Big Finish review-Out of time 3: Wink

Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor has found new life and renewed vitality in Big Finish’s audio dramas, where he’s been able to showcase his talent in ways that weren’t always possible during his time on television. In recent years, Baker has consistently delivered impressive performances in some of Big Finish’s best scripts, such as Doctor of War and Mind of the Hodiac. Fans have been eagerly anticipating his latest collaboration with David Tennant in Wink, the third installment of Big Finish’s Out of Time series, and thankfully, it does not disappoint.

McMullin’s cleverly crafted script highlights the distinct personalities and shared history of the Sixth and Tenth Doctors. Baker and Tennant play off each other effortlessly, creating an entertaining dynamic that’s both fun and occasionally tense. Tennant’s portrayal of the Tenth Doctor is as brilliant as ever, adding his own unique spin to the character and complementing Baker’s Sixth Doctor perfectly. Together, they face off against one of the Doctor’s most iconic foes, and McMullin masterfully builds suspense and tension throughout the story.

Big Finish has always been renowned for its ability to bring high-concept ideas to life through immersive sound design and music, and Wink is no exception. The talented cast, which includes returning favorites Ayesha Antoine and Clive Hayward, delivers superb performances, and the production values are top-notch. The result is an audio drama that is thrilling, entertaining, and engaging from start to finish.

If Wink does indeed mark the final installment of the Out of Time range, then it serves as a fitting conclusion. Once again, Big Finish has demonstrated their ability to bring a fresh and innovative approach to Doctor Who storytelling, while Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor finally gets the chance to shine alongside the great David Tennant.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big Finish review-Torchwood: The Sins of Captain John

The Sins of Captain John is a Torchwood release that boasts a fun and engaging four-episode story arc written by David Llewellyn. From zombies in Restoration London to the gates of Hell crashing a funeral, James Marsters as Captain John Hart leads the audience on a wild, unpredictable ride. This release is not suitable for younger listeners due to its adult themes and language.

James Marsters truly shines in his portrayal of the swashbuckling Captain John, and it’s clear that he has a great deal of affection for the character. He breaks the fourth wall with ease, creating a connection with the audience akin to that of the Whoniverse’s answer to Deadpool. Even the director gets in on the fun in a moment where Captain John laments not being able to hear the theme song. It’s an incredible performance by James Marsters as Captain John Hart. Marsters delivers an absolutely stellar performance, showcasing his versatility as an actor and his ability to portray a wide range of emotions. He has the ability to convey the complex emotions of his character. Captain John is a complex character, and Marsters does an excellent job of portraying his many facets. He can be charming and witty one moment, and then cruel and ruthless the next. It’s a testament to Marsters’ skill as an actor that he is able to make all of these aspects of Captain John feel so believable. It’s evident that Marsters has a deep affection for the character, and he seems to relish every moment of his time as Captain John.

One of the things that makes Marsters’ portrayal of Captain John so enjoyable is his ability to break the fourth wall effortlessly. He talks directly to the audience, often making fun of his own situation and poking fun at the other characters. This creates a unique connection between Captain John and the audience, and it makes the listening experience all the more enjoyable.

David Llewellyn’s script is both fast-paced and funny, and Scott Handcock’s direction expertly matches the tone of the story. The supporting cast is also incredibly talented, each giving a memorable performance without outshining Captain John.

Overall, The Sins of Captain John is an excellent addition to the Torchwood canon, and fans of the show will undoubtedly enjoy this latest instalment. It’s been 12 years since we first met the character, and it’s great to hear James Marsters back in the role, leading us on his own adventures. The only thing left to say is, to roll on to Volume 2!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-Fight For The Remote: Episode 2

The Past/Present Predicament

Episode two starts with an argument, Jon and Alice have just had the dinner party that was mentioned in episode one. Jon has been less than the perfect boyfriend and Alice isn’t happy.  Jon at his sarcastic best criticises Alice’s friend’s new doctor boyfriend, with the great line “all those orphans with prosthetic arms and real hands, work that one out”.
The fall-out from the fight lasts a few days, the pair then turn to their friends for advice and the episode soon turns into a sweet and touching flashback. This is the origin of their relationship.



I won’t give away too much of the plot, but this is a brilliant episode. It’s full of pop culture references, from classic kids insults on a bus to Young Frankenstein.
What makes Fight for the remote so great is that Jon and Alice are so familiar to anyone who has been in a long-term relationship. The arguments and conversations feel authentic. The writers have truly managed to capture the mundanity of the long-term relationship; Alice summed it up best when she told Jon “I remember when we used to have a life and not just a Lovefilm account”.

I, erm had something in my eye when Jon made his romantic dash down the stairs.

Fight for the remote is available for download via the website or iTunes

Follow  The Fight For The Remote Cast On Twitter:

Ayesha Antoine

Andrew Hayden-Smith

Helen Oakleigh

Audio Review-Fight for the Remote

Episode 1: The Oral Fixation Summation.

Fight for the remote is a new audio sitcom from Fantom Films.

Jon (Andrew Hayden-Smith) and Alice (Ayesha Antoine) are a couple in their late twenties living together in London. Alice is ambitious while Jon is happy with his place in life.



This sitcom will strike a chord with anyone in a long-term relationship. On a Friday night, I often have the pizza/kebab chat that Alice and Jon have near the start. At times I actually felt as if the writers, Julia Dawn and Mark Adams, had hidden a microphone in my living room and just transcribed what they heard.

Jon and Alice have friends that help guide them on their journey. Jon has married-Dave (Daniel King) as his sex-obsessed best friend (we all have one of those) and Alice has her man-chasing friend and work colleague Karen (co-director Helen Oakleigh). The performances are great all-round; even the supporting characters get really great lines. The cast was clearly having a great time whilst recording.

We’re introduced to Alice’s mother (Ellen Thomas) via telephone.  She’s a Hyacinth Bucket type that doesn’t believe Jon is good enough for her daughter and feels he is a bad influence that will lead her towards “partaking in the wacky-baccy.”

Happy Azziz (Neil D’Souza) is another great character. Azziz is the local newsagent/kebab shop owner that slightly oversteps the mark every time Jon and Alice visit him (“Happy pleasuring, my friends”). Camp Raymond (Keith Flood) is also great; he’s the inappropriate, permanently-drunk client of Alice.

The thing that makes Fight For The Remote so great is that it is so universally recognisable. Anybody with a live-in partner will instantly identify with the situations and characters; I saw a lot of myself in Jon.

The writers have managed to capture the essence of the long-term relationship perfectly. The script is sharp and well written. It effortlessly manages to bridge together the bigger issues and challenges that couple’s face with the smaller, more trivial subjects such as Deal or No Deal. From the title of the episode, you can guess it’s adult humour which deals with sex, frustration and love. Overall this is a genuinely funny comedy that deserves a lot of success.

Download this episode for free from Fantom Films.



Ayesha Antoine interview

Between acts at Stratford East, Martyn and Gerrod sit down with Ayesha Antoine; safe to say a great time was had by all. Look out for Martyn and Gerrod in Ayesha’s next film, a kick-ass kung-fu spy movie.

Ayesha Antoine is an English actress, originally from Essex. She is known for portraying Rachel Baptiste in Holby City, Poppy Silver in Grange Hill and  Dee Dee Blasco in Doctor Who.

The podcast is available from all good podcast services, such as but not limited to Amazon Music, PodchaserPlayer FM, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

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Red Riding Hood at Stratford East.

Follow Ayesha on Twitter: @AyeshaAntoine