Doctor Who: Schedule revealed for Big Finish livestream this weekend

The first episode of The Legacy of Time is just one of the stories that will be broadcast this weekend.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

This weekend, Big Finish will be livestreaming a huge number of their Doctor Who stories and spin-offs on the Doctor Who YouTube channel. We reveal what’s scheduled to be broadcast, as well as our personal recommendations of what’s worth checking out.

This weekend, Big Finish has arranged something very special. To celebrate twenty years of making Doctor Who stories on audio, a livestream of a large selection of their stories, featuring a huge variety of Doctors and even spin-offs, will be broadcast on the official Doctor Who YouTube channel.

Not only that, but there will also be many bonus videos, such as exclusive extracts and debuts from upcoming releases, as well as video appearances from the Doctors and their friends.

And for those curious about The Legacy of Time, Big Finish’s very special twentieth anniversary box set, the first episode, Lies in Ruins, will be broadcast. It’s a really strong opening episode, so that alone is definitely worth checking out.

As indeed are many other stories that have been revealed. Check out the full schedule below. (Please note that, unless otherwise stated, each episode will be the first part of a story.)

Saturday July 20th (Starts at 12:00pm BST, 07:00am ET and 04:00am PT)

"The Sirens of Time – Part 1, starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoySpare Parts starring Peter Davison and Sarah SuttonThe Marian Conspiracy starring Colin Baker and Maggie StablesThe Fires of Vulcan starring Sylvester McCoy and Bonnie LangfordThe Chimes of Midnight starring Paul McGann and India FisherEnergy of the Daleks starring Tom Baker and Louise JamesonThe New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield: The Revolution starring Lisa Bowerman and Sylvester McCoyCaptain Jack: Wednesday for Beginners starring John Barrowman and Camille CoduriGallifrey: Time War: Celestial Intervention starring Lalla Ward and Seán CarlsenThe Eighth Doctor: Time War: The Starship of Theseus starring Paul McGann and Rahkee ThakrarThe War Master: Beneath the Viscoid starring Sir Derek Jacobi and Nicholas Briggs as the DaleksJenny – The Doctor’s Daughter: Stolen Goods starring Georgia Tennant and Sean BiggerstaffThe Tenth Doctor Adventures: Cold Vengeance – Part 1 starring David Tennant and Billie PiperThe Sirens of Time – Part 2 starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy"

Sunday July 21st (Starts at 12:00pm BST, 07:00am ET and 04:00am PT)

"The Sirens of Time – Part 3 starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoyBlood of the Daleks starring Paul McGann and Sheridan SmithThe Phoenicians starring David BradleyThe Yes Men starring Anneke Wills and Frazer HinesThe Conquest of Far starring Tim Treloar and Katy ManningThe Auntie Matter starring Tom Baker and Mary TammDalek Soul starring Peter Davison and Sarah SuttonJubilee starring Colin Baker and Maggie StablesMaster starring Sylvester McCoy and Geoffrey BeeversThe Sirens of Time – Part 4 starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoyDoom Coalition: The Eleven starring Paul McGann, Nicola Walker and Mark BonnarThe Assassination Games starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie AldredThe War Doctor: The Innocent starring Sir John HurtUNIT: Tidal Wave starring Jemma Redgrave, Ingrid Oliver and Katy ManningThe Diary of River Song: The Boundless Sea starring Alex Kingston and Alexander VlahosThe Legacy of Time: Lies in Ruins starring Paul McGann, Alex Kingston and Lisa Bowerman"

Going for just the first episode for many of these stories is a bold move. But it does allow for a lot of variety. It should also give fans a glimpse of what they’ll enjoy most from Big Finish. Especially as this list really is the perfect example of how there’s something for everyone.

The opening episode of The War Doctor’s first series is just one of the stories we recommend checking out this weekend.

(Image credit: Doctor Who/Big Finish Productions.

Image obtained from: Big Finish Productions.)

Recommendations

There are so many strong choices in this list that I’m not sure were to begin. Still, there are a few that stand out, particularly those that aren’t necessarily just the first episode of serials.

For fans who have been curious about the Time War, four very different perspectives are explored here, in the opening episodes of Gallifrey: Time War, The Eighth Doctor: Time War, The War Master and The War Doctor.

The very beginning of the War itself is revealed in Gallifrey, and focuses on the politics of the Doctor’s home world during that time. This series has been one of Big Finish’s more popular and stronger spin-offs for a long time, and the Time War era has given us some great stories already.

For a look at the Time War from a far closer and more villainous perspective, The War Master is a fantastic look at what the Doctor’s greatest enemy got up to during the War. Beneath the Viscoid alone shows just how brilliant Derek Jacobi is in the role, and gives us a great glimpse of how fantastic he could have been on television if allowed to develop.

And of course, for a look at what our hero got up to in the War, The Starship of Theseus shows the Eighth Doctor caught up in the early days of the conflict, a war that he’s been running from for a while. (Or has he? Our look at this particular episode shows just how insane the Time War really is.)

The War Doctor naturally shows a much later perspective for the Doctor, when he’s been fighting the war for a long time already. This was a major release for Big Finish, as it was the first solid glimpse of the Time War that they gave us. The Innocent is in some ways a rather quiet and sweet little episode, focusing on John Hurt’s War Doctor recovering from a battle and forming a bond with someone who, in any other time, would be his companion.

New Series characters

For fans of the Russell T Davies era, there are a few choices that stand out. Wednesday for Beginners from The Lives of Captain Jack instantly leaps out. Not only does it feature the much-loved character of Captain Jack Harkness, it also features him meeting Rose’s mum Jackie Tyler for the first time! And yes, the pairing is exactly as brilliant and innuendo-filled as you’d expect.

Cold Vengeance is a nice solid glimpse at the Tenth Doctor era, particularly during Series Two when he was travelling with Rose. It’s also nice to hear the Tenth Doctor face the Ice Warriors, something that sadly never happened on-screen.

More from Winter is Coming

For all of those who’ve wanted to see more of Jenny from The Doctor’s Daughter, Stolen Goods is a nice, light-hearted opening story that features the character in her very own series.

Speaking of brilliant female characters, two more series that spring to mind are The Diary of River Song and The New Adventures of Bernice Summerfield. The Revolution and The Boundless Sea offer us glimpses of two very different time-travelling archaeologists in their own series, and give us a good idea of what makes them such excellent characters in their own right.

This leads me to Lies in Ruins. Not only is this the opening story to The Legacy of Time – arguably the Doctor Who event of the year – but it features these two brilliant characters finally meeting for the first time. And it’s exactly as brilliant as it sounds, as our review for the episode reveals.

These are just our own recommendations, and in fact, virtually all of these stories are easily worth checking out. You can find out for yourself this weekend.

Next. Torchwood: Children of Earth – Why it was the greatest series of the Doctor Who spin-off. dark

Are you excited about the upcoming livestream? Which story are you most curious about checking out? Will this be your first real glimpse at the work of Big Finish, or have you been a fan of theirs for years? Let us know in the comments below.

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Doctor Who: Schedule revealed for Big Finish livestream on July 20th and 21st

By James Aggas | Jul 19, 2019