As Big Finish Productions launch a new series of Doctor Who audio dramas featuring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson as the Fourth Doctor and Leela, they have coincided the release of their first Fourth Doctor story Destination: Nerva with a boxed set featuring two lost TV adventures from 1977.
The Foe from the Future is one of two full cast audio adventures forming part of Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The Fourth Doctor Box Set. Robert Banks Stewart originally wrote The Foe from the Future for the 14th season of Doctor Who broadcast in 1977. However; the story was eventually discarded in favour of The Talons of Weng Chiang and remained unmade until Big Finish recently approached Robert Banks Stewart to adapt it for audio.
Doctor Who: The Foe From The Future - A Brief Synopsis
The TARDIS arrives in the Devonshire village of Statham in 1977 and it soon becomes apparent to The Doctor that there is something very wrong with time.
The centre of the problems generates from The Grange where several apparitions of highwaymen and cavaliers have been sighted. Further trouble ensues when a local priest dies and the several villagers begin to suffer memory loss of recent events,
The Doctor and Leela decide to investigate The Grange, which is owned by the sinister Jalnik. Jalnik has a plan that has been centuries I the making t that not only threatens the residents of Statham but mankind itself. The Doctor once again finds himself up against a formidable foe, but can even he save the world from a terrifying future far flung from what nature intends?
The Foe From The Future Features All Classic Doctor Who Elements
John Dorney took on the task of adapting Robert Banks Stewart's tale for audio and making several adjustments to the original plotline (including introducing a fairer balance of male and female characters) has produced an exciting Doctor Who adventure.
The story has all the elements of a classic Doctor Who serial including a present day scenario, unexplained deaths, an alternate time line and disfigured archenemies. Some of these elements were included in the TV serial that was eventually made instead of Foe of The Future - The Talons of Weng Chiang, but ultimately that’s where the resemblance ends as the plot for The Talons of Weng Chiang is very different.
Tom Baker and Louise Jameson slip back into the characters of The Doctor and Leela with the greatest of ease and sound as exciting and vibrant on audio as they ever appeared on television. As Tom is still the eccentric bohemian Doctor, Louise is equally the savage hunter Leela and hearing them recreate their partnership for audio is an absolute joy.
Paul Freeman and Louise Brealey Appear In Doctor Who Audio Drama
There is also a strong supporting cast. Paul Freeman known for his roles in Raiders of the Lost Ark, ER and Monarch of The Glen is a commanding vocal presence and a worthy adversary to Tom Baker’s Doctor as the crazed Jalnik.
Louise Brealey, who is best known for her role as Molly Hooper opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in TV's Sherlock equally makes a worthy ally to The Doctor and Leela who both comedically refer to her as Charlotte from the village throughout the story.
There are also further brilliant performances from Blake Ritson, Mark Goldthorp, Philip Pope Jaimi Barbakoff, Dan Starkey and Camilla Power who makes a delightful femme fatale as Councillor Kostal.
Doctor Who: The Foe from the Future has a running time of 2 hours and 55 minutes approximately is available on Doctor Who: The Lost Stories – The Fourth Doctor Box Set along with Doctor Who: The Valley of Death and is available on audiobook download and CD formats from Big Finish Productions.
