Survival of the Fittest (audio story)

Survival of the Fittest
Doctor:	Seventh Doctor
Companion(s):	Klein
Main enemy:	Steffen, Jackson
Main setting:	Vrill nest, unknown planet
Key crew
Publisher:	Big Finish Productions
Writer:	Jonathan Clements
Director:	John Ainsworth
Producer:	David Richardson
Music:	Simon Robinson
Sound:	Simon Robinson
Cover by:	Alex Mallinson
Release details
Number of parts:	3
Release number:	131b
Release date:	18 February 2010
Format:	2 CDs Download 2nd of 2 stories
Production code:	BFPDWCD1317ZF/7ZG
ISBN:	ISBN 978-1-84435-434-4 (physical); ISBN 978-1-78575-678-8 (digital)
Main Range
← Previous	Klein's Story
Next →	The Architects of History

Survival of the Fittest was the following three-part story comprising part of the one hundred and thirty-first release in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Jonathan Clements and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Tracey Childs as Elizabeth Klein.

It is the final three-part story in Big Finish's Doctor Who range, bringing the experiment of three and one part stories, beginning in April 2007 with I.D. (three-part) and Urgent Calls (one-part), to a close.

Publisher's summary

The hive of the Vrill bears the scars of a terrifying cataclysm. Only a handful remain alive, hatched after the holocaust of the mysterious Winterlack. The Vrill seek a new Authority. They find the Doctor, a two-legged creature who can lead them to survival. He must solve the mystery of the Carrion beast that haunts the lower chambers. He must face the Winterlack that still stalk the mountains. And he must find a path that does not lead to extinction...

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
• Elizabeth Klein - Tracey Childs
• Steffen / The Authority - Adrian Bower
• Rose / The Vrill - Hannah Smith
• Lilly / The Vrill - Evie Dawnay
• Jackson / The Watcher - Mark Donovan
• The Carrion - Alex Mallinson
• Butterfly - Rupert Wickham

References

The Doctor

• The Doctor tells Lilly that he has known many beekeepers in his time. He claims that Aristotle never stopped wittering on about bees whereas he was stuck at a tea party with Thomas Jefferson and he spoke about them at least.
• Klein tells the Doctor that, with his intelligence, he would have been a great asset to the Nazi Party. The Doctor sarcastically remarks that it was "such a sweet thing to say."

Planets

• The Doctor and Klein previously visited the crystal planes of Mendroxia, the floating ocean on Quinbrax Four, and the mercury swamps on Vulcan.

TARDIS

• Through the TARDIS' telepathic circuits, Klein hears the Doctor speaking German in "a stuffy Prussian accent."

Notes

• The single part audio story Klein's Story was also included on CD 1 of this story. It begins after the events of the audio story A Thousand Tiny Wings.
• This audio drama was recorded on 7 and 8 September 2009 at The Moat Studios.
• It was released on 18 February 2010.
• Survival of the Fittest was one of the working titles for the television story Survival.
• The story was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 Extra on 25 and 28-29 May 2012, forming a radio season with A Thousand Tiny Wings, Klein's Story and The Architects of History.

Continuity

• The Doctor and Klein have recently visited the mercury swamps of Vulcan. (TV: The Power of the Daleks)
• There no longer seems to be a spare TARDIS key in the cubbyhole above the "P" outside the TARDIS. (AUDIO: The Architects of History) It would be restored by the time of the Doctor's regeneration into his eighth incarnation. (TV: Doctor Who)
• The Doctor mentions having known quite a few beekeepers in his time. He met one named Goronwy in this incarnation. (TV: Delta and the Bannermen)

External links

• Official Survival of the Fittest page at bigfinish.com
• Survival of the Fittest at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
• DisContinuity for Survival of the Fittest at Tetrapyriarbus - The DisContinuity Guide