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{{title|''The Time Travellers'' (series)}}
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{{Infobox Audio Series
'''''The Time Travellers''''' was a series of audio stories produced by [[BBV Productions]]. They featured [[Sylvester McCoy]] and [[Sophie Aldred]] as "The Professor", a character not unlike the [[Seventh Doctor]] and a travelling companion called "Ace".  
|release count  = 10
|release year    = 1998
|release year2  = 2000
|first story      = Republica (audio story)
|image          = The Time Travellers - Logo.jpg
|aka            = {{il|''The Dominie''|''The Professor & Ace''}}
|main character  = [[The Professor (Republica)|The Professor]], [[Ace (Republica)|Ace]]
|first release    = [[May (releases)|May]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|end release    = [[February (releases)|February]] [[2000 (releases)|2000]]
|music          =
|publisher      = [[BBV Productions]]
|series          = ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' series
|next            = Cyberon (series)
}}{{you may|The Time Travellers (novel)|n1=the novel}}
'''''The Time Travellers''''' was an audio series featuring [[Sylvester McCoy]] as [[the Professor (Republica)|the Professor]] and [[Sophie Aldred]] as [[Ace (Republica)|Ace]]. It was released by [[BBV Productions]] between [[1998 (releases)|1998]] and [[2000 (releases)|2000]]. The series was originally unnamed, with ''The Time Travellers'' branding only being introduced in the seventh instalment. The tenth and final story instead bore the series title '''''The Dominie''''', while some later promotion and the [[Republica (novelisation)|''Republica'' novelisation]] used '''''The Professor & Ace'''''.  


These characters so closely resembled the ones they portrayed in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' series that the BBC eventually stepped in and a number of changes had to be made, the main one being that the main characters' names were changed to "the Dominie" and "Alice" so as to further distance the characters to that of the [[Doctor Who Universe]].
The series appealed to audiences by featuring McCoy and Aldred playing characters very similar to their roles in ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'', the [[Seventh Doctor]] and [[Ace]]. Bill Baggs had attempted to get the official license for ''Doctor Who'' audios and effectively decided to do it anyway when the BBC turned it down. <ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)</ref> Despite this, the series also incorporated several licensed concepts from ''Doctor Who'' stories, beginning with its first episode, ''[[Republica (audio story)|Republica]]'', which was set in an [[alternate timeline (Republica)|alternate timeline]] from the [[1997 (releases)|1997]] [[BBC Past Doctor Adventures]] novel ''[[The Roundheads (novel)|The Roundheads]]''. Later episodes such as ''[[Guests for the Night (audio story)|Guest for the Night]]'' mentioned characters like [[Truman Crouch]] and [[Posedor]] who had previously featured in the [[Virgin New Adventures]] novel ''[[Deadfall (novel)|Deadfall]]''.


==List of audio stories==
As ''The Time Travellers'' continued, the main characters were differentiated further and further from their ''Doctor Who'' counterparts. By ''[[Ghosts (TT audio story)|Ghosts]]'' – the seventh ''The Time Travellers'' audio and the first of ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' series 2 – the Professor decided he preferred to go by "the Dominie", and "Ace" began using her real name, Alice. The [[BBC]] had sent a warning letter to BBV about the names, having ignored it before; [[Steve Cole]] told ''Downtime'' that the BBC was enforcing its copyright more strongly at the time as they hoped to find a new partner to make ''Doctor Who'' with.<ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)</ref> McCoy said in a 1999 interview that the issue was most likely using the name "Ace", which could be copyrighted where "Professor" couldn't be, and Aldred told ''Downtime'' they could have "gotten away with it" by calling her Alf (the character's originally planned name).<ref>''Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who'' Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)</ref>
===''Republica''===
[[file:Republica cover.jpg|thumb|''Reuplica'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''


The Professor and Ace arrive in present-day London to find the city strangely changed. England is a republic, ruled by an elderly Lord Protector more interested in a mysterious comet than the long-suppressed forces of revolution fomenting in his kingdom.
Finally, in the [[2021 (releases)|2021]] [[Republica (novelisation)|novelisation of ''Republica'']], the Professor's ship was named ''[[Cosmos (spacecraft)|Cosmos]]'', rooting the character in the public domain ''[[Doctor Omega (series)|Doctor Omega]]'' series.


As political factions vie for power, the travellers become embroiled in the plans of King Charles XIV who stands poised to reclaim the throne. Can they discover who is behind the drastic alteration of history or will the Puritan cause triumph throughout eternity?
== Stories ==
=== Audio stories ===
[[BBV Productions]] released ten ''The Time Travellers'' audios in its ''[[Audio Adventures in Time & Space]]'' line. The first six were the first six releases of ''Audio Adventures'' series 1, while the next three were released sporadically over the course of series 2. The final audio, ''[[Punchline (audio story)|Punchline]]'', was the only ''Time Travellers'' release of series 3, and it marked the ''Doctor Who'' universe debut of author [[Robert Shearman]], writing pseudonymously as "Jeremy Leadbetter".
{| class="wikitable"
!# || class="unsortable"|Title || Author || data-sort-type="iso-date"|Released
|-
|1
|''[[Republica (audio story)|Republica]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Mark|Gatiss}}
|rowspan=3 data-sort-value="0 May 1998"|[[May (releases)|May]] [[1998 (releases)|1998]]
|-
|2
|''[[Island of Lost Souls (audio story)|Island of Lost Souls]]''
|-
|3
|''[[Prosperity Island (audio story)|Prosperity Island]]''
|{{sortname|Tim|Saward}}
|-
|4
|''[[The Left Hand of Darkness (audio story)|The Left Hand of Darkness]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Mark|Duncan}}
| data-sort-value="0 Jul 1998"|[[July (releases)|July]] 1998
|-
|5
|''[[The Other Side (TT audio story)|The Other Side]]''
| data-sort-value="0 Sep 1998"|[[September (releases)|September]] 1998
|-
|6
|''[[Guests for the Night (audio story)|Guests for the Night]]''
|rowspan=2|{{sortname|Nigel|Fairs}}
| data-sort-value="0 Nov 1998"|[[November (releases)|November]] 1998
|-
|7
|''[[Ghosts (TT audio story)|Ghosts]]''
| data-sort-value="0 Mar 1999"|[[March (releases)|March]] [[1999 (releases)|1999]]
|-
|8
|''[[Only Human (audio story)|Only Human]]''
|{{sortname|Mark J|Thompson}}
| data-sort-value="0 May 1999"|[[May (releases)|May]] 1999
|-
|9
|''[[Blood Sports (audio story)|Blood Sports]]''
|{{sortname|Nigel|Fairs}}
| data-sort-value="0 Jun 1999"|[[June (releases)|June]] 1999
|-
|10
|''[[Punchline (audio story)|Punchline]]''
| data-sort-value="Leadbetter, Jeremy"|"[[Jeremy Leadbetter]]"
| data-sort-value="0 Feb 2000"|[[February (releases)|February]] [[2000 (releases)|2000]]
|}


*When the Professor is addressed as “Citizen,” he comments that he hasn’t been called that since [[Madame Guillotine]], a reference to [[The Reign of Terror]].  
=== Novelisations ===
In [[2021 (releases)|2021]], one novelisation of a ''The Time Travellers'' audio was released in BBV's ''[[Novelisations in Time & Space]]'' line. "The Dominie" also cameoed as [[the Mistress (The Choice)|the Mistress]]' mentor in [[The Choice (novelisation)|the novelisation of ''The Choice'']].
{| class="wikitable"
!Title || Author || data-sort-type="iso-date"|Released
|-
|''[[Republica (novelisation)|Republica]]''
|[[Micah K. Spurling]]
|[[4 September (releases)|4 September]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]]
|}


*The Professor gives his age as approximately 950, the Seventh Doctor’s age in [[Time and the Rani]].
== Notes ==
 
''to be added''
===''Island of Lost Souls''===
[[file:Island of Lost Souls cover.jpg|thumb|''Island of Lost Souls'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
It is the time of the Second World War, and all is not well at a top secret research base in Greenland. The British have been testing a new device which could bring about a swift end to the war with Germany - but the trials have gone disastrously wrong. When the Professor and Ace arrive, they encounter an isolated community not only under threat from its human enemies, but stalked by a horrifying menace with a voracious appetite for survival.
 
===''Prosperity Island''===
[[file:Prosperity Island cover.jpg|thumb|''Prosperity Island'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
'''Now comes the time! Now the reckoning!'''
 
MILLANNO: a holiday planet of extreme wealth and extreme leisure - on one side. The other side of the planet teems with politicians, administrators, and also criminals. When the Professor and Ace decide to take a holiday, they are unwillingly pitched into a battle for supremacy on the planet.
 
Separated and suddenly finding themselves on the lost and lonely Isle of Prosperity, they must find each other. But standing in their way is the determination of a mysterious figure from the past to reclaim the Directorship of the planet. As the Professor and Ace explore, a picture begins to emerge of a corrupt past, of political double-dealing, betrayal and vengeance.
 
Who is Milo, the psychokinetic youth who inhabits the island? Who is Gabriel, who sounds like a machine, but talks like a schoolmaster? And who is the earthy Calida, and why is she out for revenge?
 
A dramatic meeting of old enemies can no longer be postponed, and there is no way off the island...
 
===''The Left Hand of Darkness''===
[[file:Left Hand of Darkness cover.jpg|thumb|''The Left Hand of Darkness'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
Ace finds herself separated from the Professor, marooned, blind and cared for by a mysterious stranger. How did she get there? Who is Dorsai? What secret is he hiding?
 
===''The Other Side''===
[[file:Other Side cover.jpg|thumb|''The Other Side'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
Ace is apparently killed and her dead Nan appears, to help her cross over to 'the other side'. Faced with her own internal demons, how long can she cling to life? And what is 'the other side'?
 
===''Guests for the Night''===
[[file:Guests for the Night cover.jpg|thumb|''Guests for the Night'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
In search of the legendary "Point of Stillness", the Professor and Ace find themselves in an old house, steeped in evil. Who is the ancient woman in the attic? Why are there so many clocks? And did the butler really do it?


*Reference is made to Posidor from AudioVisuals story ''The Secret of Nematoda'' in a quick name drop by the Professor.
== Cover gallery ==
*Truman Crouch is given a namecheck and is named author of a book in the house called "The Legend of the Lost". The Professor claims it was a terrible book and Crouch should have stuck to tea making.
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true" caption="">
Republica CD cover.jpg|''[[Republica (audio story)|Republica]]''
Island of Lost Souls CD cover.jpg|''[[Island of Lost Souls (audio story)|Island of Lost Souls]]''
Prosperity Island CD cover.jpg|''[[Prosperity Island (audio story)|Prosperity Island]]''
The Left Hand of Darkness CD cover.jpg|''[[The Left Hand of Darkness (audio story)|The Left Hand of Darkness]]''
The Other Side CD cover.jpg|''[[The Other Side (TT audio story)|The Other Side]]''
Guests for the Night CD cover.jpg|''[[Guests for the Night (audio story)|Guests for the Night]]''
Ghosts CD cover.jpg|''[[Ghosts (TT audio story)|Ghosts]]''
Only Human CD cover.jpg|''[[Only Human (audio story)|Only Human]]''
Republica website cover.jpg|''[[Republica (audio story)|Republica]]''<br>(2021 online cover)
Island of Lost Souls website cover.jpg|''[[Island of Lost Souls (audio story)|Island of Lost Souls]]''<br>(2021 online cover)
Guests for the Night website cover.jpg|''[[Guests for the Night (audio story)|Guests for the Night]]''<br>(2021 online cover)
Ghosts website cover.jpg|''[[Ghosts (TT audio story)|Ghosts]]''<br>(2021 online cover)
Only Human website cover.jpg|''[[Only Human (audio story)|Only Human]]''<br>(2021 online cover)
Republica novelisation.jpg|[[Republica (novelisation)|''Republica'' novelisation]]
</gallery>


===''Ghosts''===
== External links ==
[[file:Ghosts cover.jpg|thumb|''Ghosts'']]
{{BBVProductions|The-Time-Travellers-c102466408}}
'''Publisher's summary'''


The death of a nameless traveller on a flight to the volcanic Hedistic islands would seem to have been natural. But when his young friend starts her own murder investigation, she uncovers a plot which threatens the safety of the entire planet...
{{The Time Travellers}}
 
{{BBV}}
*It was by this story that the BBC intervened forcing the characters' names be changed from "The Professor" and "Ace" to "The Dommie" and "Alice".
{{Spin-offs}}
 
===''Only Human''===
[[file:Only Human cover.jpg|thumb|''Ghosts'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
Why won't Alice reveal the real reason for wanting to return home? What is the truth of the planet covered in blood? And who or what is Vixxy?
 
As events unfold, a simple visit to Earth becomes a growing nightmare and the time travellers find themselves caught in a complex web of time, space and emotions - with no choice but to see it through to its chilling conclusion.
 
===''Blood Sports''===
[[file:Blood Sports cover.jpg|thumb|''Blood Sports'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
Travelling on the luxury train service to Vienzza, The Dominie and Alice discover that one of their fellow passengers is a killer: but which one? As time runs out and the body count begins to rise, the Time Travelllers realise that things may not be all they seem.
 
===''Punchline''===
[[file:Punchline cover.jpg|thumb|''Punchline'']]
'''Publisher's summary'''
 
'''A perfect house…'''
 
'''A perfect son…'''
 
'''A perfect wife…'''
 
'''WIFE?'''
 
When your life is a 70's sit-com and every episode ends happily, why on Earth would you want to change?
 
In Suburbton, no one can hear you scream...
 
*The writer of this story is [[Jeremy Leadbetter]], this is a pseudonym for [[Robert Shearman]], who took the name from a character in the BBC sitcom The Good Life.
 
==External links==
''to be added''


[[Category:Doctor Who spin-offs]]
== {{TitleSort}}Footnotes ==
[[Category:Audio stories]]
[[Category:The Time Travellers| *]]
[[Category:Audio overviews]]

Latest revision as of 01:03, 22 October 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the novel.

The Time Travellers was an audio series featuring Sylvester McCoy as the Professor and Sophie Aldred as Ace. It was released by BBV Productions between 1998 and 2000. The series was originally unnamed, with The Time Travellers branding only being introduced in the seventh instalment. The tenth and final story instead bore the series title The Dominie, while some later promotion and the Republica novelisation used The Professor & Ace.

The series appealed to audiences by featuring McCoy and Aldred playing characters very similar to their roles in Doctor Who, the Seventh Doctor and Ace. Bill Baggs had attempted to get the official license for Doctor Who audios and effectively decided to do it anyway when the BBC turned it down. [1] Despite this, the series also incorporated several licensed concepts from Doctor Who stories, beginning with its first episode, Republica, which was set in an alternate timeline from the 1997 BBC Past Doctor Adventures novel The Roundheads. Later episodes such as Guest for the Night mentioned characters like Truman Crouch and Posedor who had previously featured in the Virgin New Adventures novel Deadfall.

As The Time Travellers continued, the main characters were differentiated further and further from their Doctor Who counterparts. By Ghosts – the seventh The Time Travellers audio and the first of Audio Adventures in Time & Space series 2 – the Professor decided he preferred to go by "the Dominie", and "Ace" began using her real name, Alice. The BBC had sent a warning letter to BBV about the names, having ignored it before; Steve Cole told Downtime that the BBC was enforcing its copyright more strongly at the time as they hoped to find a new partner to make Doctor Who with.[2] McCoy said in a 1999 interview that the issue was most likely using the name "Ace", which could be copyrighted where "Professor" couldn't be, and Aldred told Downtime they could have "gotten away with it" by calling her Alf (the character's originally planned name).[3]

Finally, in the 2021 novelisation of Republica, the Professor's ship was named Cosmos, rooting the character in the public domain Doctor Omega series.

Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

BBV Productions released ten The Time Travellers audios in its Audio Adventures in Time & Space line. The first six were the first six releases of Audio Adventures series 1, while the next three were released sporadically over the course of series 2. The final audio, Punchline, was the only Time Travellers release of series 3, and it marked the Doctor Who universe debut of author Robert Shearman, writing pseudonymously as "Jeremy Leadbetter".

# Title Author Released
1 Republica Mark Gatiss May 1998
2 Island of Lost Souls
3 Prosperity Island Tim Saward
4 The Left Hand of Darkness Mark Duncan July 1998
5 The Other Side September 1998
6 Guests for the Night Nigel Fairs November 1998
7 Ghosts March 1999
8 Only Human Mark J Thompson May 1999
9 Blood Sports Nigel Fairs June 1999
10 Punchline "Jeremy Leadbetter" February 2000

Novelisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2021, one novelisation of a The Time Travellers audio was released in BBV's Novelisations in Time & Space line. "The Dominie" also cameoed as the Mistress' mentor in the novelisation of The Choice.

Title Author Released
Republica Micah K. Spurling 4 September 2021

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cover gallery[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)
  2. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)
  3. Downtime: The Lost Years of Doctor Who Chapter 20 (Dylan Rees)