The Companion Chronicles was a Big Finish Productions audio series that ran for eighty monthly releases across eight series between 2007 and 2014, before relaunching with yearly box set releases thereafter.
The general, but not invariable, ambition of the series was to tell stories using the companions of the first four Doctors. The typical release in the range used just two actors, a musical score, some foley work and sound design — meaning that the end result sat somewhere between an audio book and a full-cast drama.
Originally, the concept was to produce talking books featuring the companions of the first four incarnations of the Doctor who were unavailable to take part in the main range. While the range has remained primarily focused on companions who appeared earlier than Season 19, most releases in the range have not been true "talking books". In fact, all but one release — The Stealers from Saiph — use the convention of at least two characters in conversation with each other. Most have a sound design worthy of any title in the main range. On rare occasions, the range has moved away from its titular concern and featured characters who are more commonly considered "prominent guest stars" or "allies", such as King Peladon and Henry Gordon Jago.
In general, Companion Chronicles have a fairly standard format. They are usually two, approximately 25 minute long episodes divided by a single cliffhanger, barring special double length releases released regularly each season from the fourth onwards. The part of the story that has to do with the Doctor is almost always told in flashback, as a recollection of a past adventure. Thus, the central character of the piece (i.e., the companion) is often depicted in two time periods. That is, there is typically an "older" version of the companion who recounts the adventure with the Doctor, and the "younger" version of the character, who is as he or she appeared on television.
The actor not portraying a companion is used in a variety of ways to allow stories in the range to have markedly different structures. Some common narrative uses for the second actor are:
Sometimes, the interrogator is revealed to be the principal adversary, as in Mother Russia or Frostfire; sometimes the listener knows the interrogator is the adversary right from the start, as with The Catalyst. In any case, the relationship between ex-companion and interrogator is usually a pretty obvious "framing device", which takes up a clear minority of the runtime of the release. However, in a few rare cases, as with the Home Truths trilogy, the interrogator is a co-star equal with the featured character and is given a a proper story with the "present day" companion woven into the companion's recollections of the Doctor's TARDIS.
The 2011 release Tales from the Vault was a departure from the "enhanced audiobook" format, being effectively a straight audio drama (albeit still one with a limited cast) that incorporated interviews with various companions.
A few of the plays tie in to others in the Big Finish Doctor Who range. The Darkening Eye is a prequel to The Death Collectors; Night's Black Agents explicitly occurs between City of Spires and The Wreck of the Titan; the Leela trilogy which begins with The Catalyst relies to some degree on the listener's knowledge of the Gallifrey audio series; and The Prisoner's Dilemma occupies a complicated narrative space, tying together the Virgin New Adventures with Big Finish's Key 2 Time series.
All the plays add to the their main characters' televised continuities. Some detail an adventure that adds little to their lives; for instance, Mother Russia gives Steven an adventure in Napoleonic Russia between the main narrative of The Gunfighters and its conclusory scenes, which lead into The Savages. Even the interchange with his interrogator is set within the main story. Thus, Steven gains merely another adventure that fits neatly in his established, televised timeline.
By contrast, other plays expand greatly on the known fates of their principal character/s. For instance, the trilogy of stories featuring Sara Kingdom, the main narratives of which take place between episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan, reveals that she had other adventures with Steven and the Doctor besides the quest for taranium which was the central plot of her televised adventure. More significantly, the trilogy also gives Sara, or at least her consciousness, a thousand-year-lifespan, a way to have met a different incarnation of the Doctor and thus a second chance to travel in the TARDIS.
Most plays settle somewhere between these two extremes. Thanks in part to the typical interrogative "framing device", most of the plays reveal something about the lives of the Doctor's companions after leaving him. In the very first Companion Chronicle, for instance, Vicki is shown to have remained with Troilus and to have had a large family. Equally, the series shows that Susan Foreman stayed with David Campbell, Jo Jones continued her globe-trotting life with Dr. Clifford Jones and Victoria settled down to raise a family.
- Main article: Series 1 (CC)
- Main article: Series 2 (CC)
- Main article: Series 3 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 3.1
|
Here There Be Monsters
|
Andy Lane
|
Carole Ann Ford
|
1st
|
Susan, Ian, Barbara
|
July 2008
|
| 3.2
|
The Great Space Elevator
|
Jonathan Morris
|
Deborah Watling
|
2nd
|
Victoria, Jamie
|
August 2008
|
| 3.3
|
The Doll of Death
|
Marc Platt
|
Katy Manning
|
3rd
|
Jo, the Brig, Yates, Benton
|
September 2008
|
| 3.4
|
Empathy Games
|
Nigel Fairs
|
Louise Jameson
|
4th
|
Leela
|
October 2008
|
| 3.5
|
Home Truths
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Jean Marsh
|
1st
|
Sara, Steven, Robert
|
November 2008
|
| 3.6
|
The Darkening Eye
|
Stewart Sheargold
|
Sarah Sutton
|
5th
|
Nyssa, Adric, Tegan, Dar Traders
|
December 2008
|
| 3.7
|
The Transit of Venus
|
Jacqueline Rayner
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian, Barbara, Susan
|
January 2009
|
| 3.8
|
The Prisoner's Dilemma
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Sophie Aldred, Laura Doddington
|
7th
|
Ace, Zara
|
February 2009
|
| 3.9
|
Resistance
|
Steve Lyons
|
Anneke Wills
|
2nd
|
Polly, Ben, Jamie
|
March 2009
|
| 3.10
|
The Magician's Oath
|
Scott Handcock
|
Richard Franklin
|
3rd
|
Yates, Jo, the Brig, Benton
|
April 2009
|
| 3.11
|
The Mahogany Murderers
|
Andy Lane
|
Christopher Benjamin, Trevor Baxter
|
None
|
Jago & Litefoot, Dr Tulp
|
May 2009
|
| 3.12
|
The Stealers from Saiph
|
Nigel Robinson
|
Mary Tamm
|
4th
|
Romana I
|
June 2009
|
- Main article: Series 4 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 4.1
|
The Drowned World
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Jean Marsh
|
1st
|
Sara, Steven, Robert
|
July 2009
|
| 4.2
|
The Glorious Revolution
|
Jonathan Morris
|
Frazer Hines
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Zoe
|
August 2009
|
| 4.3
|
The Prisoner of Peladon
|
Cavan Scott & Mark Wright
|
David Troughton
|
3rd
|
King Peladon, Alpha Centauri, Ice Warriors
|
September 2009
|
| 4.4
|
The Pyralis Effect
|
George Mann
|
Lalla Ward
|
4th
|
Romana II
|
October 2009
|
| 4.5
|
Ringpullworld
|
Paul Magrs
|
Mark Strickson
|
5th
|
Turlough, Tegan, Huxley
|
12 November 2009
|
| 4.6
|
Bernice Summerfield and the Criminal Code
|
Eddie Robson
|
Lisa Bowerman
|
7th
|
Bernice
|
31 January 2010
|
| 4.7
|
The Suffering
|
Jacqueline Rayner
|
Peter Purves & Maureen O'Brien
|
1st
|
Vicki, Steven
|
February 2010
|
| 4.8
|
The Emperor of Eternity
|
Nigel Robinson
|
Deborah Watling & Frazer Hines
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Victoria
|
March 2010
|
| 4.9
|
Shadow of the Past
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Caroline John
|
3rd
|
Liz, the Brig, Yates, the Mim
|
30 April 2010
|
| 4.10
|
The Time Vampire
|
Nigel Fairs
|
Louise Jameson & John Leeson
|
4th
|
Leela, K9
|
31 May 2010
|
| 4.11
|
Night's Black Agents
|
Marty Ross
|
Frazer Hines
|
6th
|
"Jamie"
|
May 2010
|
| 4.12
|
Solitaire
|
John Dorney
|
India Fisher
|
8th
|
Charley, Celestial Toymaker
|
June 2010
|
- Main article: Series 5 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 5.1
|
The Guardian of the Solar System
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Jean Marsh
|
1st
|
Sara, Steven, Bret, Mavic Chen, Robert
|
July 2010
|
| 5.2
|
Echoes of Grey
|
John Dorney
|
Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Zoe, Jamie, The Company
|
August 2010
|
| 5.3
|
Find and Replace
|
Paul Magrs
|
Katy Manning
|
3rd
|
Jo, Iris Wildthyme, Huxley, the Brig, Benton
|
30 September 2010
|
| 5.4
|
The Invasion of E-Space
|
Andrew Smith
|
Lalla Ward
|
4th
|
Romana II, Adric
|
31 October 2010
|
| 5.5
|
A Town Called Fortune
|
Paul Sutton
|
Maggie Stables
|
6th
|
Evelyn
|
November 2010
|
| 5.6
|
Quinnis
|
Marc Platt
|
Carole Ann Ford
|
1st
|
Susan
|
23 December 2010
|
| 5.7
|
Peri and the Piscon Paradox
|
Nev Fountain
|
Nicola Bryant, Colin Baker
|
5th, 6th
|
Peri
|
January 2011
|
| 5.8
|
The Perpetual Bond
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Peter Purves, Tom Allen
|
1st
|
Steven, Oliver
|
February 2011
|
| 5.9
|
The Forbidden Time
|
David Lock
|
Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines
|
2nd
|
Polly, Ben, Jamie
|
March 2011
|
| 5.10
|
The Sentinels of the New Dawn
|
Paul Finch
|
Caroline John
|
3rd
|
Liz
|
April 2011
|
| 5.11
|
Ferril's Folly
|
Peter Anghelides
|
Mary Tamm
|
4th
|
Romana I
|
May 2011
|
| 5.12
|
The Cold Equations
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Peter Purves, Tom Allen
|
1st
|
Steven, Oliver
|
June 2011
|
- Main article: Series 6 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 6.1
|
Tales from the Vault
|
Jonathan Morris
|
Daphne Ashbrook, Yee Jee Tso, Peter Purves, Wendy Padbury, Katy Manning, Mary Tamm
|
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
|
Matheson, Sato, Steven, Dodo, Zoe, Jamie, Jo, Romana I
|
July 2011
|
| 6.2
|
The Rocket Men
|
John Dorney
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian, Barbara, Vicki, Rocket Men
|
10 August 2011
|
| 6.3
|
The Memory Cheats
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Zoe, Jamie, The Company
|
September 2011
|
| 6.4
|
The Many Deaths of Jo Grant
|
Cavan Scott & Mark Wright
|
Katy Manning
|
3rd
|
Jo
|
October 2011
|
| 6.5
|
The First Wave
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Peter Purves & Tom Allen
|
1st
|
Steven, Oliver, Vardans
|
8 November 2011
|
| 6.6
|
Beyond the Ultimate Adventure
|
Terrance Dicks
|
Colin Baker, Claire Huckle, Noel Sullivan
|
6th
|
Crystal, Jason
|
December 2011
|
| 6.7
|
The Anachronauts
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Jean Marsh & Peter Purves
|
1st
|
Steven, Sara
|
January 2012
|
| 6.8
|
The Selachian Gambit
|
Steve Lyons
|
Frazer Hines & Anneke Wills
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Polly, Ben, Selachians
|
February 2012
|
| 6.9
|
Binary
|
Eddie Robson
|
Caroline John
|
3rd
|
Liz
|
March 2012
|
| 6.10
|
The Wanderer
|
Richard Dinnick
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian, Susan, Barbara
|
18 April 2012
|
| 6.11
|
The Jigsaw War
|
Eddie Robson
|
Frazer Hines
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Zoe
|
May 2012
|
| 6.12
|
The Rings of Ikiria
|
Richard Dinnick
|
Richard Franklin
|
3rd
|
Yates, the Brig, Benton
|
June 2012
|
- Main article: Series 7 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 7.1
|
The Time Museum
|
James Goss
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian
|
23 July 2012
|
| 7.2
|
The Uncertainty Principle
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Zoe, Jamie, The Company
|
August 2012
|
| 7.3
|
Project: Nirvana
|
Cavan Scott, Mark Wright
|
Maggie O'Neill, Amy Pemberton, Sylvester McCoy
|
7th
|
Lysandra, Sally, Elder God
|
19 September 2012
|
| 7.4
|
The Last Post
|
James Goss
|
Caroline John, Rowena Cooper
|
3rd
|
Liz, Emily, the Brig
|
25 October 2012
|
| 7.5
|
Return of the Rocket Men
|
Matt Fitton
|
Peter Purves
|
1st
|
Steven, Dodo, Rocket Men
|
10 November 2012
|
| 7.6
|
The Child
|
Nigel Fairs
|
Louise Jameson
|
4th
|
Leela
|
20 December 2012
|
| 7.7
|
The Flames of Cadiz
|
Marc Platt
|
William Russell, Carole Ann Ford
|
1st
|
Ian, Susan, Barbara
|
9 January 2013
|
| 7.8
|
House of Cards
|
Steve Lyons
|
Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines
|
2nd
|
Polly, Jamie, Ben, Sidewinder Syndicate
|
6 February 2013
|
| 7.9
|
The Scorchies
|
James Goss
|
Katy Manning
|
3rd
|
Jo, the Brig, Scorchies
|
7 March 2013
|
| 7.10
|
The Library of Alexandria
|
Simon Guerrier
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian, Barbara, Susan, The Mim
|
10 April 2013
|
| 7.11
|
The Apocalypse Mirror
|
Eddie Robson
|
Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Zoe
|
8 May 2013
|
| 7.12
|
Council of War
|
Simon Barnard, Paul Morris
|
John Levene
|
3rd
|
Benton, the Brig
|
11 June 2013
|
- Main article: Series 8 (CC)
| # |
Title |
Author |
Performer |
Doctor |
Featuring |
Released
|
| 8.1
|
Mastermind
|
Jonathan Morris
|
Geoffrey Beevers, Daphne Ashbrook, Yee Jee Tso
|
|
The Master, Matheson, Sato
|
10 July 2013
|
| 8.2
|
The Alchemists
|
Ian Potter
|
Carole Ann Ford
|
1st
|
Susan
|
August 2013
|
| 8.3
|
Upstairs
|
Mat Coward
|
Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves
|
Vicki, Steven
|
12 September 2013
|
| 8.4
|
Ghost in the Machine
|
Jonathan Morris
|
Katy Manning
|
3rd
|
Jo
|
11 October 2013
|
| 8.5
|
The Beginning
|
Marc Platt
|
Carole Ann Ford
|
1st
|
Susan, Stoyn
|
15 November 2013
|
| 8.6
|
The Dying Light
|
Nick Wallace
|
Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Jamie, Zoe, Stoyn
|
19 December 2013
|
| 8.7
|
Luna Romana
|
Matt Fitton
|
Lalla Ward, Juliet Landau
|
4th
|
Romana I, Romana II, Romana III, Stoyn
|
17 January 2014
|
| 8.8
|
The Sleeping City
|
Ian Potter
|
William Russell
|
1st
|
Ian, Barbara, Vicki
|
13 February 2014
|
| 8.9
|
Starborn
|
Jacqueline Rayner
|
Maureen O'Brien
|
13 March 2014
|
| 8.10
|
The War To End All Wars
|
Simon Guerrier
|
Peter Purves
|
Steven, Dodo, Sida
|
9 April 2014
|
| 8.11
|
The Elixir of Doom
|
Paul Magrs
|
Katy Manning
|
8th
|
Jo, Iris Wildthyme
|
16 May 2014
|
| 8.12
|
Second Chances
|
John Dorney
|
Wendy Padbury
|
2nd
|
Zoe, Jamie, The Company
|
17 June 2014
|
- Main article: The First Doctor: Volume One
- Main article: The Second Doctor: Volume One
- Main article: The First Doctor: Volume Two
- Main article: The Second Doctor: Volume Two
- Main article: The First Doctor: Volume Three
- Main article: The Second Doctor: Volume Three
| Big Finish Doctor Who series and spin-offs |
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