Audio reviews
BBC Audio
Release date Out now

The classic Target novelisations now available as audio adventures…

Years ago, before the advent of video and DVD, Doctor Who stories appeared as novelisations of transmitted episodes. These novelisations have now been given the ‘special edition’ treatment by Target Books with narration provided by cast members of the original TV episodes.

What is most pleasing about this ever-growing range of titles is how much they expand on the original episodes. For example, The Time Warrior features a prologue dealing with the Sontaran Linx, who for once is very much on the retreat from his Rutan enemies. We get insight into his character, his disdain for his enemies and his first name: Jingo.

Also named are two Cybermen, Tarn and Krang, in the adaptation of The Moonbase (renamed as The Cybermen for the novelisation), which gives the story a sweet comic book edge that is missing from the original. Anneke Wills’s reading of this story is enhanced by Nicholas Briggs's contribution as the voice of the silver giants, and the sense of menace improves on what we have seen in this story’s existing episodes.

It is a little unfortunate that The Abominable Snowmen doesn’t quite add enough to its source text beyond a very haunting opening scene. It’s a pity, because the Himalayan setting could easily have been elaborated on and it would have been interesting to delve into the origins of the Great Intelligence. David Troughton (the son of the relevant Doctor in this case) provides a compelling narration of this story, with his impersonation of his dad predictably spot on.

The most recent story in this batch, The Masque of Mandrogora, benefits greatly from Tim Piggot-Smith’s warm narration that captures the sense of Renaissance Italy most effectively. Much like The Abominable Snowmen, the plot is relatively faithful to the TV version, but, pleasingly, writer Philip Hinchcliffe (who produced the show) offers rare insight into the Doctor’s thoughts.

As well as having the inevitable nostalgia factor for those who read these novelisations the first time round, these discs are also ideal for young fans of Doctor Who that might be put off by the less-than-stellar special effects of the old TV episodes. The old adage about the pictures being better on radio is certainly true here. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT
The Cybermen: 9/10
The Abominable Snowmen: 8/10
The Time Warrior: 10/10
The Masque of Mandragora: 9/10