One of the Eighth Doctor’s former companions will return in the first part of the Sontarans vs Rutans audio drama series, due for release in January 2024 from Big Finish Productions.
“Charley, C’rizz, Lucie, Tamsin, Molly, friends, companions I’ve known, I salute you.”
On Nov. 14, 2013, the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann) made a surprise reappearance and paid tribute to the companions of his audio adventures in a special mini-episode of Doctor Who, “The Night of the Doctor.”
Now, a decade on, Conrad Westmaas returns to play one of those named; C’rizz, a Eutermesan monk who debuted in the 2004 story “Creed of the Kromon” is back with the Eighth Doctor and Charley Pollard (India Fisher) for a brand-new adventure.
Doctor Who – Sontarans vs Rutans: The Battle of Giant’s Causeway by Lizzie Hopley is available to pre-order for just £10.99 (collector’s edition CD + download) or £8.99 (download only), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.
A temporal tidal wave leads the Doctor, Charley and C’rizz to the Giant’s Causeway, Ireland 55BC, where the TARDIS drains of power and they encounter Sontarans who believe they’re Roman Legionnaires. What has caused this and what is the strange secret in the rocks?
Producer David Richardson said: “I felt it was time to revisit the travelling triumvirate of the Eighth Doctor, Charley and C’rizz (in fact we were long overdue a revisit…).
“Everyone got very excited by the idea so my next step was to chat to Conrad to see if he was willing to reprise the role. I think he pretty much said, ‘Just tell me when and where you want me’.
“‘We’ve got the band back together,’ Paul McGann enthused as the first scenes got underway.”
Conrad Westmaas added: “Not having been in the studio for 15 years was a bit daunting – but Paul, India and I just threw ourselves headlong into battle, had an absolute blast, and I honestly think this is one of the strongest outings this team has ever had. I’m so proud of it and can’t wait for people to hear it!”
Doctor Who – Sontarans vs Rutans will be released in monthly parts between January and April 2024, with a story which weaves through the lives of the Third, Sixth, Eighth and War Doctors. The series cast also includes Tim Treloar (the Third Doctor), Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor) and Jonathon Carley (the War Doctor), with Dan Starkey playing a variety of Sontarans.
Also today, Big Finish revealed exclusively to Radio Times that Fisher’s Charlie will join McGann’s Eighth Doctor for the previously announced holiday release In the Bleak Midwinter, unveiling an updated cover featuring the Edwardian adventuress.
