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Doctor Who Unbound

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Doctor Who Unbound
Big Finish Productions audio drama
SeriesDoctor Who
Featuring
Executive producer(s)
Release date
  • May 2003 (2003-05) - present


Doctor Who Unbound is a series of audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions. Free from the constraints of continuity, the Doctor Who Unbound audios present a series of "What if...?" scenarios, and cast new actors in the role of the Doctor.

Background

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In Exile, Arabella Weir plays a female incarnation of the Doctor.[1][2][3][4][5][6] American alternative weekly Houston Press's Jef Rouner described her portrayal as "one of the most melancholy of all the Doctors."[5] Other actors who played the Doctor included Geoffrey Bayldon, David Collings, Derek Jacobi, and David Warner.[3][5]

Sympathy for the Devil features UNIT during the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong in 1997.[7] David Warner played an alternate Third Doctor in the story, which also saw Nicholas Courtney play an alternate version of The Brigadier and Mark Gatiss play an alternate version of The Master. Warner and Courtney reprised their roles for the eighth story in the range, Masters of War. In 2016, Warner and Gatiss reprised their roles as the Doctor and the Master respectively for The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield audio drama series: The Unbound Universe and its sequel Ruler of the Universe in 2017. After being pulled from the Unbound universe into the regular continuity of the Doctor Who universe, both characters have made ongoing appearances in various Big Finish ranges.

In February 2022, after a 14-year hiatus, Big Finish Productions announced the return of Unbound. Two boxsets, compromising of 3 stories in each, feature Colin Baker as an alternate Warrior Doctor known as "The Doctor of War" in a universe where the Fourth Doctor made the ultimate decision on Skaro, destroying the Daleks and showing how events may have unfolded after that fateful decision was made. These boxsets were announced to be released in April and September 2022 respectively.[8]

On 28 September 2022, Big Finish re-released the original first 8 stories in a download boxset titled Doctor Who: Unbound: 1-8 Collected.[9]

From 2017 to 2021, David Bradley reprised the role of First Doctor in Big Finish's The First Doctor Adventures range, having played the character in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon A Time" and 2022 Centenary special "The Power of the Doctor" as well as 2013 docudrama "An Adventure in Space and Time" in which he played original First Doctor actor William Hartnell. The latter which he co-starred with Jemma Powell, Jamie Glover and Claudia Grant who played actors Jaqueline Hill, William Russell and Carole Ann Ford in the docudrama as well as playing the actors's original parts of Barbara Wright, Ian Chesterton and Susan Foreman.[10] On 11 February 2022, it was announced that Stephen Noonan would instead takeover the role of the First Doctor with a portrayal closer to the characters original depiction.[11][12] In April 2022, Executive Producer Nicholas Briggs expressed interest in producing further stories with Bradley.[12] In Issue 167 of Big Finish's magazine Vortex, Briggs teased further stories featuring Bradley's portrayal, saying "We've some very exciting plans afoot for further stories with David Bradley — something quite out of the ordinary and rather delightful."[13] On 17 April, it was announced Bradley would continue to play a new alternate version of the First Doctor alongside Powell, Glover and Grant as alternate versions of their respective characters but now a spart of the Unbound range instead, in a series titled The First Doctor Unbound. Producer David O’Mahony stated that the series would take "stylistic inspiration" from “The Peter Cushing feature films".[14]

Cast and characters

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List indicator

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in at least one season.

  •   A green cell indicates the actor is a main cast member.
  •   A red cell indicates the actor is a recurring cast member.
  •   A light blue cell indicates the actor is a guest or special guest cast member.
Actor Character Appearances
Original series Doctor of War The First Doctor Unbound
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gen. Des. 1
Geoffrey Bayldon Alternate Versions of the First Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
David Bradley Does not appear
David Warner Alternate Third Doctor Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear
David Collings Alternate Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
Ian Brooker Alternate Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
Michael Jayston The Valeyard Does not appear Does not appear
Derek Jacobi Martin Bannister Does not appear Does not appear
Arabella Weir Alternate Third Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
Colin Baker The Doctor of War Does not appear Does not appear
Tom Baker The Fourth Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
Nicholas Briggs The Doctor Does not appear Does not appear
The Daleks Does not appear TBA
Carole Ann Ford Susan Foreman Does not appear Does not appear
Claudia Grant Does not appear
Nicholas Courtney The Brigadier Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear
Mark Gatiss The Master Does not appear Does not appear
Geoffrey Beevers Does not appear Does not appear
Nicola Bryant Peri Brown Does not appear Does not appear
Christopher Naylor Harry Sullivan Does not appear Does not appear
Sadie Miller Sarah Jane Smith Does not appear Does not appear
Terry Molloy Davros Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear
Louise Jameson Leela Does not appear Does not appear
Jemma Powell Barbara Wright Does not appear
Jamie Glover Ian Chesterton Does not appear

Episodes

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Original series (2003–2008)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
1"Auld Mortality"[15]Nicholas BriggsMarc PlattAlternative First Doctor (Geoffrey Bayldon), Susan ForemanMay 2003 (2003-05)
"What if... the Doctor and Susan had never left Gallifrey?"
2"Sympathy for the Devil"[16]Gary RussellJonathan ClementsAlternative Third Doctor (David Warner), The Brigadier, The MasterJune 2003 (2003-06)
"What if... the Doctor had not been UNIT's scientific advisor?"
3"Full Fathom Five"[17]Jason Haigh-ElleryDavid BishopAlternative Doctor (David Collings), Ruth, Alternative New Doctor (Ian Brooker, uncredited)July 2003 (2003-07)
"What if... the Doctor believed that the ends justified the means?"[citation needed]
4"He Jests at Scars..."[18]Gary RussellGary RussellThe Valeyard, MelAugust 2003 (2003-08)
"What if... the Valeyard had won" at the end of The Trial of a Time Lord?"
5"Deadline"[19]Nicholas BriggsRobert ShearmanMartin Bannister (Derek Jacobi), Philip, Barbara, Amy/SusanSeptember 2003 (2003-09)
"What if... Doctor Who did not materialise as a television series?" [citation needed]
6"Exile"[20]Nicholas BriggsNicholas BriggsThe Previous Doctor (Nicholas Briggs), Alternative Third Doctor (Arabella Weir)September 2003 (2003-09)
"What if... the Doctor had escaped the justice of the Time Lords" at the end of The War Games?"
7"A Storm of Angels"[21]John AinsworthMarc PlattAlternative First Doctor (Geoffrey Bayldon), Susan ForemanJanuary 2005 (2005-01)
"What if... the Doctor really had changed history, even just the tiniest bit?"
8"Masters of War"[22]Jason Haigh-ElleryEddie RobsonAlternative Third Doctor (David Warner), The Brigadier, Davros, Daleks, ThalsDecember 2008 (2008-12)
"What if.... the Doctor and the Brigadier travelled in the TARDIS together?"

Doctor of War (2022)

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byFeaturingReleased
Genesis
1"Dust Devil"[8]Barnaby KayJohn DorneyThe Doctor of War (Colin Baker), Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, Harry Sullivan, Peri Brown, NarvinApril 2022 (2022-04)
2"Aftershocks"[8]Lou MorganThe Doctor of War, The Master, Narvin
3"The Difference Office"[8]James KettleThe Doctor of War, Romana, Daleks, Kraals
Destiny
1"Who Am I?"[23]Barnaby KayNigel FairsThe Doctor of War, The MasterSeptember 2022 (2022-09)
2"Time Killers"[23]Lizzie HopleyThe Doctor of War, The Master
3"The Key to Key to Time"[23]Tim FoleyThe Doctor of War, The White Guardian

The First Doctor Unbound

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The First Doctor Unbound 1 (Title TBA)

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The first box set is set for release in September 2025 and is written by LR Hay.[24]

Reception

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Den of Geek's Andrew Blair selected Doctor Who Unbound as one of the ten Doctor Who stories that would make great musicals.[25] The Mary Sue's Alan Kistler said "fans enjoyed imagining these alternate Doctors" of David Warner and Arabella Weir.[3] American alternative weekly newspaper Houston Press's Jef Rouner said the series "fielded a fantastic set of stories."[5]

Fandom

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In 2016, BBC America's Anglophenia featured a fan-made version of the Doctor Who theme music for Unbound's alternate Second Doctor.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Crossan, Jamie (13 February 2013). "Doctor Who fans launch campaign for Sue Perkins to be next Time Lord". NME. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  2. ^ Fulton, Rick (2 June 2014). "It's Time Lords and Ladies as we explore the women who could easily regenerate into Doctor Who". Daily Record (Scotland). Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Kistler, Alan (27 December 2013). "Agent of S.T.Y.L.E. – The Alternate Versions of Doctor Who". The Mary Sue. Abrams Media. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  4. ^ Peck, Matthew Wace (3 August 2013). "Op-Ed: Is the new Doctor Who a woman?". Digital Journal. digitaljournal.com. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c d Rouner, Jef (20 September 2013). "Doctor Who: The 10 Best Alternative Universe Doctors". Houston Press. Voice Media Group. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  6. ^ Westthorp, Alex (5 June 2014). "Doctor Who: the film careers of Matt Smith and Peter Capaldi". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  7. ^ Singh, Harminder (1 July 2016). "Everything you need to know about Hong Kong's return to Chinese sovereignty". South China Morning Post. Alibaba Group. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d "Doctor of War Rewrites History". Big Finish Productions. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Doctor Who: Unbound: 1-8 Collected - Doctor Who - Unbound - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Doctor Who - The First Doctor Adventures - Ranges - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Stephen Noonan is the First Doctor! - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Revamped Doctor Who audio ranges from Big Finish - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Issue 167 - Vortex - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  14. ^ "The First Doctor enters a new Unbound era - News - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  15. ^ "1. Doctor Who - Unbound: Auld Mortality". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  16. ^ "2. Doctor Who - Unbound: Sympathy for the Devil". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  17. ^ "3. Doctor Who - Unbound: Full Fathom Five". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  18. ^ "4. Doctor Who - Unbound: He Jests at Scars..." Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  19. ^ "5. Doctor Who - Unbound: Deadline". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. ^ "6. Doctor Who - Unbound: Exile". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  21. ^ "7. Doctor Who - Unbound: A Storm of Angels". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  22. ^ "8. Doctor Who - Unbound: Masters of War". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "The Doctor of War's Date with Destiny". Big Finish Productions. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  24. ^ "11. Doctor Who: The First Doctor Unbound 1 (Title TBA) - Doctor Who - Unbound - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  25. ^ Blair, Andrew (28 August 2013). "Doctor Who: 10 stories that would make great musicals". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  26. ^ McAlpine, Fraser (September 2016). "Doctor Who's Day Roundup: Remaking the Music". Anglophenia. BBC America. Retrieved 13 April 2017.