Written by Alison Winter Katharine Armitage and Alan Ronald

Starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred

Originally released : October 2025

Listened to: October 2025

Episodes

Backwards and in Heels by Alison Winter

The Price of Snow by Katharine Armitage

The Ingenious Gentlemen by Alan Ronald

Context: I am a much bigger fan of the later, dark jacketed Seventh Doctor, more than the ‘spoons’ heavy early 7th Doctor, although I was looking forward to this as in parallel I am watching the season 25 blu-ray boxset, 7 is after all pretty much my Doctor so I always look forward to a return to this era.

THE REVIEW

What I thought: the starting episode, Backwards and in Heels, starts of this boxset perfectly, with very strong start of the McCoy era vibes. It’s a fairly whimsical 7th doctor we see here and a very green Ace throughout (and the other episodes to in respect to Ace) but there are hints of the schemer, subtle planner in the Doctor as this episode progresses. I like the story of this one, although perhaps not as strong as the other two it’s an entertaining adventure through 1920’s London, with an intriguing Villan/adversary for the 7th doctor in the form of the multidimensional Treasurer. Lots of great adventure set pieces in this one.

The Price of Snow is perhaps a little more straightforward of an adventure but it is as entertaining as the opening episode. There are again adventure set pieces in this one, strong scenes of our hero’s sking down mountains and avoiding the Shades (interesting idea for the a villan of the week here). You can see the development of the TARDIS team, getting to know each other a little better, Ace perhaps beginning to realise, a little anyway, what she has let herself in for in travelling along with the Doctor. This is a very Ace heavy story, which showcases for me that Ace really is the first ‘modern’ companion. Lots of strong scenes for Sophie Aldred, lots of strong class themes, which I love (more of this please).

The final episode of the boxset, ‘the Ingenious Gentlemen’ is my favourite episode of the boxset with Simon Callow and Ekow Quartey perfect as Don Quite and Pancho….its so much fun that the 7th Doctor is a fan of DQ and this leads to some great interactions. The monster of the piece, a pan dimensional creature of Gallifyian folklaw (the connection to Shanda is cool), is great and I thought the connections between the Spanish legends alongside the TARDIS team is fantastic. So much pathos at the end, and a very fitting finale to a very strong boxset.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 tin bowls: this boxset is great (wicked!) and is perfectly evocative of that inbetween season 24 and 25 period…brilliant.

What I felt:Right back to the late 1980’s…brilliant!

What am I left thinking/feeling/wanting?

• More of this early Ace and 7 version

Memorable bits

• Don Q fighting animated windmills
• Simon C and x performances are fantastic