Canon on Doctor Who can be a very interesting topic. Given the plethora of spinoffs, novelizations, audio plays and other Doctor Who related media, it may be difficult to find two different people who will agree on what, exactly, can be considered canonical for the program. Such is the life of a Whovian, I suppose.
While it is obvious that, should canon in Doctor Who exist, which is another topic of debate, that canon would begin with the BBC. As the official producers of the show, it would seem apparent that anything they produce would be an official part of the Doctor’s story.
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But what of those entities that the BBC officially licenses to produce programming or other media in relation to Doctor Who? Would those productions be considered canon? Given the numerous spinoffs and continued adventures of the Doctor that Big Finish has produced over the years, can their efforts be considered canon?
In theory, if it is sanctioned by the BBC, then those adventures of the Doctor, and any Doctor Who related spinoffs, should be canon. It would be great to see the continued adventures of the Eighth Doctor, for example, be a true part of the history of Doctor Who, and more than essentially glorified fan fiction.
Likewise, having the continued adventures of UNIT, and any other spinoffs, such as a hoped for series involving the Paternoster Gang, as a part of the canon on the program would be amazing. We know a decent amount about both, but having a series of adventures that focuses specifically upon these entities, and having those be considered an official part of the history of Doctor Who, would do wonders to fleshing out both.
Back stories and history are important aspects of Doctor Who, yet both can be pushed to the wayside at times in order to focus on the episode at hand. With the Doctor, for the most part, being the focal point of any episode, those helping him can get lost in the shuffle. Even some of the Doctors were never fully explored, given their short tenure on the program. Big Finish allows these histories to be fully fleshed out, giving these characters a more well rounded feel.
Canon on Doctor Who may well be what one makes it. In that case, let us consider Big Finish to be a part of that canon.