Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Christopher Eccleston, Camilla Beeput, Clare Corbett, Ben Lee, Anjella MacKintosh, Jayne McKenna, Jamie Parker, Dan Starkey.
Space and Time, there is more than enough for all the incarnations of the Doctor from Gallifrey to inhabit, and for the most part they have with honour thanks to the B.B.C. reinstalling their faith in the series in 2005, and to the architects of audio drama, Big Finish as they made it their mission to continue providing for the fans the stories, the tales of suspense, of the Doctor, the companions, and enemies such as Daleks and foes such as The Master.
Time though has been missing a hero. In between the superb performances by Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Slyvester McCoy for Big Finish for many years, and the inclusion of the later incarnations in their various guises and faces, one hero has been conspicuous by their absence, and even the odd appearance in passing has not quelled the voices of support for Christopher Eccleston to return to the role that gave the legion of fans hope that the Space and Time traveller would once more be taken seriously.
With the three-part audio series release by Big Finish, Ravagers, those dreams and hopes have come to life, and whilst the point is not to dwell on the reasons why Christopher Eccleston was absent from the series for so long, it cannot be entirely dismissed from the conversation because of how good, how incredibly solid, the actor’s performance is as he joins up with the likes of Camille Beeput, Jayne McKenna and Doctor Who stalwart Dan Starkey in an adventure that rivals any of his fellow colleagues in their full season debut in the role.
The tale, spread over three C.D.s, Sphere Of Freedom, Cataclysm, and Food Fight, sees Christopher Eccleston in full glorious flow as the eponymous Doctor, and for a while the disappointment and sadness for the man not being able to continue in the role for so long, even if at his behest, is wiped away.
Ravagers is a fantastic tale told in the persuasive manner that Nicholas Briggs brings to the franchise, one that the listener will instinctively realise is “Timey Wimey”, for what better way is there to re-introduce a character than by making them the ones responsible for the event they are so solving in the first place.
The sense of completion is paramount, and in Ravagers the fans have received what they badly wanted; Christopher Eccleston back in the role that made Doctor Who possible once more.
Ian D. Hall