Written by Georgia Cook, Noga Flaishon, Jonathan Sims, Hannah Kennedy

Starring Paul McGann, Lauren Cornelius et al

Originally released : October 2025

Listened to: October 2025

Episodes
1. Sea Smoke by Jonathan Sims – A First Doctor and Dodo adventure
2. Party Favours by Georgia Cook – A Kate Stewart and Osgood adventure
3. Bramble King by Noga Flaishon – An Eighth Doctor and Audacity adventure

4. Merlin’s Trap by Hannah Kennedy – A Twelfth Doctor adventure

Context: I really rather enjoyed the last short trip boxset, the companion anthology one. It was a great collecton of difrerent styles and varied casts so I was looking forward to seeing how this one faired compared to the previous boxset. The highlight of this one was of course the return of the 12th Doctor and Jon Culshaw’s take on what is a favourte incarnation for me. So, very much looked forward to starting this one.

THE REVIEW

What I thought:

Sea smoke is a great opener, wth Stephen Noonans’s first Doctor a great first Doctor and in my mind is firmly embedded in my mind as that incarnation of the Timelord. Dodo is great as well, even if the accent is a a little OTT at times (I have a bit of an issue with Yorshire ‘ee by eck’ type accents, harsh I know, just me). Anyway, the setting of this one, a remote Scottish island, is great, as is the cast and what ultimately turns into the genetc hodge podge monster of the episode is a perfect threat for this TARDIS team. The fact the whole island ends up being destroyed is very dramatic, and very cool on audio, BF are so good at this. The 1st Doctor and Dodo are great in this one, a very strong start to the boxset

The next episode is Party Favours, a sidestep away from the TARDIS to the UNIT team, Osgood and Kate specifically, who I havent really been in the company of that much, apart from a couple of UNIT boxsets I listened to last summer (I think it was last summer anyway). The setting for this story is very cool, with the weeping angels being literally everywhere in this one (they become a flat!). Amazing idea, and the whole episode is based around a failing relationship, beautifully written, lots of great ideas and a very bitter sweet ending. This one makes me want to get some UNIT boxsets listened to ASAP.

The Bramble King finds us with the 8th Doctor, Charlie and Audacity on a stalled ship in space, a ship fill of tree people! Of the four episodes this is the one I don’t recall quite so well. It is not a bad episode more that t is nestled between two smashers. Putting that aside this one is an interesting idea, with a lot of focus on father and sons, also the Bramble king is an interetsing idea (folk tales/much creepiness). Audacity is good fun in this, Charlie a little bland for some reason (and I usually like her) although McGann is always great as the Doctor and Audacity is a great companion for the 8th Doctor (perhaps this is why I feel Charley was a bit absent in this one).

The final episode was perhaps a little disappointing in the sense that the 12th Doctor isn’t actually in it that much, however it is a tantalising first listen to Jon Culshawas take on Peter C’s 12th Doctor. I have to say I thought Culshaw was great, brief though his presence is in this story is. The story is set in a cave system in Cornwall (it is already a winner for me for this fact alone). Quite a dark ending in the respect that we loose almost all the cast in this one, bit brutal, but its a good story. A very nice ending to this boxset and a nice addition to this anthology. B interesting to see if BF do this kind of thing with other short story boxsets.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 jump scares: great boxset, I don’t know if I found these stories particularly scary but they are all good, and they are pretty dark stories that make for an interesting and pretty unique boxset. Lovley to have such a mix of Doctors, eras and companions. Great stuff, very much recommend this one and I hope that BF do some more of these types of anthology sets.

What I felt: entertained, mildly spooked at times and love the format of different doctors and companions, lovely stuff.

What am I left thinking/feeling/wanting?

• Very excited to have the potential of further adventures with the 12th Doctor, one of my Fav incarnations, more of him please.
• Pretty moved by the second episode, very sad and poignant.

Memorable bits

• Massive eye in a cave in cornwall!
• A flat made out of Weeping Angels!
• A Scottish island lifting into the air
• The Bramble King is cool