Short Trips (series)

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"Short Trips" was a label applied to stories and books, published by both BBC Books and Big Finish Productions. Early publications released under the "Short Trips" banner were short story anthologies. The majority of these anthologies were collections of prose issued from 1998 to 2009, but Big Finish resurrected the name as a label for audio anthologies and single audio downloads beginning in 2010.

BBC Books[[edit] | [edit source]]

"Short Trips" was a name initially given to three short story anthologies published by BBC Books, starting in 1999. The notion was very similar to Virgin Books' Decalog anthology series. These three new books were published in conjunction with the BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures and BBC Past Doctor Adventures book series. Each book contained stories featuring the first eight incarnations of the Doctor. After publishing the anthology Short Trips and Side Steps in March 2000, BBC Books abandoned short stories for full length prose.

BBC Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

BBC Audio also released a few collections of stories adapted from the print books, plus a few originals, in audio format.

# Title Format Stories Released
1 Short Trips Double cassette 6 1998
2 Earth and Beyond 3 7 September 1998
3 Out of the Darkness Audio CD 3 November 1998
4 Tales from the TARDIS: Volume One MP3-CD 9 (+3 novels) 19 July 2004
5 Tales from the TARDIS: Volume Two 3 (+4 novels)
6 Tales from the TARDIS Audio CD 2 2008

Big Finish Productions[[edit] | [edit source]]

In 2002, Big Finish Productions obtained the rights to the Short Trips series. The Big Finish Short Trips books, like the Decalog series, are built around themes. These include an annual volume dedicated to Christmas-related tales and one volume dedicated to Dalek stories. A total of twenty-eight volumes of new material — featuring several hundred stories featuring the first eight Doctors — were published by March 2009.

On 17 April 2009, Big Finish announced it was ending the Short Trips line, since the BBC had not renewed the company's license to issue Doctor Who stories in print.[1] A final Short Trips volume, a "best-of" collection, subsequently appeared in May 2009, coinciding with Big Finish briefly making its back stock of earlier Short Trips books available at a discounted rate.

CD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

In less than a year, however, Big Finish revived the Short Trips format, this time as exclusive-to-audio readings of short stories, most performed by veteran cast members. It began by soliciting stories from fans, though seasoned writers also contributed stories (along with one short story from Colin Baker). Unlike almost everything else produced by Big Finish, they feature only one actor reading a story, being audiobooks rather than audio dramas. All in the regular series are original to audio, and have not previously appeared in print.

Volume I[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips - Volume I
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
1.1 Rise and Fall George Mann William Russell 1st Susan, Ian, Barbara 5 November 2010
1.2 A Stain of Red in the Sand David A McEwan David Troughton 2nd Zoe
1.3 A True Gentleman Jamie Hailstone Katy Manning 3rd
1.4 Death-Dealer Damian Sawyer Louise Jameson 4th Leela
1.5 The Deep Ally Kennen Peter Davison 5th Nyssa
1.6 The Wings of a Butterfly Colin Baker 6th
1.7 Police and Shreeves Adam Smith Sophie Aldred 7th Ace
1.8 Running Out of Time Dorothy Koomson India Fisher 8th

Volume II[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips - Volume II
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
2.1 1963 Niall Boyce William Russell 1st Ian, Barbara, Vicki 28 February 2011
2.2 The Way Forwards Steve Case David Troughton 2nd Victoria
2.3 Walls of Confinement Lawrence Conquest Katy Manning 3rd Liz, The Brig
2.4 Chain Reaction Darren Goldsmith Louise Jameson 4th Sarah
2.5 Sock Pig Sharon Cobb, Iain Keiller Peter Davison 5th
2.6 The Doctor's Coat John Bromley Colin Baker 6th
2.7 Critical Mass James Moran Sophie Aldred 7th Ace
2.8 Letting Go Simon Guerrier India Fisher 8th Charley

Volume III[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips - Volume III
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
3.1 Seven to One Simon Miller Nicholas Briggs, William Russell 1st Second Doctor, Third Doctor, Fourth Doctor, Fifth Doctor, Sixth Doctor, Seventh Doctor 11 May 2011
3.2 The Five Dimensional Man Kate Orman David Troughton 2nd Jamie, Zoe
3.3 Pop-Up Dave Curan Katy Manning 3rd Jo
3.4 The Wondrous Box Juliet Boyd Louise Jameson 4th Sarah
3.5 Wet Walls Mathilde Madden Peter Davison 5th Peri
3.6 Murmurs of Earth Michael Deacon, Jamie Middleton, Chris Wraight Colin Baker 6th
3.7 The Riparian Ripper Andrew Cartmel Sophie Aldred 7th Ace
3.8 All the Fun of the Fair Bev Conway India Fisher 8th Lucie

Volume IV[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips - Volume IV
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
4.1 A Star is Born Richard Dinnick William Russell 1st Susan, Ian, Barbara 10 August 2011
4.2 Penny Wise, Pound Foolish Foster Marks David Troughton 2nd Jamie, Zoe
4.3 Lost in the Wakefield Triangle Vin Marsden Hendrick Katy Manning 3rd Jo
4.4 The Old Rogue John Grindrod Louise Jameson 4th Romana II, K9 Mark II, Second Doctor, Jamie
4.5 The Lions of Trafalgar Jason Arnopp Peter Davison 5th Nyssa, Tegan
4.6 To Cut a Blade of Grass Cindy Garland Colin Baker 6th Peri
4.7 The Shadow Trader Charles Williams Sophie Aldred 7th Ace
4.8 Quantum Heresy Avril Naude India Fisher 8th

Monthly series[[edit] | [edit source]]

From January 2015-December 2020, new Short Trips were released as monthly individual downloads.

Series 5[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 5 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
5.1 Flywheel Revolution Dale Smith Peter Purves 1st 5 January 2015
5.2 Little Doctors Philip Lawrence Frazer Hines 2nd Jamie, Zoe 6 February 2015
5.3 Time Tunnel Nigel Fairs Katy Manning 3rd Jo, The Brig, Yates, Benton 5 March 2015
5.4 The Ghost Trap Nick Wallace Louise Jameson 4th Leela 6 April 2015
5.5 The King of the Dead Ian Atkins Sarah Sutton 5th Nyssa, Tegan 5 May 2015
5.6 The Shadows of Serenity Nigel Robinson Nicola Bryant 6th Peri 10 June 2015
5.7 Dark Convoy Mark B. Oliver Sophie Aldred 7th Ace 20 July 2015
5.8 Foreshadowing Julian Richards India Fisher 8th Charley, Yates 31 August 2015
5.9 Etheria Nick Wallace Peter Purves 1st Vicki, Steven 24 September 2015
5.10 The Way of the Empty Hand Julian Richards Frazer Hines 2nd Jamie, Zoe 22 October 2015
5.11 The Other Woman Philip Lawrence Katy Manning 3rd Jo, The Brig, Yates, Benton 20 November 2015
5.12 Black Dog Dale Smith Louise Jameson 4th Leela 23 December 2015

Series 6[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 6 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
6.1 Gardens of the Dead Jenny T Colgan Mark Strickson 5th Nyssa, Tegan, Turlough, Black Guardian 28 January 2016
6.2 Prime Winner Nigel Fairs Nicola Bryant 6th Peri 25 February 2016
6.3 Washington Burns Julian Richards Sophie Aldred 7th Ace 24 March 2016
6.4 The Curse of the Fugue Alice Cavender Sheridan Smith 8th Lucie 21 April 2016
6.5 This Sporting Life Una McCormack Peter Purves 1st Steven, Dodo 31 May 2016
6.6 Lost and Found Penelope Faith Anneke Wills 2nd Ben, Polly 16 June 2016
6.7 The Blame Game Ian Atkins Rufus Hound 3rd Liz, The Monk 26 July 2016
6.8 Damascus Jonathan Barnes Tim Treloar Jeremy Thorpe, Jo, UNIT 30 August 2016
6.9 A Full Life Joseph Lidster Matthew Waterhouse 4th Adric, Romana II, K9 29 September 2016
6.10 Rulebook Tony Jones Nicola Bryant 5th Peri 19 October 2016
6.11 The Man Who Wasn't There Ian Atkins India Fisher 8th Charley 30 November 2016
6.12 The Hesitation Deviation James Goss Lisa Bowerman 7th Benny 23 December 2016
6.X Forever Fallen Joshua Wanisko Nicholas Briggs Ace 29 December 2016

Series 7[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 7 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
7.1 The World Beyond the Trees Jonathan Barnes Nicola Walker 8th Liv, Molly, Jeremy Thorpe 31 January 2017
7.2 Gardeners' Worlds George Mann Tim Treloar 3rd Jo, Yates, Benton 28 February 2017
7.3 / 7.4 The Jago & Litefoot Revival Jonathan Barnes Trevor Baxter, Christopher Benjamin 10th, 11th Jago, Litefoot, Ellie
26 March 2017 (Act one)
4 April 2017 (Act two)
7.5 Falling Anneke Wills 1st Ben, Polly 30 May 2017
7.6 How to Win Planets and Influence People James Goss Rufus Hound 4th Sarah, Harry, The Monk 29 June 2017
7.7 Flashpoint Andrew Smith Sheridan Smith 8th Lucie 13 July 2017
7.8 The British Invasion Ian Potter Wendy Padbury 2nd Jamie, Zoe, Vardans 29 August 2017
7.9 A Heart on Both Sides Rob Nisbet Sarah Sutton 8th Nyssa 27 September 2017
7.10 All Hands on Deck Eddie Robson Carole Ann Ford Susan 3 October 2017
7.11 The Ingenious Gentleman Adric of Alzarius Julian Richards Matthew Waterhouse 5th Adric, Nyssa, Tegan 7 November 2017
7.12 O Tannenbaum Anthony Keetch Peter Purves 1st Steven 22 December 2017
7.X Landbound Selim Ulug Nicholas Briggs 3rd 29 December 2017

Series 8[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 8 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
8.1 The Authentic Experience Dan Starkey Nicola Bryant 6th Peri 30 January 2018
8.2 Mel-evolent Simon A. Forward Bonnie Langford Mel 28 February 2018
8.3 The Turn of the Screw Eddie Robson Yee Jee Tso 8th Charlie Sato, Ruth Matheson 28 March 2018
8.4 Erasure Gary Russell Seán Carlsen 4th Adric, Narvin, Romana II, Leela, Vansell 30 April 2018
8.5 Trap For Fools Stephen Fewell Mark Strickson 5th Turlough 30 May 2018
8.6 The Siege of Big Ben Joseph Lidster Camille Coduri Meta-Crisis Tenth Doctor Jackie 29 June 2018
8.7 The Darkened Earth John Pritchard Miranda Raison 6th Constance 30 July 2018
8.8 Flight Into Hull! Joseph Lidster Camille Coduri Meta-Crisis Tenth Doctor Jackie 2 August 2018
8.9 A Small Semblance of Home Paul Phipps Carole Ann Ford 1st Susan, Ian, Barbara 27 September 2018
8.10 I Am The Master Geoffrey Beevers 4th The Decayed Master 28 October 2018
8.11 The Mistpuddle Murders Simon A. Forward Sarah Sutton 5th Nyssa, Tegan 29 November 2018
8.12 The Devil's Footprints Penelope Faith Bonnie Langford 7th Mel 21 December 2018
8.X The Last Day at Work Harry Draper Nicholas Briggs 2nd Jamie 29 December 2018

Series 9[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 9 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
9.1 The Revisionists Andy Frankham-Allen Louise Jameson 4th Leela, The Brig 31 January 2019
9.2 The Astrea Conspiracy Lizbeth Myles Neve McIntosh 12th Aphra Behn 28 February 2019
9.3 Doctors and Dragons Alfie Shaw Sophie Aldred 7th Ace 27 March 2019
9.4 Year of the Drex Olympics Paul Ebbs Frazer Hines 2nd Jamie, Victoria 16 April 2019
9.5 Under ODIN's Eye Alice Cavender Nicola Bryant 6th Peri 30 May 2019
9.6 The Same Face Julian Richards Katy Manning 3rd Jo 27 June 2019
9.7 Battle Scars Selim Ulug Nicholas Briggs 9th 31 July 2019
9.8 #HarrySullivan Eddie Robson Louise Jameson 4th Sarah, Harry 29 August 2019
9.9 Dead Media John Richards Jacob Dudman 12th 30 September 2019
9.10 The Second Oldest Question Carrie Thompson Sarah Sutton 5th Nyssa 2 October 2019
9.11 Hall of the Ten Thousand Jaine Fenn India Fisher 8th Charley 5 November 2019
9.12 Peace in Our Time Una McCormack Peter Purves 1st Steven 23 December 2019
9.X The Best-Laid Plans Ben Tedds Jacob Dudman 12th 29 December 2019

Series 10[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Series 10 (ST)
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
10.1 The Infinite Today Sharon Bidwell Katy Manning 11th Jo Jones 30 January 2020
10.2 Deleted Scenes Angus Dunican Frazer Hines 2nd, 4th Jamie, Sarah 14 February 2020
10.3 Decline of the Ancient Mariner Rob Nisbet Mark Reynolds 3rd Sarah 31 March 2020
10.4 Dead Woman Walking Roland Moore Sophie Aldred 7th Ace 30 April 2020
10.5 Regeneration Impossible Alfie Shaw Jacob Dudman 11th Twelfth Doctor 23 May 2020
10.6 Out of the Deep John Pritchard Peter Purves 1st Steven 30 June 2020
10.7 Downward Spiral Alan Flanagan Sarah Sutton 5th Nyssa 28 July 2020
10.8 These Stolen Hours Grace Knight India Fisher 6th Charley 28 August 2020
10.9 Her Own Bootstraps Amy Veeres Jacob Dudman 9th Rose 29 September 2020
10.10 The Meaning of Red Rod Brown Nicola Bryant 5th Peri 6 October 2020
10.11 Blue Boxes Erin Horáková Mark Reynolds 3rd Liz, Benton 4 November 2020
10.12 The Shattered Hourglass Robert Napton Neve McIntosh 10th Time Agency 22 December 2020
10.X Free Speech Eugenie Pusenjak Jacob Dudman 29 December 2020

Collection series[[edit] | [edit source]]

From February 2022-onwards, new Short Trips were released as collection downloads similar to the first four releases.

Volume 11[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips: Volume 11
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
11.X The Lichyrwick Abomination Joe Vevers Jacob Dudman 9th 29 December 2021
11.1 Rearguard Alfie Shaw Jacob Dudman, Dan Starkey 11th Sontarans 15 February 2022
11.2 Messages from the Dead Rochana Patel Matthew Waterhouse 4th Adric
11.3 The Threshold Felicia Barker Jon Culshaw 3rd The Master
11.4 Death Will Not Part Us Alfie Shaw Adèle Anderson 8th War Doctor, Ninth Doctor
11.5 Fear of Flying Paul F Verhoeven Ayesha Antoine 10th
11.6 Inside Story Ben Tedds Sophie Aldred 7th Ace

Volume 12[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips: Volume 12
# Title Author Performer Doctor Featuring Released
12.X The World Tree Nick Slawicz Lisa Bowerman 11th 29 December 2022
12.1 Salvage Max Kashevsky Adèle Anderson 8th Bliss 2 February 2023
12.2 AWOL Angus Dunican Jon Culshaw 3rd The Brig, Munro
12.3 The Three Flames Sophie Iles Dan Starkey 12th
12.4 Identity Check Eugenie Pusenjak Jacob Dudman 9th Rose
12.5 Table for Two, Dinner for One Jennah Dean Ayesha Antoine 10th
12.6 The Galois Group Felicia Barker Safiyya Ingar 11th Valarie

Subscriber exclusives[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Subscriber Short Trips

In addition to the above, several stories taken from the Short Trips books (up to Tweaker) have had readings recorded and made available for special subscriber-only downloads.[2] In December 2014, Big Finish announced a retroactive expansion of the subscriber exclusives with stories written specially for audio (from A Room with No View onwards). The expansion resulted in having four subscriber exclusives per year from 2010 onward.[3] All successive stories were also written specially for audio.

Rarities[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Short Trips Rarities

Starting in September 2016, Big Finish began re-releasing their Subscriber Short Trips stories in the Short Trips Rarities series.[4]

Miscellaneous[[edit] | [edit source]]

One Small Step..., originally printed in Short Trips: Past Tense in 2004, was read by Nicholas Briggs and played as part of the The Big Finish Podcast in 2009. It was played again on the podcast in 2016.

The Toy, read by Sarah Sutton, was originally released to subscribers of The Complete History in 2015. The following year, it was made available to purchase as part of the Short Trips Rarities range.

Time Lord Victorious[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Time Lord Victorious (series)
# Title Author Performer Featuring Released
1 Master Thief Sophie Iles Jon Culshaw The Master 7 October 2020
2 Lesser Evils Simon Guerrier The Tremas Master, Kotturuh

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

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. Big Finish - News - Short Trips Announcement (17 April 2009). Retrieved on 11 September 2009.
  2. Doctor Who - Subscriber Short Trips. Retrieved on 31 Dec 2016.
  3. Big Finish - News - Doctor Who Subscribers Get More - Short Trips (22 December 2014). Retrieved on 21 April 2016.
  4. Big Finish - News - Doctor Who Short Trips Offers! (30 September 2016). Retrieved on 30 September 2016.