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The Ninth Doctor Adventures #3.2
Doctor Who: Travel in Hope
The Doctor crosses paths with many travellers - some at the start of their journey, some well on their way.
From the remote nodes of a transmat network, to solving crimes at a spaceship service station, or helping a friend climb the political ladder - sometimes the journey is more interesting, and more dangerous, than the destination...
2.1 Below There by Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle
Vyx works on a teleport relay station in the darkest depths of space - and she’s afraid. Strange voices crackle through comms channels, shapes gather outside the starless viewing ports, and visions of death and destruction plague her dreams.
Then she gets a call from the Doctor, who warns Vyx that her worst nightmares are about to become a reality.
2.2 The Butler Did It by James Moran
The Doctor lands at a spaceship repair port on a dusty planet to tune up the TARDIS engines. But someone has poisoned an old friend of his, and now everyone at the station is a suspect.
It's time to round up the clues, get out the magnifying glass - or sonic screwdriver - and check the butler's alibi...
2.3 Run by Robert Valentine
When heinous demagogue Bellatrix Vega threatens the stability of the Galactic Federation, the Doctor convinces newly elected representative Alpha Centauri to run against her for president.
As Vega’s team mount a campaign of dirty tricks, the Doctor and Alpha must thwart a murderous conspiracy or see the galaxy’s greatest democracy become a brutal dictatorship.
From the remote nodes of a transmat network, to solving crimes at a spaceship service station, or helping a friend climb the political ladder - sometimes the journey is more interesting, and more dangerous, than the destination...
2.1 Below There by Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle
Vyx works on a teleport relay station in the darkest depths of space - and she’s afraid. Strange voices crackle through comms channels, shapes gather outside the starless viewing ports, and visions of death and destruction plague her dreams.
Then she gets a call from the Doctor, who warns Vyx that her worst nightmares are about to become a reality.
2.2 The Butler Did It by James Moran
The Doctor lands at a spaceship repair port on a dusty planet to tune up the TARDIS engines. But someone has poisoned an old friend of his, and now everyone at the station is a suspect.
It's time to round up the clues, get out the magnifying glass - or sonic screwdriver - and check the butler's alibi...
2.3 Run by Robert Valentine
When heinous demagogue Bellatrix Vega threatens the stability of the Galactic Federation, the Doctor convinces newly elected representative Alpha Centauri to run against her for president.
As Vega’s team mount a campaign of dirty tricks, the Doctor and Alpha must thwart a murderous conspiracy or see the galaxy’s greatest democracy become a brutal dictatorship.
Audio CD
First published August 3, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 28, 2023
Doctor Who: Travel in Hope delivers a nice variety of standalone stories. You’ve got a bit of claustrophobic horror, a farcical murder mystery, and a tense political thriller. For what they are, all three stories are quite enjoyable. And they slot in perfectly alongside the Ninth Doctor’s TV appearances. It still feels weird seeing the Ninth Doctor without a companion. It’s not that Eccleston can’t carry the stories on his own – far from it. It’s just that the Doctor really works best when paired with somebody they can grow with. All of these one-off companions are nice, but the range could really do with a proper regular costar.
As is, Eccleston does some of his best work as the Ninth Doctor here, showing exactly how varied his Doctor can be. Between his performance and a trilogy of pretty solid scripts, Doctor Who: Travel in Hope offers a perfect jumping-on point for new listeners and a lovely revisit with an old friend for everyone else. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s still worth a listen.
Full review at Geek Vibes Nation.
As is, Eccleston does some of his best work as the Ninth Doctor here, showing exactly how varied his Doctor can be. Between his performance and a trilogy of pretty solid scripts, Doctor Who: Travel in Hope offers a perfect jumping-on point for new listeners and a lovely revisit with an old friend for everyone else. There’s nothing groundbreaking here, but it’s still worth a listen.
Full review at Geek Vibes Nation.
February 12, 2024
Below There - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The first horror-esque story in the 9th Doctor adventures, it definitely delivers with the scary aspects, but once it rambles on into a ‘capitalism bad’ story it goes downhill. The fact that the first half of the story is the main character talking to the Doctor over radio and that’s all was surprisingly interesting and well done. That was why I was surprised when once all the action does start, the story goes rapidly downhill. The anti-capitalist themes are not remotely subtle and just turn into the Doctor monologuing before the story randomly ends; as is usual sadly. It seems as if the established plot line was well thought out when written but when it came to dialogue and action, it was just hastily written. Performances great, sound design as good as usual, but very little substance especially as the only threat (very surprisingly) is just murdered by the Doctor.
The Butler Did It - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
From the title alone it’s not hard to work out this story was going to be a space murder mystery, and it delivered all expected. The thing I loved about the story was the script/dialogue as Eccleston FINALLY after 23 stories pulls a performance that feels like the on screen character he was and not this tediously chipper and positive character. Every other character bar his temporary companion are aggressive and reprehensible so there is an actually atmosphere and tension created which keeps you hooked. This story really caught me by surprise in terms of all it’s suspense; until it doesn’t. Once the mystery is resolved, practically nothing happens. There’s quite literally nothing bar a chase scene that goes nowhere and then the Doctor gives his companion for the story a pep talk before going off. The inconsistencies of narrative are really jarring and off putting, and in this case do lower the quality of the story.
Run - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Run was an exceptionally fun story, taking Alpha Centauri and the Ice Warriors out of their usual storylines and doing something very inventive with them. Having the Galactic Federation be this dirty underhanded government gives these classic characters a new distinction. The Doctor being Alpha Centauri’s running mate against a corrupt and sycophantic competitor used him really well. He doesn’t quite lead from the front but still steers the narrative, and this political drama story was something new for him to get into. My only bugbear with the story is that with so much going on, the pacing feels very rushed. This kind of story really should have been a two parter, giving each scene of action and the twists space to breathe, and build up to the climax in a more well spaced out way. Aside from that fact, this is easily one of the best 9th Doctor audios to date.
The first horror-esque story in the 9th Doctor adventures, it definitely delivers with the scary aspects, but once it rambles on into a ‘capitalism bad’ story it goes downhill. The fact that the first half of the story is the main character talking to the Doctor over radio and that’s all was surprisingly interesting and well done. That was why I was surprised when once all the action does start, the story goes rapidly downhill. The anti-capitalist themes are not remotely subtle and just turn into the Doctor monologuing before the story randomly ends; as is usual sadly. It seems as if the established plot line was well thought out when written but when it came to dialogue and action, it was just hastily written. Performances great, sound design as good as usual, but very little substance especially as the only threat (very surprisingly) is just murdered by the Doctor.
The Butler Did It - ⭐️⭐️⭐️
From the title alone it’s not hard to work out this story was going to be a space murder mystery, and it delivered all expected. The thing I loved about the story was the script/dialogue as Eccleston FINALLY after 23 stories pulls a performance that feels like the on screen character he was and not this tediously chipper and positive character. Every other character bar his temporary companion are aggressive and reprehensible so there is an actually atmosphere and tension created which keeps you hooked. This story really caught me by surprise in terms of all it’s suspense; until it doesn’t. Once the mystery is resolved, practically nothing happens. There’s quite literally nothing bar a chase scene that goes nowhere and then the Doctor gives his companion for the story a pep talk before going off. The inconsistencies of narrative are really jarring and off putting, and in this case do lower the quality of the story.
Run - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Run was an exceptionally fun story, taking Alpha Centauri and the Ice Warriors out of their usual storylines and doing something very inventive with them. Having the Galactic Federation be this dirty underhanded government gives these classic characters a new distinction. The Doctor being Alpha Centauri’s running mate against a corrupt and sycophantic competitor used him really well. He doesn’t quite lead from the front but still steers the narrative, and this political drama story was something new for him to get into. My only bugbear with the story is that with so much going on, the pacing feels very rushed. This kind of story really should have been a two parter, giving each scene of action and the twists space to breathe, and build up to the climax in a more well spaced out way. Aside from that fact, this is easily one of the best 9th Doctor audios to date.
May 15, 2025
Three standalone stories featuring the Ninth Doctor, all set away from Earth hundreds or thousands of years in the future. Perhaps more significantly, they all have a theme of the Doctor meeting someone lacking confidence and giving them the strength to better themselves.
Below There – A woman is stuck on a five-year mission operating a remote single-person space station when she receives a message from the Doctor. That’s the starting premise, anyway, and while it does expand from that point as more details about the station become apparent, the resulting story is almost a two-hander. The plot is straightforward, once you get to the bottom of it, leaving the story to stand on the strength of the leads and on the atmosphere it conveys. The latter is particularly good, creating a sense of isolation and of unease that something isn’t quite right. It’s a nice piece of mostly psychological sci-fi horror, far from the usual “monster” stories or alien invasions. 4 stars.
The Butler Did It – As the title might indicate, this takes the form of a murder mystery. The Doctor arrives at a repair station some distance from Earth, just as an alien visitor is attacked with a slow-acting poison. The Doctor immediately sets himself up as investigator, with the added challenge of uncovering the attempted killer before the poison finishes its work. As a mystery, it doesn’t work especially well, with nothing much to pick between the suspects until the final reveal. The fun is more in how we get there, with a story emphasising the Doctor’s haphazard approach and poking a bit of fun at some of the cliches of the genre (hence the title). It’s an entertaining piece of fluff, with some nice characterisation and an array of realistically unlikeable suspects. 4 stars.
Run – The third person who needs encouragement in this collection turns out to be Alpha Centauri. Here, he meets a younger version of the character, just as they are setting out in their political career. The result has some aspects of a political thriller about it, although there isn’t much in the way of complex machinations, more a series of assassination attempts that the Doctor has to thwart to allow Centauri to fulfil their destiny (while rather implausibly avoiding referring to himself even by a pseudonym). The main villain is two-dimensional, but some may find the fact that she isn’t a pastiche of any specific real-world politician a plus, and overall it’s a fun caper. All The President’s Men with Ice Warriors, flying cars, and tremulous hexapods. 4 stars.
Below There – A woman is stuck on a five-year mission operating a remote single-person space station when she receives a message from the Doctor. That’s the starting premise, anyway, and while it does expand from that point as more details about the station become apparent, the resulting story is almost a two-hander. The plot is straightforward, once you get to the bottom of it, leaving the story to stand on the strength of the leads and on the atmosphere it conveys. The latter is particularly good, creating a sense of isolation and of unease that something isn’t quite right. It’s a nice piece of mostly psychological sci-fi horror, far from the usual “monster” stories or alien invasions. 4 stars.
The Butler Did It – As the title might indicate, this takes the form of a murder mystery. The Doctor arrives at a repair station some distance from Earth, just as an alien visitor is attacked with a slow-acting poison. The Doctor immediately sets himself up as investigator, with the added challenge of uncovering the attempted killer before the poison finishes its work. As a mystery, it doesn’t work especially well, with nothing much to pick between the suspects until the final reveal. The fun is more in how we get there, with a story emphasising the Doctor’s haphazard approach and poking a bit of fun at some of the cliches of the genre (hence the title). It’s an entertaining piece of fluff, with some nice characterisation and an array of realistically unlikeable suspects. 4 stars.
Run – The third person who needs encouragement in this collection turns out to be Alpha Centauri. Here, he meets a younger version of the character, just as they are setting out in their political career. The result has some aspects of a political thriller about it, although there isn’t much in the way of complex machinations, more a series of assassination attempts that the Doctor has to thwart to allow Centauri to fulfil their destiny (while rather implausibly avoiding referring to himself even by a pseudonym). The main villain is two-dimensional, but some may find the fact that she isn’t a pastiche of any specific real-world politician a plus, and overall it’s a fun caper. All The President’s Men with Ice Warriors, flying cars, and tremulous hexapods. 4 stars.
September 1, 2024
This is a nice set of stories, even if the plot is not the most original.
Below there:
Nice little "haunted space-station" story. Yes, I am aware that stories using that twist are now pretty common for Who and Big Finish. But I think it was well done here. Reminded me a lot of the 12th Doctor story "Oxygen". The performances were great, also.
The Butler did it:
Nice little run-around, set up like a comedy Whodunnit. The Doctor uses his obfuscating stupidity to great effect and he is also great in empowering a young women who is in need for more self-confidence and a new outlook in life. Fun, light, uplifting and entertaining story.
Run-
Sadly, this was not my type of story at all.
The story is pretty much current affairs election in the US, just that the "Trump" character is female in this story. And the counter candidate, Alpha Centauri, has less experience than Harris.
The plot also ticks all the boxes I knew beforehand it would tick, I knew from the start how this was going to go.
Maybe I am just tired of these election stories that try to be a metaphor for current real-life political events. The political reality has left me feeling hopeless and full of dread, and no amount of comedy using the male genitalia shaped Alpha-Centrauries as political candidates can motivate me to this currently. Right now, for me, this just feels to much of a farce.
Below there:
Nice little "haunted space-station" story. Yes, I am aware that stories using that twist are now pretty common for Who and Big Finish. But I think it was well done here. Reminded me a lot of the 12th Doctor story "Oxygen". The performances were great, also.
The Butler did it:
Nice little run-around, set up like a comedy Whodunnit. The Doctor uses his obfuscating stupidity to great effect and he is also great in empowering a young women who is in need for more self-confidence and a new outlook in life. Fun, light, uplifting and entertaining story.
Run-
Sadly, this was not my type of story at all.
The story is pretty much current affairs election in the US, just that the "Trump" character is female in this story. And the counter candidate, Alpha Centauri, has less experience than Harris.
The plot also ticks all the boxes I knew beforehand it would tick, I knew from the start how this was going to go.
Maybe I am just tired of these election stories that try to be a metaphor for current real-life political events. The political reality has left me feeling hopeless and full of dread, and no amount of comedy using the male genitalia shaped Alpha-Centrauries as political candidates can motivate me to this currently. Right now, for me, this just feels to much of a farce.
December 25, 2024
1. Below There: 3/5
Starts off as a legitimately creepy horror story but doesn’t really stick the ending imo.
2. The Butler Did It: 3.5/5
A fun little story but not especially memorable if you’ve listened to as many of these audio dramas as I have.
3. Run: 4/5
I don’t really usually go for political stories like this but this was really fun!! I loved the characters, and it was interesting (and on brand still) to see the Doctor running a political campaign. I did ding it a slight bit for the characterization and strange quasi-American accent that the main bad lady had.
Eccleston is REALLY nailing it as the Ninth Doctor in these again btw. Incredible work. Worth a listen.
Starts off as a legitimately creepy horror story but doesn’t really stick the ending imo.
2. The Butler Did It: 3.5/5
A fun little story but not especially memorable if you’ve listened to as many of these audio dramas as I have.
3. Run: 4/5
I don’t really usually go for political stories like this but this was really fun!! I loved the characters, and it was interesting (and on brand still) to see the Doctor running a political campaign. I did ding it a slight bit for the characterization and strange quasi-American accent that the main bad lady had.
Eccleston is REALLY nailing it as the Ninth Doctor in these again btw. Incredible work. Worth a listen.
August 6, 2023
Below There - hit me in the feels - isolation and caring for others
The Butler Did It - a fun who dunnit?
Run - a early meeting with a well known classic series character, with lots of nods to UK politics, alongside some good action
I'm biased in that Chris Ecclestone is one of my favourite Doctors, but this landed that character well in a variety of different scenarios- really enjoyed the ride
The Butler Did It - a fun who dunnit?
Run - a early meeting with a well known classic series character, with lots of nods to UK politics, alongside some good action
I'm biased in that Chris Ecclestone is one of my favourite Doctors, but this landed that character well in a variety of different scenarios- really enjoyed the ride
October 17, 2023
Some of the voice work didn't quite do it for me, but it's still a product that I'd rather have than not have. More Ninth Doctor Adventures please. I did think it was funny that the “taxation of trade routes” in The Phantom Menace was referenced. My favorite out of these three stories wild probably be the first one.
July 3, 2024
i love eccleston <3
1. below there - 4/5
i liked how claustrophobic this one was.
2. the butler did it - 3/5
wasn’t into this one as much.
3. run - 4.5/5
fantastic! jane asher is the perfect villain. it was nice for the doctor to team up with AC and take down a corrupt figurehead - who is deffo giving UK politician vibes…
3.8/5
1. below there - 4/5
i liked how claustrophobic this one was.
2. the butler did it - 3/5
wasn’t into this one as much.
3. run - 4.5/5
fantastic! jane asher is the perfect villain. it was nice for the doctor to team up with AC and take down a corrupt figurehead - who is deffo giving UK politician vibes…
3.8/5
August 9, 2023
I was maybe a little less into the middle story, "The Butler Did It," compared to the others, but it's still good. I'm always very happy to have new Ninth Doctor stories.
November 8, 2023
A fun and entertaining set, which was exactly what I needed. Pretty great overall, though not "fantastic!" (largely due to the middle story, "The Butler Did It").
December 4, 2023
2nd story is under 50 minutes. If you’re dead set against 4-story box sets then each story should be at least 54 minutes
February 3, 2024
Solid set of three stories. Eccleston is on point as always. The third story, a political thriller, was my personal favorite, and a lot of fun
July 7, 2025
2.1 'Below There' by Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle: 5*
2.2 'The Butler Did It' by James Moran: 5*
2.3 'Run' by Robert Valentine: 3,5*
2.2 'The Butler Did It' by James Moran: 5*
2.3 'Run' by Robert Valentine: 3,5*
August 25, 2025
10.1 Below There - Almost a two-hander (an episode that features only two characters), but not quite. Quite good. Very character driven. (4/5)
10.2 The Butler Did It - A classic WHOdunnit mystery. Excellent! (4/5)
10.3 Run - A truly terrifying and hilarious political satire. If the recent rise of fascist conservatism doesn’t scare you, it should. (4/5)
This release also includes the usual Big Finish bonus material of interviews with cast and crew.
10.2 The Butler Did It - A classic WHOdunnit mystery. Excellent! (4/5)
10.3 Run - A truly terrifying and hilarious political satire. If the recent rise of fascist conservatism doesn’t scare you, it should. (4/5)
This release also includes the usual Big Finish bonus material of interviews with cast and crew.
December 22, 2025
Possibly the wokest one yet, brilliant.
March 30, 2024
Below There ****
The Butler Did It ***
Run ****
The Butler Did It ***
Run ****
May 11, 2024
The Ninth Doctor Adventures is a range I've been enjoying the past few years, an incredibly consistent range with some incredible stories all led by an amazing actor in Christopher Eccleston and it's still an absolute joy to see him finally enjoying his time as The Doctor.
Below There:
Vy works on a teleport relay station, but she's being haunted by terrible nightmares and ghosts lurking about in deep space. When The Doctor arrives he discovers a terrifying conspiracy and he needs Vy's help to save humanity, but if she helps him, she'll have to break a promise to an old friend...
Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle are an amazing pair of writers, an iconic husband and wife duo writing some incredibly inventive and atmospheric stories. Here they've created a haunting deep-space horror story with a conspiracy at large. This story had some really creepy ideas and imagery but a whole lot of heart as well. 9/10
The Butler Did It:
After damaging the console, The Doctor arrives at a space garage where he comes by some old friends when suddenly one of them has been poisoned. The Doctor and Myra have an attempted murder to solve, but did The Butler really do it?
James Moran has written a really funny and enjoyable whodunnit. It's not an amazing story by any stretch of the imagination but it's a delightfully comedic tale that takes the mickey out of the murder mystery genre. 7/10
Run:
Alpha Centauri has become a senator for The Galactic Federation. But soon she finds herself having to run up against a potential dictator in an election. The Doctor is on hand to help and so begins a wonderful relationship that will take them through many lives and many centuries of wonderful adventures and political conspiracies.
Robert Valentine has written a wonderful prequel to the Curse of Peladon that brings Alpha Centauri and The 9th Doctor together in an incredibly exciting way. I love how Run proves to be an episode title with a double meaning which is always a lot of fun. I'm really happy to see 9 also get to meet The Ice Warriors at last since they are by far one of my favorite aliens in the show. 8/10
Overall: 24.5/30
Below There:
Vy works on a teleport relay station, but she's being haunted by terrible nightmares and ghosts lurking about in deep space. When The Doctor arrives he discovers a terrifying conspiracy and he needs Vy's help to save humanity, but if she helps him, she'll have to break a promise to an old friend...
Lauren Mooney and Stewart Pringle are an amazing pair of writers, an iconic husband and wife duo writing some incredibly inventive and atmospheric stories. Here they've created a haunting deep-space horror story with a conspiracy at large. This story had some really creepy ideas and imagery but a whole lot of heart as well. 9/10
The Butler Did It:
After damaging the console, The Doctor arrives at a space garage where he comes by some old friends when suddenly one of them has been poisoned. The Doctor and Myra have an attempted murder to solve, but did The Butler really do it?
James Moran has written a really funny and enjoyable whodunnit. It's not an amazing story by any stretch of the imagination but it's a delightfully comedic tale that takes the mickey out of the murder mystery genre. 7/10
Run:
Alpha Centauri has become a senator for The Galactic Federation. But soon she finds herself having to run up against a potential dictator in an election. The Doctor is on hand to help and so begins a wonderful relationship that will take them through many lives and many centuries of wonderful adventures and political conspiracies.
Robert Valentine has written a wonderful prequel to the Curse of Peladon that brings Alpha Centauri and The 9th Doctor together in an incredibly exciting way. I love how Run proves to be an episode title with a double meaning which is always a lot of fun. I'm really happy to see 9 also get to meet The Ice Warriors at last since they are by far one of my favorite aliens in the show. 8/10
Overall: 24.5/30
November 9, 2023
This was a lot of fun. Three more Ninth Doctor stories in the newest boxset from Big Finish. Below There was a nice creepy horror story in deep space that actually was quite sad. The Butler Did It was my favorite of the set. When the Doctor lands at what amounts to a backwater garage for spaceships, he runs into some old friends. When one of them is poisoned, the Doctor pulls out all the stops to uncover the murderer. This one was so much fun and is the highlight of the set for me. Finally, we have Run, which is a political thriller with threads of All the President's Men and is an origin story for Alpha Centauri. All told, an excellent boxset where none of stories are clunkers or even just average. A must for Ninth Doctor fans and a great jumping-on point for Big Finish.
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