September 23rd, 2026 1 comment

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Big Finish The Death and Life of River Song River and Rory

River and Rory and Strax!

Dan Starkey joins Alex Kingston and Arthur Darvill in The Death and Life of River Song: River and Rory, due for release February 2027 – story and cast details are revealed today.

River Song (Alex Kingston) will return for a brand-new box set of audio adventures in February, and this time she’ll be teaming up with her father, Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill). As they’re pursued through space and time, they make a stop in Victorian London and meet an old ally…

The box set’s third episode guest stars Dan Starkey as Strax, the Sontaran member of the Paternoster Gang. River, Rory and Strax last teamed up in the 2011 Doctor Who episode A Good Man Goes to War, and now must work together again to investigate a cursed scroll that’s unleashed chaos on London.

And, the second episode features a return to Rory’s hometown of Leadworth, where the duo encounter one of his old teachers, Mrs Walters – voiced by Ellie Darvill, Arthur’s mother, who’s also known for playing the Why Bird in BBC children’s show Playdays.

The father-daughter team’s race across time and space also takes in a Bog Man in Birmingham and a two-headed nemesis, all leading up to a thrilling confrontation…

The Death and Life of River Song: River and Rory, due for release in February 2027, is now available for pre-order for just £24.99 (download to own) or £35.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD) exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,250 copies and will not be re-pressed.

The four full-cast audio episodes included are:

Bog Man by Lizzie Hopley

Separated from Amy, Rory is staying with an old friend in Birmingham, when River turns up – battered and bruised, and looking for some father-daughter time…

A mysterious Bog Man at the local museum offers a chance for a family outing – but not quite the way Rory would want!

Life Lessons by Karissa Hamilton-Bannis

As enemies close in, River and Rory retreat to a familiar haunt – Leadworth. But an encounter with an old teacher brings up painful memories.

And with the alien Vessel on their trail, the pain is only going to get worse…

A Most Dangerous Game by Robert Valentine

After causing chaos at home for Rory, River has taken her dad for a joyride in the ‘borrowed’ TARDIS.

Following a cry for help to Victorian London, they enlist an old ally to help lift a terrible curse. If expendable troops are required – Strax is the Sontaran for the job!

The Tashpa Stone by Shai Hussain and John Dorney

Father and daughter are on the run in their stolen TARDIS. But for River it’s time to stop running and face the person who’s been chasing her.

At least she has someone by her side who will stand up for her no matter what she does. Or will he?

The guest cast of River and Rory also includes Saffron Coomber (Tracy Beaker Returns), Reece Connolly (star of the popular Doctor Who-themed live show Gallifrey Cabaret), Riess Fennell (Dear England), and Timothy Bentinck (The Archers, Torchwood), plus further names to be announced.

Dan Starkey said: “Alex, Arthur and I first played these characters together on screen in 2011, so that’s 15 years ago. That’s quite extraordinary. It’s great being back together in a very enjoyable episode from the redoubtable Robert Valentine. It’s a fast-moving trip through Victorian London, a race against time, with monsters – M. R. James meets Scooby-Doo!”

Writer Robert Valentine added: “Rory is one of life’s warriors and River Song is utterly carefree, bold, brave and brassy and winds him up no end, which is a joy to write. I ended up writing my episode in a two-week period and so it became inherently a chase story, all about characters in a rush.

“It’s told from Strax’s point of view, because he’s pulled into the story by this pre-established double act for the series. They are all in their various ways great foils for each other. Where Rory is the voice of caution who expresses the fear and anxiety of the situation, that is stuff Strax is deaf to. If River needs a vote to go her way in this triumvirate, Strax will always go with her!”

The Death and Life of River Song: River and Rory is now available for pre-order for just £24.99 (download to own) or £35.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD) exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

Categorised under: Big Finish, CD, spin-offs