February 11th, 2022
67 comments
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Big Finish The First Doctor Adventures The Outlaws
Available to order from www.bigfinish.com
Stephen Noonan is the First Doctor!
Big Finish Productions’ range of First Doctor Adventures has entered a new era, with a brand-new actor stepping into the TARDIS for the first time in April 2022.
Since 1963, the Doctor has been portrayed by many people on stage and screen, including William Hartnell, who originated the role on television. Several actors have since portrayed the First Doctor – including, most recently, David Bradley (both on TV and in six box sets of full cast audio dramas at Big Finish).
Now, character actor and former Royal Shakespeare Company member Stephen Noonan is joining their number, with two exciting new full-cast audio dramas – entitled The Outlaws and The Miniaturist – marking his debut as the First Doctor at Big Finish in April 2022.
The brand-new box set in Doctor Who — The First Doctor Adventures range is now available to pre-order on collector’s edition CD (+ download at £19.99) or digital (download only, for just £16.99), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.
Producer Mark Wright said: “We’ve been working away behind the scenes for months, and I’m thrilled to finally reveal our brilliant new First Doctor, Stephen Noonan. His preparation for playing the Doctor has been immersive and awe-inspiring. Stephen’s performance is uncanny, going to great lengths to honour the memory of William Hartnell while bringing his own interpretation.”
Director Nicholas Briggs added: “This is the beginning of a new era for the First Doctor with Big Finish. Stephen’s performance is, in my view, breath-taking and beautiful, authentic yet somehow brand-new, delivering deliciously Hartnell-esque belligerence, humour and charm in this box set, and offering up all sorts of exciting prospects for future adventures. It’s not simply an impersonation, it’s a full and rounded, detailed performance that I can’t wait for listeners to be thrilled by.
“Stephen Noonan has done some staggeringly detailed work to recapture the authenticity and spirit of the original Doctor, William Hartnell, whose success in the role is one of the main reasons the show is still with us today.”
Stephen Noonan concluded: “When Nicholas Briggs emailed to calmly offer me the role after I had auditioned, my initial reaction was one of extreme trepidation, considering it to be something of a sacred undertaking.
“I’m excited and daunted in equal measure to be following in the footsteps of William Hartnell. I hope we’ve done the great man justice and that you enjoy the new adventures to come.”
Doctor Who fans can now pre-order Doctor Who — The First Doctor Adventures: The Outlaws at just £19.99 (for the collector’s edition CD + download) or £16.99 (for the digital download only).
Big Finish listeners can save money long-term by purchasing this series within a bundle of 14 Classic Doctor Who box sets due in 2022 for £274 (on CD + download) or £237 (download only). Similarly, a bundle containing 10 Classic Doctor Who 2022 box sets is available for £190 (on CD + download) or £165 (download only).
Alternatively, listeners can purchase both The First Doctor Adventures: The Outlaws and The Second Doctor Adventures: Beyond War Games on CD + download (for just £38) or on download only (for just £33).
All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.
Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mailout of collector’s edition CDs will be delayed, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.
Categorised under: Big Finish, CD, Special Releases
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Michael Parsons
February 15th, 2022 - 1:11amI agree 100 percent with one of the comments above regarding David Bradley he is the perfect William Hartnell why replace another actor when David Bradley is perfect I will be emailing vortex feedback about this very frustrating to have another actor playing the first doctor when David Bradley is recognized as the replacement 1st doctor can not understand this
Children of davros
February 15th, 2022 - 7:21pmAs has been said, David Bradley may not want to do anymore audios. You can’t force an actor play a role.
Silver sea devil
February 14th, 2022 - 11:43pmI love what Big Finish produce, but I am afraid this is just terrible!, he really doesn’t sound like Hartnell at all, so I’m afraid I won’t be buying this series.
jim mclaren
February 12th, 2022 - 8:38pmI have tried to get into these audios but I can’t because I feel they are all sort of stars in their eyes impressions.For instance Tom Baker sounds his age and Tim Treloar just is’nt Pertwee.
The only one who gets pass marks is Paul Mcgann.
Gordon
February 12th, 2022 - 5:42pmHe doesn’t sound much like hartnell but he’s got the mannerisms spot on in my opinion. Not as bad as some of the other recasts (cough Nicholas Briggs ninth doctor) but not amazing. Might work better when I hear him properly on the finished story. Annette badland as what I assume is the celestial toymaker has sold this set for me. She’s always great on these big finish releases.
Kevin225
February 12th, 2022 - 4:50pmI understand that there is a desire from Big Finish for each of the Doctors to have an equal share of the releases, but IMO it is better to use the existing Doctors whilst they are still willing and able to produce new stories. Regardless of how decent (or otherwise) the replacements are (Tim Treloar, for example does a pretty decent Pertwee).
Jamie
February 12th, 2022 - 12:58pmThis sounds terrible! Nothing like them….oh dear…
Urrozdinee
February 12th, 2022 - 12:05pmNo disrespect to this guy, but what’s the point when they’ve already got David Bradley?
Gordon
February 12th, 2022 - 5:51pmThat’s assuming that he was available or was willing to do big finish without the adventure in time and space cast which might not be the case
Urrozdinee
February 13th, 2022 - 2:10pmGordon. Oh I see. Thing is he played the First Doctor without them in that big crossover they did to celebrate 20 years of big finish. Maybe it’s due to him not being available, but that just doesn’t sit right with me.
…
February 13th, 2022 - 3:27pmRemember Bradley is 79 years old, maybe he just doesn’t want to do these anymore? That’s his choice no one else’s
Gordon
February 14th, 2022 - 12:12amDoing a couple lines at the end of a 6 hour story consisting about 10 minutes of audio time (which David isn’t in all of that 10 mins) isn’t on the same level as doing 3 hours of audio work done over 3 days. He most likely did that work at the end of another recording day for 1 of the previous box sets.
Dalekz
February 12th, 2022 - 11:35amGetting desparate now with this stuff, if it isn’t Harnell whats the point?
Jason Z
February 12th, 2022 - 11:51amBut apparently Big Finish can’t get Hartnell to reprise the role?
RPG74
February 12th, 2022 - 12:07pmSo you don’t do Hartnell stuff anymore. That seems simple enough.
Coleman
February 12th, 2022 - 12:29pmYes I’ve heard that aswell Jason. Apparently Williams being abit stubborn with his huge Salary demands.
Auton
February 12th, 2022 - 12:45pmNo bc some of us fans want more doctor who stories from the 1st doctor era
…
February 12th, 2022 - 2:47pmI’d rather have hartnell books than poor imitations. But this is big finish all over now…
Dalekz
February 12th, 2022 - 3:10pmThats the thing, you can’t have real 1st Doctor stories anymore so why not just leave it alone.
Feels wrong somehow.
Books are different as you don’t have somebody doing a bad impression putting you off you actually have Hartnell’s voice in your head.
DJS
February 12th, 2022 - 4:17pmI just wish big finish takes a long break to let people catch up. There are now TOO many stories to keep up with. Also the Canon is too bloated now. I still dont accept there are 50 odd stories between Plant of Fire and Caves of Androzani. Still without BF what would DWM cover?
RPG74
February 12th, 2022 - 5:11pmNone of this is canon DJS, it’s essentially licensed fan fiction. It’s no more canon than the original novels (and if you disagree then ask yourself which Doctor loved Joan Redfearn, Seven or Ten?).
Whorules
February 12th, 2022 - 5:46pmThat is why I stopped buying big finish ten years ago DJS. For me less is definitely more. I’ve never regretted stopping or selling on my big finish CDs (14 years worth) as it allowed me to enjoy both the new TV series and the old DVDs more.
Gordon
February 12th, 2022 - 5:48pmCanon is what you make it. There is no defined thing saying what is and isn’t cannon. You may think there is too many releases but you don’t need to buy every single 1
Whorules
February 12th, 2022 - 6:55pmGordon is absolutely right. The best way to treat doctor who canon is to make up your own mind. For me the TV show is the primary source. Everything else is extra. Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. I love the books. But if a book is contradicted by new who it doesn’t bother me. Some of the book ideas were ridiculous. The whole Susan isn’t his granddaughter plot was completely daft. And all based on fans not being able to accept the doctor must have had sex in order to have children in order to have a granddaughter! The convoluted explanations were ridiculous. Especially as arc of infinity shows a pregnant time lady! So to me the new adventures are not canon just a set of books that had some great, some good and some poor stories. They still sit proudly on my shelves.
Oh, and as Gordon also says, you really don’t need to buy everything…
…
February 12th, 2022 - 6:58pmRPG74, they both do. Personally I preferred the original book version to the tenth doctor one. It worked better in print for me. But then I’m not a big tennant fan.
RPG74
February 12th, 2022 - 8:20pmI’ll have to respectfully disagree with you there Gordon. For me, official canon is anything televised, so books and original audios don’t count, even if you want them to. For example, the ‘Rose’ novelization positing the idea of future regens including ‘a child in a hi tech wheelchair, with a robotic dog by their side’, is interesting but because this aspect wasn’t televised (obviously, since Russell isn’t a time traveller) it doesn’t mean a thing. Well, not yet anyway!
As for there being too many releases, which others have suggested, well I have to agree with that. No, I don’t have to buy them, but as a fan I’m still entitled to worry whether the sheer endless volume and corresponding diminishing quality control could dilute and potentially damage the whole brand.
Auton
February 13th, 2022 - 8:09amFor me the TV show, Big Finish and the books are all Canon. The books and big finish add so much more to the already amazing TV show so why would you neglected that? You can easily enjoy the TV show as well as all the books and big finish you have, you don’t have to get all the extended media releases. I think we should all make are mind up about Stephen Noonen once the release has properly been released and we have heard both stories. He might end up not being perfect but the stories might help lift his performance allowing us to get use to him.
Daniel Seymour
February 13th, 2022 - 8:43amMy view on Big Finish (and stories in other media) is that they are all multiverse stories. I never held that view originally, to me they were Canon until around 2010 when more and more new companions were joining the 5th 6th and 7th Doctors and were moving away from being authentic to the era. I also account for both versions of Human Nature as having happened as the effects of multiverse as indeed the controversial timeless child story arc on TV. Basically time is messed around with now and the timelords used to keep this all in check to stop it happening.
TimelordTim
February 13th, 2022 - 8:58amJust curious RPG74, do you count anything from the 8th Doctor audios as your canon? After all, he had just one TV story and then name checks many of his audio companions on TV when he returned for the 50th?
And what about the Lost Stories audios? After all, they were planned for TV but didn’t make it for various reasons, so would be closer to “TV canon” anyway.
For my part, I agree with Gordon, canon is what you make it. For RPG74 that’s just the TV stories, for others it’s all books and audio as well, and all are absolutely fine.
For me though, my canon is TV with some audio and books included as I cherry pick ones that look like they’ll fit in with, and compliment, the TV series, so I mainly have 8th Doctor stories with scattered others.
The Outcast
February 13th, 2022 - 10:33amMy view is that everything is canonical. There’s been plenty of expanded media references in the main show, and the books, comics and audios all reference each other in various ways. It’s best to consider it all canonical, none of this exclusionary nonsense.
the ergon
February 13th, 2022 - 11:18amYou can be picky and choosy. you yourself can decide what is and isn,t ‘Canon.’ Buy what you think is relevant. A lot of these adventures are just ‘add ons’ anyway to keep a business running. I don,t personally buy into a lot of it and i know what works and what doesn,t but some of those offscreen adventures even some of the spin offs slot perfectly into the show without any convolution.
RPG74
February 13th, 2022 - 1:11pmEight is an interesting case Timelord Tim, but I’d have to say no. Though his companions are name checked in Night of the Doctor, Moffat wrote his character a little differently. And there are a couple of instances I think, where New Who has contradicted some of his audio adventures, (The Haunting of Villa Diodati for one).
I think the attitude of many studios regarding these ‘add ons’ to IPs, is that they’re canon until they decide they aren’t-remember Disney wiping out the entire Star Wars expanded universe?-which is another way of saying they aren’t.
That doesn’t mean I can’t listen to audio stories from time to time and enjoy them for what they are-though given the terrible and pointless Hartnell impersonation here, I shan’t be listening to this one-it’s just that I regard them in the same way people regarded magazine stories or Who comic strips of the 70’s and 80’s. Entertaining, but not canon.
Just my own opinions, obviously.
Children of davros
February 13th, 2022 - 1:30pmGene roddenberry had the best answer. He stated categorically that canon was what you see on screen. Everything else didn’t count. A straightforward situation. Who is so complicated with even the books of the TV stories contradicting the show. Ian and Barbara on barnes common. Jo’s first story being colony in space etc. I just like to enjoy each story for itself. I’m not to bothered about trying to shoehorn everything into a continuity line that is impossible to achieve.
the ergon
February 13th, 2022 - 1:39pmWell if thats the case how do you account for the cushing movies or even Dimensions in Time. They were seen and in some cases best forgotten.
Children of davros
February 13th, 2022 - 3:29pmThe Cushing movies are not doctor who though. He isn’t playing the doctor but a human scientist called doctor who. As for dimensions in time you can count it or not… it is up to you.
The ergon
February 13th, 2022 - 3:47pmWell by that statement canon is what you make of it whether on screen or not then.
Auton
February 13th, 2022 - 3:53pmThe Peter Cushing could be seen as one of the unbound doctors
Children of davros
February 13th, 2022 - 4:44pmWhat roddenberry said was only onscreen material counted. That means the material made by the star trek production teams. The Cushing films aren’t made by the BBC and dimensions was not made as part of the official series. If you want to count them count them and if you don’t don’t. Simple.
Rory
February 14th, 2022 - 12:22pmCan we all just agree that John and Gillian were never companions?
*Finishes new series script starring the Trods*
AxC
February 12th, 2022 - 9:57amI mean, we can all agree that this is Mad Gerald right?
Is his companion Mr Key?
Ben Miller
February 12th, 2022 - 4:22amIt’s a Shame that dodo was wasted in the war Machines. I hope big finish do her justice
BW
February 11th, 2022 - 10:58pmBig Finish: The Tribute Act years
Lisa Gates
February 11th, 2022 - 8:30pmI look forward for him to work with Alex Kingston! River Song will have a grand Ole time!
Auton
February 11th, 2022 - 7:56pmI think once you get into the story you will enjoy the new voice artist more. It happened for me with David Bradley and Tim Treloar so I’m hopeful for this also. I am hoping especially as Dodo has had many stories
Auton
February 11th, 2022 - 8:25pmHasn’t
Doctor Mysterio
February 11th, 2022 - 7:39pmHave to say, having avoided the Third Doctor boxsets with Tim Treloar for some time, I eventually relented for The Annihilators. Now, having listened to it, I think it’s wonderful and really don’t know what took me so long, so I’ll be looking for more of the past Third Doctor releases. Same goes for the new War Doctor.
It also makes me more optimistic for both this and Michael Troughton’s Second Doctor too. I’m open to some great new adventures!
James17
February 11th, 2022 - 7:35pmI don’t like to criticise much, but I think this comment section sums up my thoughts pretty well. It’s a shame, when there are some amazing impressionists online, especially YouTube, who sound fantastic. Check out Whovian 903’s stuff, it’s insanely good
KA
February 11th, 2022 - 8:18pmI’ve heard whovian 903 , awful! The thing is , people can do “impressions “ but they can’t act! BF are getting strong actors to interpret the incarnation, not copy. I prefer it this way.
pupbenny
February 11th, 2022 - 6:29pmEeeeeh, I must say, though I don’t mean it as an insult, but this really doesn’t sound anything remotely like either the First Doctor or Dodo. I’m expecting the First Doctor to say ‘More cheese, Dodo!?’ and Dodo sounds…. well, I feel like I’m listening to a classic Coronation Street episode, both characters here sound weirdly northern, which is entirely inaccurate, unless I’m mistaken? This feels like the First Doctor’s era if Chris Chibnall got his hands on it.
the ergon
February 11th, 2022 - 6:13pmThat impersonation sounds like Clive Dunn channelling Geoffrey Bayldon as the Crowman from the original Worzel Gummidge.
Jack
February 11th, 2022 - 5:45pmNo disrespect to Stephen Noonan but he doesn’t sound a thing like the Doctor. He sounds like a generic old man with a bit of a whimsical spin on his voice. What’s wrong with using David Bradley? He has the prior experience and is always well received as the Doctor
booboo
February 11th, 2022 - 5:49pmRegardless of the comments, people should just not assume David Bradley wants to continue in the role.
the ergon
February 11th, 2022 - 6:29pmDavid Bradley is a very ubiquitous actor. I hope he continues with Big finish but not just with the actors playing Ian, Barbara and Susan from An Adventure in space and Time. I was hoping those other actors in that drama who were seen doing the photoshoots as the other actors would also get to do a few boxsets with him as his later companions.
Max Kennedy
February 11th, 2022 - 5:35pmHonestly sounds rubbish. All I want is for Big Finish to continue both the Novel and Comic Strip Adaptations. At least the return of the Unbound series is intriguing.
Kevin225
February 11th, 2022 - 6:29pmBig Finish have mentioned on numerous occasions that whilst they receive lots of positive comments and interest re the Novel Adaptations, this doesn’t actually translate into sales so I guess no more get made.
Nick
February 11th, 2022 - 6:32pmYes to more comic strip and novel adaptations. Blood Harvest, Festival of Death, Voyager and Tides of Time please.
Rory
February 14th, 2022 - 12:09pm@Kevin225, I can understand that. I have all of the novels, so I’m always going to prioritise the original content over adaptations.
Would be great to have a full set of audio NAs, but if they can do new NA stories with that same cast then I know where my money is going.
Alan Silvester
February 11th, 2022 - 5:30pmSorry, it’s a “no” from me too. Sounds nothing like the great William Hartnell. I’m really starting to think Big Finish have lost the plot a bit. I’ve been an avid supporter of theirs for many years, but this new direction of late is worrying me. My opinion, and I’m sure others will disagree and love this. But I’m just not a fan of all these “impressions” of past characters – I’m not that keen on Jon Culshaw’s Brigadier! Oh well, at least there’s new proper 9th Doctor to look forward to this month…!
Kevin225
February 11th, 2022 - 6:34pmNew 9th Doctor along with Jon Culshaw as the Brigadier! My main recent concern with Big Finish (and I am a huge (since 1999 fan) is what I can only describe as Shrinkenomics. Very few box sets are now 4 stories/the recent Third Doctor release with 7 episodes when in fact most of them are not much more than 20 minutes. I guess a way of keeping costs down.
MJS
February 11th, 2022 - 4:47pmOh dear. I’m normally a great supporter of things like this but I’m sorry, this sounds nothing like Hartnell. I do hate to be a downer, but this is one release I’m happy to skip
Timelord63
February 11th, 2022 - 4:40pmI’m sorry but that was terrible. I dont think he sounded like Hartnell at all. Please think Big Finish are losing it a bit.
Doctor Mysterio
February 11th, 2022 - 3:35pmDoes this mean no more sets featuring David Bradley?
Cyberman116
February 11th, 2022 - 3:43pmI hope not. The blurb for this new series mentions David Bradley as having done 6 box sets for Big Finish and there are only 5 on sale so hopefully there will be another one this year.
Auton
February 12th, 2022 - 12:47pmVolume 5 did end on a cliffhanger so hopefully we get at least one more
Ben
February 11th, 2022 - 3:21pmI hate to be a downer… but does anyone else think this sounds absolutely abysmal?
Rhys
February 11th, 2022 - 4:18pmSurely there must be someone who can do a better Hartnell impression, I think Noonan is a Scouser and that’s coming through. Still I may give one of these a go if David Bradley is no longer doing them.
Coleman
February 11th, 2022 - 5:02pmCan’t quite put my finger on it but the impersonation is abit off.
Sounds abit like he has a lisp.