Audio CD review
AudioGo / Big Finish
Release date Out now

The Fourth Doctor visits 19th Century Paris and potentially finds an exit from E-Space; someone close to the Seventh Doctor makes the ultimate sacrifice; the Eighth encounters some old enemies, while the 11th has an adventure in the Wild West...

Matt Smith's reading of Oli Smith's The Runaway Train comes to AudioGo (the new name for BBC Audio) this month.

Originally released by The Daily Telegraph not long after Smith had recorded it (reviewed here), it's now had music and effects added. A confident debut by the new Doctor.

VERDICT: 7/10

The Fourth Doctor's Demon Quest continues with The Demon of Paris, narrated mainly by Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibsey.

This maintains the standard of the first instalment, with a gripping tale involving the arty world of the late 19th Century, as Toulouse-Lautrec comes under suspicion of committing grisly murders. Tom Baker clearly enjoys rolling his tongue around Paul Magrs's dialogue, making this great fun.

VERDICT: 8/10

Big Finish's Seventh Doctor trilogy features A Death in the Family, which plays into listener expectations following last month's Project: Destiny, but then confounds them.

One of those stories where too much description will spoil the listening experience, it features the return of the Word Lord from 2008's single episode story on the 45 compilation, in a psychotic new form. Fans of Evelyn Smythe won't be disappointed by this story either, with Maggie Stables giving a terrific performance in scenes with Sylvester McCoy, and there's a chance for Sophie Aldred to show some of the more emotional sides of Ace.

This month's highlight.

VERDICT: 8/10

The Companion Chronicle, The Invasion of E-Space, sees the return of Full Circle writer Andrew Smith to the Doctor Who fold.

It's a nice little side story within the E-Space trilogy, with the TARDIS functioning far more as a spaceship than normal, but it’s not one of those tales that sticks strongly in the mind after listening.

Worth picking up for the Lalla Ward interview at the end in which she pulls no punches!

VERDICT: 6/10

The Eighth Doctor's fourth season hasn't been the strongest, but it picks up considerably with Deimos, the first of a two-part story featuring the return of the Ice Warriors.

A good blend of action, comedy and characterisation from writer Jonathan Morris, it gives Nikki Wardley's Tamsin some strong material against a powerful guest cast including Tracy-Ann Oberman.

VERDICT: 8/10

Peter Quentin