Big Finish review-Torchwood: Fortitude

Fortitude is a remarkable example of small-scale storytelling. Despite its limited cast and singular setting, writer James Goss has crafted an engrossing and atmospheric tale that blends character-driven drama with suspenseful action. From the moment Queen Victoria and Maharaja Duleep Singh find themselves stranded on a storm-battered fort, the audience is drawn into a world where sinister forces are at work. As the tension mounts and the characters encounter ghosts and a menacing alien force, the stakes are raised to a fever pitch.

The strength of Fortitude lies in its characterisations. Paul Bazely’s portrayal of Duleep Singh is particularly noteworthy, capturing the intense emotions of a man who has lost everything. Rowena Cooper’s performance as Queen Victoria is equally impressive, portraying a monarch who is both cunning and ruthless. Even the supporting character of Colonel Crackenthorpe, played by Mark Elstob, is given significant depth and nuance. As the story unfolds, the audience learns more about his motivations and past, adding to the complexity of the overall narrative.

Like many Torchwood stories, Fortitude explores dark themes and contains mature content. However, unlike some of the more gratuitous entries in the series, the adult material in Fortitude serves a purpose, highlighting the complex relationships and moral dilemmas at play.

Overall, Fortitude is a triumph of storytelling, with an excellent script, first-rate performances, and haunting sound design. It is one of the best Torchwood audios to date, offering an adventure that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, science fiction, and captivating storytelling.

Torchwood: Fortitude is available to buy directly from Big Finish.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-Torchwood: Dead man’s switch

One of the most intriguing characters from Torchwood on TV was Bilis Manger, the creepy time traveller portrayed by Murray Melvin. While his potential was never fully realised on the show, Big Finish has once again demonstrated their talent for taking supporting characters and making them shine in this latest production. In Dead Man’s Switch, Bilis is at his best and most sinister.

The story begins with three strangers – an antique dealer, a property developer, and a heartbroken hairdresser – sitting on a train going nowhere. They are soon joined by the enigmatic Bilis, who has a chilling message for them: he wants to tell them how they died.

As with many Big Finish audios, Dead Man’s Switch is a departure from the usual Torchwood fare.

The three guest actors are perfectly cast, but it is Murray Melvin who truly steals the show with his masterful portrayal of Bilis Manger. His gravitas and otherworldly aura are palpable, making his return in future productions eagerly anticipated.

One of the standout features of Dead Man’s Switch is David Llewellyn’s exceptional script. His talent for crafting multi-layered characters and intricate plots is on full display in this production, and he takes full advantage of the audio medium to create a palpable sense of dread and tension throughout.

The dialogue is sharp and evocative, capturing the distinct voices and personalities of each character. The pacing is masterful, with the story slowly building towards its gruesome conclusion. Llewellyn’s attention to detail and willingness to take risks make Dead Man’s Switch one of the most memorable Torchwood audios to date.

Overall, Dead Man’s Switch is a testament to the power of great writing in audio drama. It showcases the incredible potential of the medium to tell gripping stories and immerse listeners in terrifying new worlds.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Hope

If you’re a fan of the Big Finish Torchwood range, be prepared for their latest release, “The Hope”. As always, the warning “This release contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners” is not just a formality – this audio play by James Goss delves into some dark, unsettling territory.

The story revolves around Megwyn Jones, a notorious figure in Britain due to her role in a scandal involving a home for troubled children in Snowdonia called The Hope. The children disappeared, and Megwyn’s silence about their fate has only fueled speculation about her guilt.

The audio play explores this mystery and raises disturbing questions about what really happened at The Hope.

While the topic of a convicted child-murderer is not an easy one to tackle, James Goss has crafted a masterpiece here. The audio play is deeply unsettling, but also compelling and rewarding. Burn Gorman and Tom Price, who previously showed their chemistry in Corpse Day, are back and deliver stunning performances that are both powerful and chilling.

Siân Phillips is also mesmerising as Megwyn Jones, making the character both detestable and fascinating at the same time.

The Hope stands in stark contrast to last month’s “Serenity”, but that’s what makes the Big Finish Torchwood range so great. This audio play is an example of Torchwood at its absolute best – daring, thought-provoking, and not afraid to delve into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood:Serenity

Welcome to Serenity Plaza, the most prestigious gated community in South Wales. Jack and Ianto have been sent on an undercover mission to investigate rumors of something sinister happening within its walls. The catch? They have to pretend to be a happy, married couple.

As they delve deeper into the seemingly perfect world of Serenity Plaza, Jack and Ianto begin to face the everyday challenges that normal couples do: sharing household chores, participating in the residents’ baking contest, and vying for the title of Best Kept Lawn. But this is no ordinary competition – this is Serenity Plaza, and some residents are willing to go to extreme lengths to come out on top.

James Moran, writer of the series 2 episode “Sleeper,” has crafted a sequel that builds upon the original threat and adds new layers of complexity. With clever writing that plays to the strengths of the audio medium, Moran has created a logical continuation of the story.

Fans of the popular Jack and Ianto relationship will delight in their interactions here, as John Barrowman and Gareth David-Lloyd showcase their chemistry and comedic timing. Ianto’s Stepford Wife-like behavior and exaggerated Welshness add to the hilarity of the situation.

Overall, Torchwood: Serenity is a laugh-out-loud adventure that will keep fans of the series thoroughly entertained. Don’t miss out on this exciting audio drama!

Episode 201:Torchwood-Sargasso

In which Martyn flies solo and brings you a review of the latest Torchwood release by Big Finish.

The seas of planet Earth are choked by plastic. Plastic that no-one has a use for and no-one can get rid of. Rhys Williams finds himself stranded on a container ship in a sea of debris. People on board are dying. Because, luckily, someone’s found a solution to Earth’s polluted waters. The Nestene Consciousness can never have too much plastic.

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Check out our other Big Finish reviews.

Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

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Torchwood: The Green Life

At first it seems like Captain Jack Harkness, leader of the ‘beyond the police’ Torchwood organisation and time-travelling Doctor Who companion turned eco-warrior Jo Jones (née Grant) would be quite a contrast when paired. But in ‘Torchwood: The Green Life’ the two are bound as much by what they share as what divides them.

Jo, in this story, is decades older than the girl who once travelled with The Doctor. Everything she learned from her time with UNIT is sewn into this Jo of today and much more besides. This woman is a good match for the immortal Jack, whose dashing young appearance only partially conceals how much of his strength is devoted to enduring a string of painful deaths and centuries. Big Finish audio dramas never shy from the role appearances play in stories when it’s relevant: here we have a pair of lovely fan favourites set amid some gruesome situations.



We’re back in Llanfairfach, the Welsh locale of the 1970s Doctor Who serial, The Green Death. The story then – of pollution-bred giant maggots and a technically-adept evil corporation – continues here. As Jack and Jo clamber over old territory we learn new things about them both.

Katy Manning has kindly returned to play Jo now and again in the past couple of decades – in television and in audio – and each time we get a hint or two about the character’s life since the 1970s. Here there’s quite a bit of her back story, particularly with regards to Llanfairfach. It’s a treat to hear the world of Jo Jones expanding into a mini-franchise of its own.

John Barrowman has been equally generous in his support, for the Torchwood franchise and for the ‘Whoniverse’ in general. He continues his regular contributions to Torchwood on audio here, with a bit of a new challenge: the gentlest members of Jack’s team were never as ‘right on’ as lovely Ms Jones. In Jack’s world, he and his go to some rather harsh extremes, they take their lumps and then find some way to make peace with themselves afterwards. Jo presents him with a world where there are certain lines that are simply not crossed. Where right and wrong don’t often intermingle. Where loyalty is everything.

The legacy elements of this story are taken in genuinely new directions. We get some detail about how the scientific advances of the 70’s Wholeweal community have developed in the years since. We learn a bit more about Llanfairfach as a population centre and its lifestyle in 2019. And we’re presented with something new that has gone very, very wrong. It’ll certainly inform a listener’s first real-world glimpse of a self-driving lorry.

Big Finish Review-Torchwood: Deadbeat Escape

On a stormy and ominous evening, Hywel Roberts unwittingly steps into a world of terror and danger at a peculiar hotel, where a familiar foe of Torchwood lurks in wait. As the curtains close on the latest series of Torchwood audios, we are left with a collection of exceptional tales that have kept us on the edge of our seats.

In this monthly range, Big Finish has taken a bold step by focusing on a series antagonist, Bilis Manger, and allowing the character to take centre stage without the interference of the Torchwood team. It’s a testament to the confidence that Big Finish has in the Torchwood range and the writers’ ability to create gripping stories.

In “Deadbeat Escape,” we are treated to a spine-chilling tale that could easily fit into a ghostly anthology or Hammer horror film. It’s a departure from the usual Torchwood fare, as we are transported to a more traditional spooky story that doesn’t rely on jokes or pop culture references.

The story is told from the perspective of Hywel Roberts, a relatable and charming new character who unwittingly checks into the eerie hotel. We know from the start that his fate is sealed, which adds to the tension and elevates the stakes of the story.

Murray Melvin as Bilis Manger is as mysterious, charming, and menacing as ever, and Gareth Pierce delivers a standout performance as Hywel Roberts. Despite the absence of the regular Torchwood team, “Deadbeat Escape” still manages to embody the emotive and eerie narrative that we have come to associate with the series.

Deadbeat Escape is a perfect ending to the latest series of Torchwood audios. The exceptional writing and performances leave a lasting impression and cement the series’ place as a master of horror storytelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big Finish review-Torchwood: Goodbye Piccadilly

Sgt Andy Davidson wakes up in the 1950s. He’s chained to a bed, his clothes are missing and the building’s on fire. Norton Folgate needs his help. The streets of Soho are swarming with gangsters, rumours and betrayals. Somewhere out there is a mysterious alien artefact, and Andy and Norton have to get to it first. Because tonight they’re going to save Torchwood.

I’ve been looking forward to another adventure with Andy and Norton, since last year’s Ghost Mission. There’s just something about this pairing that works so well. Norton Folgate, played brilliantly by Samuel Barnett, is a welcome addition to the Torchwood range. His witty and flamboyant personality is the perfect foil for Andy’s more serious demeanor.

Goodbye Piccadilly is absolutely gripping, from start to finish, the script is sensational.

The direction is smooth, the sound design is flawless. Tom Price gives another fantastic performance as Andy Davidson, capturing the character’s determination and vulnerability. His chemistry with Samuel Barnett is electric, and their banter is a joy to listen to.

What’s great about this audio, is that all of the London events-bar the alien invasion and the time travel, are real. James Goss took his research for this story extremely seriously, he looked at books such as ‘hidden London’ for inspiration and it shows. The life drawing class, the police raids and, gay men being hosed down are all things that actually happened in the 1950’s.

Big Finish has once again proved that Torchwood Big Finish, is Torchwood at its best. Goodbye Piccadilly is a must-listen for any Torchwood fan. Just remember, Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

Big Finish review-Torchwood: We always get out alive

In “We always get out alive,” Gwen Cooper and Rhys Williams are faced with a cataclysmic event and must flee as fast as they can. As Torchwood operatives, they’re no strangers to danger and uncertainty, but this time there’s something else in the car with them, heightening the tension and suspense.

The audio production is a testament to the perfect synergy between writer Guy Adams and director Scott Handcock. While the premise of two characters sitting in a car for 98% of the audio may sound dull, Adams and Handcock have crafted an imaginative and captivating story that is both epic and intimate in scope.

Through the course of the audio, we gain deeper insight into the personal lives of Gwen and Rhys, and their struggles to balance their duties as Torchwood operatives with their responsibilities as parents. The natural chemistry between actors Eve Myles and Kai Owen shines through, adding to the authenticity and emotional resonance of the story.

Adams skillfully uses the audio format to his advantage, leveraging the constrictive nature of the car and the medium of audio to create a gripping and immersive experience for listeners. The audio is a strong character-driven piece, with well-crafted dialogue and superb acting that draws you in and keeps you engaged.

“We always get out alive” is a must-listen for fans of the Torchwood series and audio dramas in general. It is a well-crafted and engaging production that showcases the talents of everyone involved, earning it a solid 5/5 rating.

Big Finish Review-Torchwood:Believe

The Church of the Outsiders is on a mission to lead mankind to a new era of evolution, one that takes them beyond the stars. But Torchwood’s Owen Harper believes they must do everything in their power to stop them. With the original Torchwood team back together in full-cast audio, fans have been eagerly awaiting this moment. Despite the actors recording their parts separately, the result is flawless. You won’t be able to tell the difference, and it’s a joyous reunion.

Set before the end of series 2, Guy Adams has perfectly captured the era, creating an episode that feels like it was plucked straight from 2008. The performances are outstanding, with John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Burn Gorman, Naoko Mori, and Gareth David-Lloyd all shining. Each character is given the opportunity to develop, but the Owen/Tosh relationship is a particular highlight. Owen pushes Tosh to do unspeakable things while attempting to prove himself as a capable leader.

John Barrowman’s performance in this audio is absolutely fantastic. Despite recording his parts separately from the rest of the team, his chemistry with his co-stars is still palpable. He effortlessly slips back into the role of Captain Jack Harkness and delivers a performance that is both charming and commanding. Barrowman’s energy and enthusiasm for the character and the series shine through in every line, making it a real treat for fans to hear him back in action as the iconic Torchwood leader.

Prequel stories can be challenging, but Guy Adams’ script and Gareth David-Lloyd’s performance are so compelling that there’s one moment in particular where you’ll be genuinely concerned for Ianto’s fate. With such high quality, 2018 is shaping up to be an excellent year for Torchwood on audio. This is a must-listen, earning a 10/10 rating.