Bang-Bang-a-Boom! (audio story)

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Bang-Bang-a-Boom! was the thirty-ninth story in Big Finish's monthly range, released 19 December 2002.[1] It was written by Gareth Roberts and Clayton Hickman and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor and Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush.

As with the prior Mel story, The One Doctor, it was in many ways a parody — though this time of Star Trek, the Eurovision Song Contest and the Gerry Anderson 1970s show Space: 1999. Indeed, the title itself is a pun on "Boom Bang-a-Bang", the 1969 song by Lulu that gave a Eurovision win to the United Kingdom.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

Dark Space 8 — an advanced monitoring station floating serenely among the stars. Its crew — a dedicated and highly-skilled group of professionals, calmly going about their vital work. Its mission — to boldly host the Intergalactic Song Contest.

With representatives from myriad worlds competing, the eyes of the universe are on the station. But dark deeds are afoot aboard Dark Space 8... and people are starting to die.

The haughty Queen Angvia; the gaseous gestalt Gholos; disposable pop idol Nicky Newman; erratic Professor Fassbinder; and the icily-efficient Dr Eleanor Harcourt — all are suspects. Could old political rivalries be manifesting themselves among the contestants? Is this the work of a breakaway terrorist faction? Or has someone just got it in for singer-songwriters?

With peace in the galaxy hanging by a thread, it's vital that the mystery is solved — and fast! Can Dark Space 8's unconventional new commander, with the help of his personal pilot, Mel, find the murderer in time to prevent a major intergalactic war?

Or will it be nul points for the entire universe...?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Before the 309th Intergalactic Song Contest, the Angvians and the Gholos were attempting to make peace. Angvian terrorists posed a threat to any peaceful activities. In order to cope, two peace conferences were set up. One, on Achilles 4, was the obvious target for terrorists. The second was the Intergalactic Song Contest, where the Golos and Angvian competitors would telepathically communicate with each other without their knowledge. Despite the attempts of a Golos-sympathising terrorist, the peace conference succeeded.

The contest itself is hosted by Logan, until he is killed by Loozly, at which point it was hosted by Lieutenant Strindberg. It was watched by over a quinquillion people across the universe.

The competitors are a competitor from Algol 7, Angvia of Angvia, the Breebles, a Cephalopod, Cyrene, a Drahvin from Drahva, Gholos of Golos, and Nicky Newman of Earth, who is later replaced by the Seventh Doctor.

The final winner of the Song Contest is the Seventh Doctor.

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor previously placed a whistle in Mel's pocket.
  • Mel jokingly suggests that the Doctor may be having "a mid-regeneration crisis."

Individuals[[edit] | [edit source]]

The TARDIS[[edit] | [edit source]]

Space stations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Intergalactic Song Contest[[edit] | [edit source]]

Species[[edit] | [edit source]]

Conflicts[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • During their conflict, Golos broke the Tenebros IV peace treaty and the Fringe Worlds of the Zordon Nebula were settled by Angvia in violation of this treaty. However, Queen Angvia claims that they were invited in by the natives.

Foods and beverages[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Doctor recalls the delights of the pastry chefs on Barastabon.
Illustration preview by Martin Geraghty in DWM 325.

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Star Trek parodies[[edit] | [edit source]]

However This story generally spoofs the Star Trek franchise and its storytelling styles. The more direct examples of this include:

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]