August 9th, 2020
85 comments
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Christopher Eccleston Returns to Doctor Who
Big Finish Productions, in association with BBC Studios announces the long-awaited return of Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
First seen on screen in 2005, Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor introduced a whole new generation of fans to Doctor Who.
Now he’s back, with a brand-new series of twelve fantastic full-cast audio adventures in space and time, due to be released across four box sets, starting with volume one in May 2021.
Christopher Eccleston said: “After 15 years it will be exciting to revisit the Ninth Doctor’s world, bringing back to life a character I love playing.”
Story details, writers and additional guest cast are being kept under wraps at present but this Doctor Who audio series promises to be, once again, the trip of a lifetime.
Doctor Who fans worldwide can now pre-order all four volumes, which are available in three formats – collector’s edition CD, digital download or limited edition gatefold triple LP vinyl – exclusively from the Big Finish website.
Big Finish’s Chairman, Jason Haigh-Ellery said: “I first talked to Christopher about returning to the role of the Doctor at a fan convention in February this year. Christopher said he was enjoying meeting the fans and was pleased that his Doctor was remembered so fondly. I am so pleased that Christopher has decided to return to the role with us – and I’m excited to welcome him to the Big Finish family as we discover the new adventures of the Ninth Doctor.”
Big Finish’s Creative Director, Nicholas Briggs, added: “Working with Chris was a very special time for me. The beginning of my Doctor Who TV career. So, writing for and directing him feels incredibly exciting. He’s such a powerful performer and it’ll be amazing to work with him again.”
Each of the four volumes in Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures will be released as a 4-disc collector’s edition box set or download containing three brand-new full cast audio adventures, plus a selection of behind-the-scenes extras.
Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures is now available globally for pre-order exclusively at the Big Finish website (www.bigfinish.com), from just £19.99.
Big Finish listeners can save by pre-ordering a bundle of the entire series for just £88 (as a collector’s edition box set) or £78 (as a download).
The Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Adventures triple LP vinyls are strictly limited to a pressing of 1,000 per volume, and can be pre-ordered at £35.99 each, or £132 for the bundle of all four albums, again exclusively at the Big Finish website (www.bigfinish.com). Please note: the vinyl editions do not include the behind-the-scenes extras.
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booboo
August 10th, 2020 - 6:45pmBig Finish have said the LP’s will come with downloads with the behind the scenes extras
whonose
August 10th, 2020 - 9:29pmFantastic, glad to get a good answer! Thanks booboo, it’s going to be harder to convince myself not to splurge on these…
Dalek z
August 10th, 2020 - 1:23pmI don’t really listen to the Big Finish stuff (there is so much of it) but I’m so happy Chris is doing this and coming back as the Doctor!
As he has done conventions and now Big Finish I hope he’s now more willing to come back for any 60th Anniversary TV special in 2023.
Welcome back Chris you are still fantastic!
Anonymous
August 10th, 2020 - 10:44amNot sure if this helps anyone but I received this after asking:
“To confirm – if you purchase the vinyl releases then you will receive downloads in your account as they are released, and all CD purchases of Ninth Doctor Adventures come with access to downloads. Sue”
I’m now fairly certain that if you buy the vinyls you’ll receive the audio downloads, and if you buy the CDs you’ll receive the audio downloads too.”
Rick Astley
August 10th, 2020 - 10:52amThat’s always been the case with Big Finish, nothing new.
Vortexsurfer
August 10th, 2020 - 10:53amYes that’s standard Big Finish practice. If you buy a physical copy you always get the download as well.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2020 - 10:28amI hope we get another Slitheen story.
Hulk
August 10th, 2020 - 1:22amPlease ninth doctor fight John Simms master please
Gordon
August 10th, 2020 - 10:02amThat couldn’t work. He believes the entire race to be dead at this point. They could use the whole mindwipe card again but I think that card has been done to death at this point
Who Is Who
August 10th, 2020 - 2:16pmHe could take on the Master in a multi-doctor story, as long as there is at least one later incarnation in it too, which right now would have to be David Tennant. Because the older doctors always forget those adventures
Gordon
August 10th, 2020 - 8:23pmIt’s 1 way of getting round it. However they are already having 10 in multi doctor stories with 4 and 8. Doing it again so soon might be diluting the specialness of it. Save it for a couple of years. Maybe as part of the 60th aniversary
Mrs Croot
August 11th, 2020 - 12:16amThe Monk probably didn’t fight in the Time War, so maybe we could have him back as that wouldn’t interrupt nine thinking his entire race is dead. Maybe we could have Christopher Eccleston VS Graham Garden.*
We could then have nine trying to be friends with “the last” of his species.
*(Nothing against Rufus, it’s just I would like to see more incarnations, but I wouldn’t mind if I was Rufus Hound who played him.)
WhoKnows
August 10th, 2020 - 12:03amChris actually did this whilst knowing that Nick did that awful kermit impression of him?
HAHAHAHAHA
Coleman
August 10th, 2020 - 10:55amWhat?
Anonymous
August 10th, 2020 - 6:48pmThey did The Ninth Doctor Chronicles, which was narrated rather than full cast. Nicholas Briggs did a sort of impression of Eccleston throughout it.
Hopeful
August 9th, 2020 - 10:15pmGreat news but I just hope Big Finish have some quality scripts for the 9th Doctor. Too often I’m disappointed by the scripts on Big Finish releases – far too much reliance on the same clique of writers.
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 - 10:11pmI wonder if it’s set just before meeting Rose or when the Dr flies off and comes back a few seconds later for Rose. I wonder if we will get the Titanic story?
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 - 9:12pmOne of the things I want one of these sets to explore is The Universe Post Time War. What is the damage to planets. How do they see time lords?.
Vortexsurfer
August 9th, 2020 - 9:15pmThat’s why I’d like them to do the Shadow Proclamation, which seems to become the galactic authority post-Gallifrey.
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 9:46pmThats quite interesting, ‘The great time War’ certainly, left his memory scarred and it all seemed to come flooding back post Regeneration, but a lot surrounding those events has been covered with The Time War and War Doctor sets, a post Time war set could go a long way to explaining the aftermath, affects and anxieties that really got to him.
JL
August 9th, 2020 - 9:10pmIf I preoder the vinyl, do big finish take money now or on release of each box set? And does it differ between PayPal and card?
Vortexsurfer
August 9th, 2020 - 9:13pmPreorders always take money upfront. PayPal just means you pay through your PayPal account, card you pay direct.
Gordon
August 9th, 2020 - 8:53pmIt’s going to be interesting to see what points of the 9th doctor chronology they will use. I doubt it will be 4 sets of him on his own or 4 sets with him and Billie. I think it’s going to be a mix. Maybe the first set with Billie to ease him in maybe set after ep 3 or 5. He’s always been extremely positive when talking about her so having her involved might appeal . then a set to himself pre rose or maybe during that time he disappeared at the end of rose just before he reappeared and said “it also travels in time”. Maybe Another set with rose set pre empty child with maybe Mickey and Jackie and finally a set with rose and jack set post doctor dances. I know John and chris have had their issues but I’m sure big finish can work round it. They don’t have to record at the same time. Regarding returning monsters the daleks are pretty much out unless there is some kind of mind wipe. Personally I think that’s a blessing as it seems to be their go to monster And there is such a thing as overkill. Master kind of has the same problem as he believes him to be dead at this point. Cybermen would be good but that would have to be pre rose. 10th doctor explained to her who they were.
Vortexsurfer
August 9th, 2020 - 9:08pmAgreed. I would ideally like each box to be set in a different segment of the era. For enemies, Sontarans and Silurians are fair game. Judoon would also fit with the Shadow Proclamation being first mentioned in Rose…
The sweeney
August 9th, 2020 - 11:32pmWould like a story set straight after the war doctors regeneration so we can find out how he reclaimed the title of doctor
Jordan9364
August 10th, 2020 - 9:11amHe already did at the end of the 50th “I am the Doctor again, thank you” before he leaves in the TARDIS
Who Is Who
August 10th, 2020 - 2:14pmHe did Jordan but he said “I won’t remember this will I? I won’t remember I tried to save Gallifrey, but for this moment, I am the Doctor again”. As soon as he left 10 and 11 and regenerated, he forgot all about what happened in the 50th and still believed that incarnation not to be the doctor
Pat
August 9th, 2020 - 7:23pmEPISODE 1: THE DOCTOR VISITS HEATON PARK
Vortexsurfer
August 9th, 2020 - 7:18pmSo it looks like there are three gaps that these can slot into.
1. Pre-Rose: This is probably a short gap. You could introduce another companion but their exit would have to be quite a negative experience given the Doctor’s mental state in Rose.
2. With Rose: Any time between World War Three and Empty Child.
3. Between Doctor Dances and Boom Town: In Boom Town the Doctor, Rose and Jack already look quite chummy, so it looks like some time has passed. Plus John Barrowman is clearly up for returning to the role at any opportunity!
Gordon
August 9th, 2020 - 8:19pmI wonder if Post unquiet dead is also a possibility? It’s been a while since I watched.
Vortexsurfer
August 9th, 2020 - 8:31pmNot sure. I got the impression at the start of Aliens of London that they just did one trip to the future, one to the past, and then came home. I suppose you could slip and alien planet in there.
Doctor Mysterio
August 9th, 2020 - 6:28pmIt’s the one we’ve all been waiting for! Day one pre-order for me…
That’s 8 original Doctor’s that have recorded with Big Finish so far (Tom to Tennant).
Now, where’s Smith 🙂
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 6:21pmLOL.There hasn,t been such an overuse of one word since ‘Salamander’.
Ryan J. Chessher
August 9th, 2020 - 6:11pmJust pre ordered the vinyls
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 6:07pmNo. Absolutely FANTASTIC!
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 5:57pmor rather shouldn,t that be War Doctor into Ninth but alas no John Hurt so it would have to be straight headlong into the next story.
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 5:55pmI,m trying not to get ahead of myself and just a little excited when i think of Eighth into Nine and a possible missing story before he meets Rose.
Mrs Croot
August 9th, 2020 - 6:22pmI think his timeline means that there isn’t anything before Rose, but all the Clive pictures take place during his gaps in the story. (After the explosion and after the arm attacks). You could probably find out the true timeline if you listened to the short trip where he meets the Daniels family of Southampton, but I don’t know as I don’t own it.
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 7:06pmI haven,t heard any of the short trips so i was unaware of this but it makes sense. They could actually remake what happened during those gaps now they have him back. I mean he is still checking his appearance over in Jackies living room post regeneration in Rose so he hasn,t had much time to stop and check or possibly not even asked about his appearance when he was pictured with the family before the Titanic set sail etc. Who narrated that? and Was it just a perspective of what happened during that ill fated voyage?
Doctor Stu
August 9th, 2020 - 7:08pmThere’s definitely stuff before Rose surely? Where does it say the photographs take place in the gaps in the story. The Doctor wouldn’t randomly pop off to the titanic or the Kennedy assassination in between trying to defeat the Autons it would make no sense
Mrs Croot
August 9th, 2020 - 7:17pmSorry, I’ve only heard about it and know that the Daniels family are in it. It’s called Battle Scars if you want to look into it.
SJF
August 9th, 2020 - 7:18pmYeah there’s a big gap before Rose. All of BF’s Ninth Doctor solo stories are set pre-Rose.
RTD even said that he didn’t intend the “look at the ears” scene to mean that he’d just regenerated. It was just like if anyone had a particularly noticeable facial feature, it might stick out to them when they catch sight of it in the mirror.
Whofan44
August 9th, 2020 - 7:34pmYeah there is def a gap before Rose as in one audio he still have the War Doctors sonic.
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 9:58pmSJF that maybe true but its a very Doctory thing to do post regeneration checking his new features especially where theres a mirror to hand. At the time i just took it as given. Hes very insecure about his looks even when he reassures himself.
bryan
August 10th, 2020 - 2:05amHow Fantastic (NPI) it would be. on the firt disc of the first box. everybody is hankering to hear Christopher Eccelston. But we get a few Lines of John Hurts war Doctor (there must be the odd line he said in all those stories), all you get is Sir John In the Tardis and Regenerationg into Chris, one word/line/comment. Bam: Into the titles, Dum de dum dum de dum.
Dont tell anyone. Big surprise. All those reactions to confound people from what they expected.
Makes me smile anyway 🙂
Gareth Pugh
August 10th, 2020 - 8:30amBryan, wasn’t that effectively done on TV – we heard the War Doctor’s last words (‘ah yes… wearing a bit thin…’) and saw him regenerating into the Ninth Doctor (via a careful use of an image-grab of Chris they used). Also regarding pre-Rose, the 2012 Puffin/BBC Books short story collection had a story for each Doctor and the Ninth’s read pretty much like it was before he met Rose. Although, yes, before then most of us thought he’d just regenerated when he met her (that scene checking his reflection etc), they seemed to turn that on its head with that short story.
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 5:50pmAll we need now is for those private collectors to come forward with those missing 6 episodes and we can rejoice with a double celebration.
Bobby Davros
August 9th, 2020 - 7:38pmWEB 3? what are the other five you are referring to? Why have I missed this story?
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 9:20pmPhillip Morris has ‘friends’ who may or may not be willing to part with them. It doesn,t state the reasons and hes hopeful but there is more than likely a long game involved. I think it was on either facebook or the Doctor Who Newspage where i saw it. Theres a lot of disgruntled fans and theres a feeling that if they parted with them for some reason they would fear reprisals. It didn,t state what these episodes were. The story has been around for a while now.
Bob James
August 9th, 2020 - 5:48pmThis has made my millennium! I held out hope that Big Finish could bring him back in, and this time, that hope has been rewarded! I am so looking forward to this!
the ergon
August 9th, 2020 - 5:32pmHe did say after all the aggrievance he felt towards the BBC and background betrayals that he did not want anything to do with Doctor Who after that experience but asked if he would ever do a Big Finish, he said something to the effect at this particular time, after he had left the part ‘I don,t Know, Maybe one day i will do a Big Finish’. Thats not an official quote but i remember reading it in an interview some years ago, i cant remember if it was DWM or not. It does seem that the passing of time has softened his attitude and as i have said before seeing him at that convention with Matt was a Joy. It does bode better as we approach the 60th Anniversary, I hope he relents and returns for that and if not maybe some multi strand doctor and companion stories with him include. Welcome back Mr. Eccleston.
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 - 5:31pmWell it is ‘fantastic’ news!
Col
August 9th, 2020 - 5:10pmI am so excited for this !!!
The Fishmonger
August 9th, 2020 - 5:10pmI’ve just pre-ordered the vinyl, I literally can’t wait for these. I had sort of given up all hope that he would ever return. Well done Big Finish!
Col
August 9th, 2020 - 5:24pmDo the vinyl scone with the download too ?
booboo
August 9th, 2020 - 5:45pmnot sure the cd’s do might want to check unless anyone knows
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 - 6:09pmNo, just jam and cream
whonose
August 9th, 2020 - 7:22pm“Purchasers of vinyls will have access to a download version on release“ according to the news page on the BF site
booboo
August 9th, 2020 - 7:24pmthat’s good, unlike other BF releases we and others got no advanced warning of this so had no time check things.
whonose
August 9th, 2020 - 11:17pmInteresting, this is the biggest news they’ve had for a long while so I guess they were very keen to avoid leaks. It’s also worth mentioning that the vinyl downloads don’t appear to include the behind the scenes extras so if you’re interested in that sort of thing you’d have to go for download/cd. That’s what I took from “Please note: the vinyl editions do not include the behind-the-scenes extras. Purchasers of vinyls will have access to a download version on release, but downloads of these releases will not be available to buy separately.” anyway.
Gareth Pugh
August 10th, 2020 - 8:36amwhonose: I took the sentences ‘“Please note: the vinyl editions do not include the behind-the-scenes extras. Purchasers of vinyls will have access to a download version on release, but downloads of these releases will not be available to buy separately.” to mean that if you buy the vinyl, you get the download of *everything* i.e. including the behind the scenes but that you can’t buy/get the behind the scenes VAM on its own?
Anonymous
August 10th, 2020 - 10:19amI’m tempted to buy either the bundle for the Vinyls or the bundle for the CDs.
Can I ask:
– Do we get definitely get audio downloads as well if we purchase the CD bundle? (And would any of these have the bonus features?)
– And do we definitely get the audio downloads if we purchase the vinyl bundle?
(Would love if the downloads were included & came with the bonus features but it’s not seeming too likely!)
Thank you so much!
booboo
August 10th, 2020 - 10:28amit does say you get the downloads with the Vinyls (you always do with the CD’s apart for a small list of exception and these aren’t on it)
Purchasers of vinyls will have access to a download version on release
not sure about the special features though someone else might know
whonose
August 10th, 2020 - 11:25amGareth Pugh: I assumed that “downloads of these releases will not be available to buy separately” meant that the download version of the vinyls is just the stories with no extras and you can’t buy that download version separately, but I definitely take your point, it would certainly make more sense to include the extras when the vinyls cost £64 more than the CDs (including shipping)!
Deano
August 9th, 2020 - 4:57pmExcellent news just what we all need at the moment something good to look forward to.
Well done big finish something I would never have thought would ever happen.
My personal favourite Dr since it’s return I was so disappointed when he only did the one series so looking forward to this next yr is an understatement.
Stephen Collyer
August 9th, 2020 - 4:54pmOMFG! Never thought this would happen. Soooooo excited,,,,FANTASTIC
Doug Who
August 9th, 2020 - 4:46pmWell that’s just obviously ‘fantastic’ news! Well done to Big Finish and great that Christopher Eccleston has decided to return to ‘Doctor Who’.
It has been so wonderful to have the Fourth Doctor back through audio and now I’m really looking forward to hearing more from the Ninth Doctor who had such an impact bringing the show back and was on our screens for far too short a time.
Hulk
August 10th, 2020 - 1:25amHe could still take on the master so he could
John Simm
Gordon
August 9th, 2020 - 4:46pmCannot believe this is happening. Fantastic
Phasergrim
August 9th, 2020 - 4:41pmWell, this is easily the best thing to happen this year.
Robert
August 9th, 2020 - 4:47pmAgreed I hope at least one of the audio have 9th battle the cybermen
Anonymous
August 9th, 2020 - 5:06pmAnd series 12
Bobby Davros
August 9th, 2020 - 5:14pmYeah it was great getting that blu ray box set re-released. I love Tom Baker.