Gallifrey (audio drama series)

Gallifrey Big Finish Productions audio play series based on the television series Doctor Who, starring Louise Jameson as Leela, Lalla Ward as President Romana II, and John Leeson as two K-9 units, Mark I and Mark II. The title refers to the home planet of the Time Lords.

Gallifrey
Big Finish Productions audio drama
Series	The Worlds of Doctor Who
Directed by	Gary Russell Scott Handcock
Produced by	Gary Russell Scott Handcock
Executive producer(s)	Jason Haigh-Ellery Nicholas Briggs
Music	David Darlington Ioan Morris Rhys Downing
Release date	March 2004 – present

The first play in the series, Weapon of Choice, was released in 2004. The most recent: Gallifrey: Time War Volume Three, was released in February 2020. A final volume for the Time War series is set for release in 2021.[1][2]

Cast

List indicator(s)

This section shows characters who will appear or have appeared in at least one season.

•   A green cell indicates the actor is a main cast member.
•   A red cell indicates the actor is a recurring cast member.
•   A light blue cell indicates the actor is a guest or special guest cast member.

Actor	Character	Appearances
		Gallifrey								Gallifrey: Time War
		S1	S2	S3	S4	S5	S6	S7	S8	S1	S2	S3	S4
Lalla Ward	Romana	✓						Does not appear	✓
Mary Tamm		Does not appear	✓		✓	Does not appear
Juliet Landau		Does not appear					✓	✓	Does not appear
Louise Jameson	Leela	✓						Does not appear	✓		Does not appear	✓
Seán Carlsen	Narvin	✓
John Leeson	K9	✓				Does not appear	✓	Does not appear
Miles Richardson	Irving Braxiatel	✓				✓			✓		Does not appear		✓
Sophie Aldred	Ace	Does not appear						✓			Does not appear
Lynda Bellingham	Darkel	✓			Does not appear
Andy Coleman	Andred	✓		Does not appear	✓			Does not appear
Stephen Wickson	Valyes	Does not appear	✓		✓			Does not appear
Stephen Perring	Matthias	Does not appear		✓	Does not appear	✓	✓	Does not appear
Nicholas Briggs	The Daleks	Does not appear				✓	✓	Does not appear		✓	Does not appear	✓
Stephen Thorne	Omega	Does not appear						✓	Does not appear
Celia Imrie	Livia	Does not appear							✓	Does not appear
Pippa Bennett-Warner		Does not appear								✓		Does not appear	✓
Derek Jacobi	The Master	Does not appear								✓	Does not appear
Terrence Hardiman	Rassilon	Does not appear									✓	Does not appear
Richard Armitage		Does not appear											✓

Summary

The series focuses on political struggles within the leadership of the Time Lords, centred on Romana's presidency. In the first series, Romana's progressive policies and desires to open Gallifrey up to the outside universe faces opposition from more conservative cultures. In addition, a terrorist group known as "Free Time", who want to break the monopoly on time travel technology shared among the Time Lords and the few other temporal powers, steals a timeonic fusion device. The inquiry into Romana's handling of the incident reveals a dark secret surrounding the Time Lords' policy of non-intervention.

The second series sees the admission of non-Gallifreyans into the Time Lord Academy, leading to even more tension within the Time Lord political elite. Romana has to deal with Free Time infiltrators as well as an attempted coup by Inquisitor Darkel. In addition, an ancient Gallifreyan evil escapes from the Matrix: Pandora, a megalomaniacal personality who manipulates Romana and others with the goal of regaining life and power. At the end of the second series, Pandora manages to manifest herself in the form of Romana's first incarnation (played once again by Mary Tamm). Both Romanas claim the title of Imperiatrix, absolute ruler of Gallifrey, leading to civil war.

In the third series, Romana traps Pandora in the Matrix once again, and destroys her by sacrificing the Matrix. After an election fraught with political manoeuvring, one Lord Matthias becomes Lord President. The series ends on a cliffhanger, with Gallifrey on the brink of economic and social collapse as well as in danger of being overrun by a Free Time virus, while most of the cast are trapped with no apparent means of escape.

At the time Big Finish's license forbid them from using aspects of the revived television series,[3] the Gallifrey series does not explicitly acknowledge the events of the Time War. However, in the final chapter of the third series Irving Braxiatel speaks of "rumours out there in the big wide universe — more than rumours, in fact — that something's coming to Gallifrey, something worse than you could possibly imagine". Because of these rumours, Braxiatel engineers the removal of the Time Lord biodata archive from Gallifrey, in order that the Time Lords might someday be restored after their planet meets its doom. Former Big Finish producer Gary Russell indicated in the audio interviews for the fourth series that this was a reference to the television series' Time War.

The fourth series, sees Romana, Leela, K9 Mark II, Brax and Narvin unable to save the Gallifrey they know. Brax takes them to the Axis, from where they have access to a myriad of truncated timelines, and they look for answers in these alternate Gallifreys. During their travels, Brax falls into one of the portals of the Axis and is lost to them.

In the fifth series, Romana, Leela, and Narvin are stranded on an alternate Gallifrey, where time travel has not been invented and Time Lords are simply Regenerators. Romana and Narvin take over leadership and attempt to reform the planet, while Leela lives as an Outsider in the wastelands of Gallifrey with the former slaves she has freed. At the end of the series, the Daleks arrive through a portal in the Axis in their quest to invade the multiverse.

The sixth series begins with Romana, Leela, and Narvin foiling the Daleks' plot and returning to their original timeline with a cure to the Dogma Virus. Upon their return, Romana is greeted by her next incarnation in the Matrix and they enter into a deal to return Gallifrey to its former state. The Time Lords reinstate Romana as President following Matthias's resignation. When a Dalek force invades Gallifrey, Romana tricks them into entering the Matrix and traps them there. Unaware that Romana had survived, Narvin sends Valyes to recruit the Doctor on a mission to avert the creation of the Daleks, a move which becomes one of the opening acts of the Time War.[4]

The special Intervention Earth stars Juliet Landau as a new regeneration of Romana, who had made an appearance earlier as the Matrix projection Trey. It also introduces Sophie Aldred as Ace and features Stephen Thorne guest starring as Omega. In the special, Romana, Ace, and Narvin attempt to foil a plot to free Omega.[5]

The next special Enemy Lines saw Lalla Ward and Louise Jameson return, having remained absent in the previous release, with Seán Carlsen and Sophie Aldred continuing their roles. In the release, Brax returns and changes the timeline to prevent Romana's regeneration, averting the timeline in which Omega returns. Romana steps down from the presidency and names Livia as her successor, appointing herself as Coordinator of the CIA.

Having obtained the license to the revived series, Big Finish finally explored the Time War in a four-volume series from 2018 to 2021. In the first volume, Ward, Jameson, Carlsen, Richardson and Aldred reprised their roles, with Derek Jacobi guest starring as The War Master. Ace and Braxiatel head on a field mission together to obtain information, in which Brax wipes Ace's memory and leaves her on Earth, fleeing the Time War himself. Following Ace and Brax's disappearance, Romana recruits the Master in the fight against the Daleks. However, in a mission with Leela he betrays her and throws her into the Time Vortex.

At the end of the first volume, the Time Lords succeed in resurrecting Rassilon to lead them in the Time War. The second volume shows Romana and Narvin resisting Rassilon's increasingly authoritarian regime, even with all their allies gone. After an attempted coup, they are forced into exile from Gallifrey, where they decide to go search for Leela. The third volume shows Romana and Narvin in exile, and reveals what happens to Leela after being thrown in the Vortex.

Episodes

Series 1 (2004)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Weapon of Choice"	Gary Russell	Alan Barnes	Romana II, Leela, K9 I & II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Torvald, Darkel, Arkadian, Free Time	March 2004
2	"Square One"	Gary Russell	Stephen Cole	Romana II, Leela, K9 I & II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Free Time	April 2004
3	"The Inquiry"	Gary Russell	Justin Richards	Romana II, Leela, K9 I & II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Darkel, Torvald	April 2004
4	"A Blind Eye"	Gary Russell	Alan Barnes	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Narvin, Torvald, Arkadian	May 2004

Series 2 (2005)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Lies"	Gary Russell	Gary Russell	Romana II & I, Leela, K9 I & II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Darkel, Andred, Wynter, Pandora, Free Time	April 2005
2	"Spirit"	Gary Russell	Stephen Cole	Romana II, Leela, Braxiatel, Narvin, Darkel, Wynter, Hallan	May 2005
3	"Pandora"	Gary Russell	Justin Richards	Romana II, Leela, K9 I & II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Darkel, Wynter, Andred, Hallan, Valyes, Pandora	June 2005
4	"Insurgency"	Gary Russell	Steve Lyons	Romana II, Leela, K9 I & II, Narvin, Darkel, Andred, Valyes	July 2005
5	"Imperiatrix"	Gary Russell	Stewart Sheargold	Romana II & I, Leela, K9 I & II, Narvin, Darkel, Hallan, Pandora	August 2005

Series 3 (2006)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Fractures"	Gary Russell	Stephen Cole	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Pandora, Darkel, Narvin, Valyes, Matthias, Hallan, Annos, Janartis, Elbon, Henzil	May 2006
2	"Warfare"	Gary Russell	Stewart Sheargold	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Pandora, Darkel, Narvin, Valyes, Matthias, Hallan, Annos, Janartis, Elbon	June 2006
3	"Appropriation"	Gary Russell	Paul Sutton	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Darkel, Narvin, Valyes, Matthias, Henzil, Annos, Janartis	July 2006
4	"Mindbomb"	Gary Russell	Justin Richards	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Darkel, Braxiatel, Narvin, Valyes, Matthias, Henzil, Annos, Janartis, Elbon	July 2006
5	"Panacea"	Gary Russell	Alan Barnes	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Braxiatel, Narvin, Valyes, Matthias, Arkadian, Henzil, Annos, Janartis, Elbon	August 2006

Series 4 (2011)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Reborn"	Gary Russell	Gary Hopkins	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Braxiatel, Narvin; Alternative Romana I, Vansell	March 2011
2	"Disassembled"	Gary Russell	Justin Richards	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Braxiatel, Narvin; Alternative Romana II, Leela, Burner Doctor, Vansell, Andred	March 2011
3	"Annihilation"	Gary Russell	Scott Handcock & Gary Russell	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Narvin; Alternative Borusa, Torvald	March 2011
4	"Forever"	Gary Russell	David Wise	Romana II, Leela, K9 II, Braxiatel, Narvin; Alternative Romana II, Narvin, Valyes, Vansell	March 2011

Series 5 (2013)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Emancipation"	Gary Russell	James Peaty	Romana II, Leela, Narvin; Alternative Slyne, Lukas, Kavil, Valyes, Matthias, Rahvon	February 2013
2	"Evolution"	Gary Russell	Una McCormack	Romana II, Leela, Narvin; Alternative Slyne, Lukas, Kavil	February 2013
3	"Arbitration"	Gary Russell	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Leela, Narvin; Alternative Kavil, Slyne, Braxiatel, Matthias, Andred, Rahvon	February 2013

Series 6 (2013)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Extermination"	Gary Russell	Scott Handcock	Romana II, Leela, Narvin, Daleks; Alternative Slyne, Lukas, Rahvon, Braxiatel, Andred	October 2013
2	"Renaissance"	Gary Russell	James Goss	Romana II, Leela, Narvin, Trey	October 2013
3	"Ascension"	Gary Russell	Justin Richards	Romana II, Leela, Narvin, Trey, K9 II, Valyes, Matthias, Slyne, Daleks	October 2013

Series 7 (2015)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
–	"Intervention Earth"	Scott Handcock	Scott Handcock & David Llewellyn	Romana III, Ace, Narvin, Omega, Lukas	February 2015

Series 8 (2016)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
–	"Enemy Lines"	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Leela, Ace, Narvin, Braxiatel	May 2016

Series 9: Time War – Volume 1 (2018)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Celestial Intervention"	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Leela, Narvin, Livia, Trave, Ace, Braxiatel	February 2018
2	"Soldier Obscura"	Scott Handcock	Tim Foley	Ace, Braxiatel, Daleks, Romana II, Narvin	February 2018
3	"The Devil You Know"	Scott Handcock	Scott Handcock	Leela, the Master, Romana II, Narvin	February 2018
4	"Desperate Measures"	Scott Handcock	Matt Fitton	Romana II, Narvin, Livia, Trave, Braxiatel, Daleks, Dalek Emperor, Rassilon	February 2018

Series 10: Time War – Volume 2 (2019)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Havoc"	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Narvin, Rassilon, Livia, Mantus, Trave	March 2019
2	"Partisans"	Scott Handcock	Una McCormack	Romana II, Narvin, Eris, Livia, Mantus	March 2019
3	"Collateral"	Scott Handcock	Lisa McMullin	Romana II, Narvin, Eris, Rassilon, Livia, Mantus	March 2019
4	"Assassins"	Scott Handcock	Matt Fitton	Romana II, Narvin, Rassilon, Livia, Mantus	March 2019

Series 11: Time War – Volume 3 (2020)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Hostiles"	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Narvin	February 2020
2	"Nevernor"	Scott Handcock	Lou Morgan	Romana II, Narvin	February 2020
3	"Mother Tongue"	Scott Handcock	Helen Goldwyn	Leela	February 2020
4	"Unity"	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana II, Daleks	February 2020

Series 12: Time War – Volume 4 (2021)

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Featuring	Released
1	"Deception"[1]	Scott Handcock	Lisa McMullin	Leela, Narvin, Rassilon, Livia, Mantus	February 2021
2	"Dissolution"[1]	Scott Handcock	Lou Morgan	Narvin, Rayo, Daleks	February 2021
3	"Beyond"[1]	Scott Handcock	David Llewellyn	Romana, Braxiatel, Ravenous	February 2021
4	"Homecoming"[1]	Scott Handcock	Matt Fitton	Romana, Leela, Narvin, Braxiatel, Rassilon, Livia, Mantus, Daleks	February 2021

See also

• List of Doctor Who audio plays by Big Finish.

References

1. "Gallifrey - Time War 4 coming soon". Big Finish Productions. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
2. "Richard Armitage will play Rassilon in new Doctor Who spin-off". The Radio Times. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
3. Big Finish FAQ
4. "6. Gallifrey Series 06 - Gallifrey - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
5. "7. Gallifrey: Intervention Earth - Gallifrey - Big Finish". www.bigfinish.com. Retrieved 2019-09-25.

External links

• Gallifrey (audio drama series) on Tardis Data Core, an external wiki
• Gallifrey at Big Finish Guide