jar’s fifteenth anniversary, a fantastic journey that began with the publication of One Woman’s War by Eileen Younghusband. Over the years, we’ve published Doctor Who spin-offs, won the Tir Na n-Og Award and the People’s Book Prize, and released coffee table art books like Kklak: The Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos. We’ve also introduced beloved children’s titles such as Shane the Chef, Ivor the Engine, and The Raccoons to our readers. Collaborating with AUK is a perfect way to kick off this milestone year for us.”
Andrews UK is a dynamic multimedia company celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025. Specialising in books, films, streaming content, audio plays, and video games, the company embraces both modern storytelling and the enduring appeal of nostalgic IP. Andrews UK is best known for producing new works from iconic properties such as Robin of Sherwood and The Tomorrow People, collaborating with stars from Marvel, Doctor Who, Game of Thrones, and more on new projects, and preserving the hidden gems of classic entertainment.
Paul Andrews, CEO at Andrews UK says:
“Andrews UK is excited to welcome the Candy Jar team into the wider family of AUK partners. We have collaborated with so many other publishers, authors and IP owners on literally thousands of projects and releases over the last 25 years. 2025 is a big year for Andrews UK and to kick it off with such a sensational partnership is fantastic. We have a raft of amazing announcements to come, and we can’t wait to share our plans with you.”
The titles will be distributed worldwide through Andrews UK, with UK distribution managed by the Books Council of Wales, ensuring fans across the globe have access to the adventures of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and other iconic Doctor Who characters.
For more information on these exciting releases, visit Candy Jar Books’ website.
Candy Jar Books is an independent publisher with a passion for Doctor Who and its expanded universe, committed to bringing fans new stories and exciting adventures from the world of the Doctor.
Andrews UK Limited has been a leader in digital publishing and distribution for twenty-five years. Based in Luton, Bedfordshire, the company prides itself on being able to provide support to publishers, video game developers and IP owners across a variety of mediums, including books, audio (music, audio dramas and audiobooks), video games, film, streaming and more.
A special edition hardback to mark 20 years of Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel’s bestselling memoir Script Doctor, limited to 250 numbered copies.
* Signed by the author
* New Pop Art cover illustration by Paul Burley
* Six-page colour Happiness Patrol prequel comic strip, originally published in SFX
* Andrew’s 1987 Notes to Writers, included for the first time
‘There are worlds out there where the sky is burning, and the sea’s asleep, and the rivers dream. People made of smoke and cities made of song. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, and somewhere else the tea’s getting cold. Come on, Ace – we’ve got work to do!’
Andrew Cartmel was the script editor on Doctor Who from 1986 to 1989. During his time on the show, he introduced the seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) and oversaw 42 scripts written by eight writers new to the series.
With a clear mission to bring proper science fiction back into Doctor Who, he formulated what was later termed ‘The Cartmel Masterplan’, reintroducing the mystery to the character of the Doctor as the series celebrated its 25th anniversary and beyond.
Script Doctor is his memoir of this time, based on his diaries written sometimes on set and sometimes not even in the diary itself but on the backs of script pages.
With an introduction by modern-era Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat, a foreword by Sylvester McCoy, and an afterword by Sophie Aldred, this book is illustrated with 32 pages of photographs, many never published before. It is a vivid account of life in the Doctor Who production office in the late eighties.
Casebound Hardback: 156mm x 244 format; 228 pages in black and white, plus 38-page colour insert.
The new 116-page bookazine from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine celebrates 1970, one of the most important years in the show’s history.
This issue of Chronicles examines all the stories from Season 7: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death and Inferno.
Highlights include new interviews, rare images and exclusive previews of the Season 7 Blu-ray box set.
Other exclusives in Chronicles 1970 include features on:
• The year’s most significant events in the Doctor Who universe (both on and off screen)
• Stars Jon Pertwee, Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney
• Writer Malcolm Hulke
• Doctor Who in the popular press
• Special effects and production techniques
• Classic Doctor Who books and comic strips
• … plus much more!
RUSSELL T DAVIES on the writers joining him for the Fifteenth Doctor’s second season.
With Jon Pertwee’s debut season coming to Blu-ray, we speak to team behind the release about the remastered episodes and the Special Features included on the set.
The Fugitive Doctor is back! JO MARTIN talks about stepping out from the shadow of the Thirteenth Doctor as she embarks on a series of her own adventures on audio.
Script to Screen – exec producer JOEL COLLINS, production designer PHIL SIMMS, visual effects supervisor SEB BARKER and others explain how they built the Time Hotel.
MICKEY LEWIS shares his experiences of playing some of the Doctor’s most terrifying adversaries.
We take a look at the history of lost First Doctor adventure The Savages – soon to be released as an animation…
Actor John Lord speaks about taking on the role of a Yeti – among his other roles.
A tribute to the Doctor Who work of designer Ken Ledsham.
Join us as we play mobile game Lost in Time – including the crossover with Star Trek: Lower Decks.
A fond look at the peculiarities of fan favourite Genesis of the Daleks.
Gary Gillatt considers how dinosaurs have had a colossal impact on Doctor Who…
Back to 1977… how script editor Robert Holmes was targeted by the tabloids!
The Fact of Fiction looks at the concluding episodes of 1968’s The Dominators.
The continuing adventures of the Doctor and Ruby in the comic strip!
Regular features
Gallifrey Guardian – our news round-up including casting on the new series.
Shelf Life – featuring reviews of the latest audio releases.
Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
Prizes to be won including Blu-rays of Joy to the World and The Collection – Season 9!
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 613 is on sale Thursday 30 January 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.
