Written by Jonathan Morris David K Barnes

Starring Tom Baker and Louise Jameson

Originally released : September 2025

Listened to: September 2025

Episodes
14.6 Conspiracy of Silence by Jonathan Morris

14.7 The Last Queen of the Nile by David K Barnes

Context: I had only recently listened to a big season of 4th Doctor adventures so I wasn’t sure how ‘in’ to this I would be….(need not have worried, it’s Tom Baker!!) a fourth doctor set is always welcome.

THE REVIEW

What I thought: I was a little thrown to start as the first episode just fires into 4, Leela and the Brig, so a kind of direct follow on from the last boxset but it doesn’t really mention that adventure or have any clear bridge to that previous episode (could well just be me missing it). Nonetheless it is a clever episode, the silence stopping a story with a natural linear narrative, therefore the story zipping back and fourth across a few narratives. These type of stories can be tricky as it requires a lot of concentration to follow and piece it all together, which I was probably only partly successful at achieving. Despite this it’s a fun and rollicking adventure that pits the awesome silence against this awesome TARDIS team. It’s great fun, and worth a re-listen I suspect.

The main course is the Last queen of the Nile, a rare pure historical that works in my opinion very well with the Fourth doctor and Leela in particular. The episdoe brings to life ancient roman and Egyptian politics, war and life in general so well. Cleopatra and Marc Antony are great, and the finale, the battle of Actium, is well done here on audio (very epic), I really did follow this one from start to end, a testament to the quality of the writing and acting, music, everything really. Leela has some great stuff with Cleopatra and Tom B is his mischievous self, on great form, with K9 having some lovely comedy moments. A strong four parter to finish this boxset. most enjoyable.

Rating: 3.8 out of 5 Ibis. Great stuff, I prefer the second story but seeing the fourth doctor going up against the silence is good fun too. I would definitely recommend this one.

What I felt: happy and confused to start, and then very much entertained during a journey plagued by slow traffic and jams, made that journey a joy!

What am I left thinking/feeling/wanting?

• More pure historical, definitely
• I do like the brig in these, more of that too as well

Memorable bits

• The silence in general are always great in every scene they are in, here trying to gain vengeance over the 11th Doctors victory over them
• K9 on sand
• The whining and delusional Marc Antony