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Big Finish: Monthly Range #103
Doctor Who: The Girl Who Never Was
'Dot dot dot, dash dash dash, dot dot dot. Someone's listening. Somewhere.'
A ghost ship. A girl with no memory, adrift in time. An old enemy. This could be Charlotte Pollard's finest hour - or her last.
Set course for Singapore, 1931. Journey's end.
A ghost ship. A girl with no memory, adrift in time. An old enemy. This could be Charlotte Pollard's finest hour - or her last.
Set course for Singapore, 1931. Journey's end.
Audio CD
First published December 30, 2007
2 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Alan Barnes
100 books15 followersAlan Barnes is a British writer and editor, particularly noted for work in the field of cult film and television. Barnes served as the editor of Judge Dredd Megazine from 2001 until December 2005, during which time the title saw a considerable increase in the number of new strip pages. Among other strips, Barnes originally commissioned The Simping Detective. He also wrote a handful of Judge Dredd stories involving alternate universes or featuring a young Dredd.
He worked for five years at Doctor Who Magazine and progressed from writing strips to becoming joint editor in 1998 and sole editor from 2000 until 2002. He subsequently contributed the ongoing Fact of Fiction series of articles to the magazine. Barnes has also written or co-written a number of Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish Productions.
He has written a number of books on cult films (including James Bond, Quentin Tarantino and Sherlock Holmes) and his book The Hammer Story, co-written with Marcus Hearn, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 1997.
He worked for five years at Doctor Who Magazine and progressed from writing strips to becoming joint editor in 1998 and sole editor from 2000 until 2002. He subsequently contributed the ongoing Fact of Fiction series of articles to the magazine. Barnes has also written or co-written a number of Doctor Who audio plays for Big Finish Productions.
He has written a number of books on cult films (including James Bond, Quentin Tarantino and Sherlock Holmes) and his book The Hammer Story, co-written with Marcus Hearn, was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 1997.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 21, 2017
VERY good audio. Such wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey story. So many feels that this is the last adventure of Eight and Charley. Wah! I'm looking forward to her travels with the Sixth Doctor then. Definitely recommended.
March 24, 2025
2021 52 Book Challenge - July Mini Challenge - 3) Set In A Country You've Never Visited Before
I put off reading this novel for a couple weeks because I'd been told that this was Charley's last adventure with the Eighth Doctor, and I just wasn't ready for it to end.
However, it was very good. I loved the time shenanigans through the novel, and I loved all of the call backs to the Doctor and Charley's first adventure, Storm Warning, and I'm so glad that they bought back the same author who started Charley's adventures to finish Charley's adventures because it gave a feeling of continuity across their adventures.
The one thing that frustrated me was the cliffhanger that it ended on.
I put off reading this novel for a couple weeks because I'd been told that this was Charley's last adventure with the Eighth Doctor, and I just wasn't ready for it to end.
However, it was very good. I loved the time shenanigans through the novel, and I loved all of the call backs to the Doctor and Charley's first adventure, Storm Warning, and I'm so glad that they bought back the same author who started Charley's adventures to finish Charley's adventures because it gave a feeling of continuity across their adventures.
The one thing that frustrated me was the cliffhanger that it ended on.
October 19, 2022
This was enjoyable.
Not much to say, it kept me entertained while I was doing some work at home in the evening.
I do enjoy the 8th Doctor, and I'm glad that they gave him these stories.
I think I would have benefitted from listening to the one prior, so that I was more familiar with his companion, as it has to do with when companions and the Doctor's comes to part. But otherwise, still quite enjoyable.
Not much to say, it kept me entertained while I was doing some work at home in the evening.
I do enjoy the 8th Doctor, and I'm glad that they gave him these stories.
I think I would have benefitted from listening to the one prior, so that I was more familiar with his companion, as it has to do with when companions and the Doctor's comes to part. But otherwise, still quite enjoyable.
December 6, 2022
Enjoyable, but not as good as I thought it would be. I jumped straight from Absolution onto this, and that definitely worked well - listening to these stories immediately back-to-back is definitely the way to go, and the best part of these two stories is the character drama - Eight and Charley breaking up is ripe for depth, and I think they actually explore it to maybe its fullest potential. Having the Cybermen return here was a good way of things coming full circle again, seeing as they were the villains during Charley's first trip in the TARDIS, but their role here isn't exactly groundbreaking in any way - its a fine Cyberman story, but nothing particularly noteworthy for them.
Definitely listen to the Extras and the cast interviews, about half of it was just Danny Webb and Paul McGann talking about Alien 3. (and it sounds like Paul is really enjoying his sandwich)
Definitely listen to the Extras and the cast interviews, about half of it was just Danny Webb and Paul McGann talking about Alien 3. (and it sounds like Paul is really enjoying his sandwich)
July 21, 2022
I'm not ready for Charley to leave! My main complaint about this story is the constant jumping back and forth between time periods; it was confusing at times. The surprise epilogue was so good!
November 5, 2022
so many emotions.... i'm not ready to say goodbye :(
February 9, 2025
just tear my heart out. that’s ok. I didn’t need it..
October 17, 2025
why did the last audio barely have them together
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
So here we are at the final Eight/Charley story, and it's bittersweet, because after finally getting shut of C'rizz (Absolution) it feels as if the Eight/Charley combination is back in fine form.
The Divergent Universe arc (Scherzo through The Next Life) was a slog. Charley was short-tempered and irritable, and Paul McGann's Doctor sounded like he was just going through the motions. Add newcomer C'rizz to the mix, and everyone just seemed unhappy and bored. Furthermore, C'rizz, the killer with the chameleon skin -- and psychology -- was character who very rarely seemed to work.
Even after leaving the Divergent Universe, the stories were a bit uneven, although Paul McGann did show a new energy, and Charley was less annoying, too.
But now here, at the end, The Girl Who Never Was demonstrated why the original combination of Eight and Charley having adventures was so enjoyable.
The Doctor has returned to earth to drop off Charley in Singapore -- her original destination way back in Storm Warning before the Doctor rescued her from the R101 airship disaster -- and she's ready to leave, and she's reluctant to leave. The Doctor is having the same mixed emotions, and there's tension everywhere, especially when Charley discovers that the Doctor has landed them in 2008 instead of 1930.
Tracking down the "temporal hump" that caused the Tardis to slip off-course, the Doctor and Charley discover a ship adrift at sea, some shady characters conducting an apparent salvage operation, and an elderly woman who claims to be Charlotte Pollard.
Obviously there's some wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff going on, and when Charley is whisked back to 1942 by the Tardis (leaving the Doctor in 2008), things start to click in place.
The CD cover blows the surprise of the presence of Cybermen in the story, so I'm not spoiling anything by mentioning that they show up, too. Combined with the puzzle of elderly-Charley and the salvage of a WWII-era treasure, there's almost too much plot going on, but the story is such an enjoyable change of pace for the Doctor and Charley that I'm not going to complain.
The final parting of Doctor and Companion is cleverly done. But listen for a scene after the closing music that signals the start of the next stage of Charley's adventures.
This story is preceded by Absolution and followed by Blood of the Daleks, Part 1 for the Doctor, and The Condemned for Charley.
The Divergent Universe arc (Scherzo through The Next Life) was a slog. Charley was short-tempered and irritable, and Paul McGann's Doctor sounded like he was just going through the motions. Add newcomer C'rizz to the mix, and everyone just seemed unhappy and bored. Furthermore, C'rizz, the killer with the chameleon skin -- and psychology -- was character who very rarely seemed to work.
Even after leaving the Divergent Universe, the stories were a bit uneven, although Paul McGann did show a new energy, and Charley was less annoying, too.
But now here, at the end, The Girl Who Never Was demonstrated why the original combination of Eight and Charley having adventures was so enjoyable.
The Doctor has returned to earth to drop off Charley in Singapore -- her original destination way back in Storm Warning before the Doctor rescued her from the R101 airship disaster -- and she's ready to leave, and she's reluctant to leave. The Doctor is having the same mixed emotions, and there's tension everywhere, especially when Charley discovers that the Doctor has landed them in 2008 instead of 1930.
Tracking down the "temporal hump" that caused the Tardis to slip off-course, the Doctor and Charley discover a ship adrift at sea, some shady characters conducting an apparent salvage operation, and an elderly woman who claims to be Charlotte Pollard.
Obviously there's some wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff going on, and when Charley is whisked back to 1942 by the Tardis (leaving the Doctor in 2008), things start to click in place.
The CD cover blows the surprise of the presence of Cybermen in the story, so I'm not spoiling anything by mentioning that they show up, too. Combined with the puzzle of elderly-Charley and the salvage of a WWII-era treasure, there's almost too much plot going on, but the story is such an enjoyable change of pace for the Doctor and Charley that I'm not going to complain.
The final parting of Doctor and Companion is cleverly done. But listen for a scene after the closing music that signals the start of the next stage of Charley's adventures.
This story is preceded by Absolution and followed by Blood of the Daleks, Part 1 for the Doctor, and The Condemned for Charley.
August 29, 2025
This story follows on directly from the previous Eighth Doctor adventure, "Absolution." Aside from being a prerequisite, that one is just a generally great story so I recommend listening to it anyway. C'rizz has gone, and now it's time for Charley to take her leave as well... Albeit, the long way round.
I think this story starts off a bit slow with the first part, but I can forgive that as it does pick up A LOT in the second and maintains this momentum throughout. I think having the first part be a slow burner did favours for the rest of the story as it makes everything else which happens all the more exciting - And also the plot is structured very, very strongly so I can't fault it, but we'll talk about structure more later on.
All the cast are great, but I think India Fisher and Anna Passey really steal the show here. Their characters have multiple emotions (and technically the lack thereof) to portray throughout the story, and they do so masterfully, every single time.
The Cybermen also don't appear until halfway through, so we get plenty of time before that to become acquainted with the setting and the supporting characters. That's some fantastic structure right there and it goes hand in hand with the already superb script.
And all of it is structured towards a very emotional climax. It's a masterclass in how to write a compelling character dynamic between the Doctor and Charley, and how to leave your audience with heavy hearts.
The only thing which held it back for me was I think there were a couple of things that weren't made super clear when it was all getting wrapped up in Part Four. The stuff around Byron, I think I understood it but the explanation was fleeting and dropped in, so I'm having to assume my deduction is correct. Likewise, the Doctor seems to just get up and walk off a seemingly fatal blast from a Cyberman near the end with no apparent explanation.
But those loose ends aside, this is a magnificent and sentimental play. It's got Cybermen, a brilliant cast and a cleverly constructed narrative. Highly recommended, but do familiarise yourself with the Eighth Doctor, Charley, and C'rizz first ("Storm Warning" and "Absolution" are required listening at the very, VERY least for this to make sense to you, though ideally you'd want to listen to all 8/Charley adventures between "Storm Warning" and "Neverland" as well, and then a handful of the ones featuring C'rizz too).
I think this story starts off a bit slow with the first part, but I can forgive that as it does pick up A LOT in the second and maintains this momentum throughout. I think having the first part be a slow burner did favours for the rest of the story as it makes everything else which happens all the more exciting - And also the plot is structured very, very strongly so I can't fault it, but we'll talk about structure more later on.
All the cast are great, but I think India Fisher and Anna Passey really steal the show here. Their characters have multiple emotions (and technically the lack thereof) to portray throughout the story, and they do so masterfully, every single time.
The Cybermen also don't appear until halfway through, so we get plenty of time before that to become acquainted with the setting and the supporting characters. That's some fantastic structure right there and it goes hand in hand with the already superb script.
And all of it is structured towards a very emotional climax. It's a masterclass in how to write a compelling character dynamic between the Doctor and Charley, and how to leave your audience with heavy hearts.
The only thing which held it back for me was I think there were a couple of things that weren't made super clear when it was all getting wrapped up in Part Four. The stuff around Byron, I think I understood it but the explanation was fleeting and dropped in, so I'm having to assume my deduction is correct. Likewise, the Doctor seems to just get up and walk off a seemingly fatal blast from a Cyberman near the end with no apparent explanation.
But those loose ends aside, this is a magnificent and sentimental play. It's got Cybermen, a brilliant cast and a cleverly constructed narrative. Highly recommended, but do familiarise yourself with the Eighth Doctor, Charley, and C'rizz first ("Storm Warning" and "Absolution" are required listening at the very, VERY least for this to make sense to you, though ideally you'd want to listen to all 8/Charley adventures between "Storm Warning" and "Neverland" as well, and then a handful of the ones featuring C'rizz too).
July 1, 2023
This story goes crazyyy I am just so bewitched by the aspect of Charley and Eight’s dynamic highlighted here.
I wish we had gotten more time with the way they were interacting? Especially at the beginning and end. Obviously I understand why we can’t, but it’s really enthralling to hear them both handle what’s going on.
The episode itself is good, the cast is memorable and you know me I’ll never say no to a Cyberman story. All in all this one’s hard for me to talk about because I am still pondering how it ended. What a way to wrap a companion arc, I’m really shook up over that one.
Absolutely solid. Really entertaining stuff, a worthy send off for this arc of Who.
I wish we had gotten more time with the way they were interacting? Especially at the beginning and end. Obviously I understand why we can’t, but it’s really enthralling to hear them both handle what’s going on.
The episode itself is good, the cast is memorable and you know me I’ll never say no to a Cyberman story. All in all this one’s hard for me to talk about because I am still pondering how it ended. What a way to wrap a companion arc, I’m really shook up over that one.
Absolutely solid. Really entertaining stuff, a worthy send off for this arc of Who.
April 12, 2022
チャーリーと８th最後の冒険。ケリスのことで完全に仲違いしたように見えた二人だったけれども、今回の冒険を通して、再びチャーリーがドクターと旅をする気持ちになったのに。まさかチャーリーはドクターがサイバーマンと化したバイロン殺されたと思ったまま遠い未来に取り残され、危険を察知し移動したターディスが2008年に戻り、その時にはチャーリーと最後の冒険をしようと追いかけた後の記憶がなく、ホテルでチャーリーが到着した時に書いた別れの手紙を読んでチャーリーが去ったと「みんな去るんだ」と孤独に去っていくのが切ないというか。あまりにも素っ気なくてびっくりしたけれども、去られてしまえばそうやって諦めて前に進むしかドクターはできないわけで。
チャーリーは遠い未来で再びターディスと遭遇、8thが生きていたとめちゃくちゃ喜んだら６thと会うことになってというのがリバー・ソングのようで面白い。
チャーリーの記憶を8thが全て消そうとしたのも10がドナにしたことを彷彿とさせたし、とてもドラマティックなシーンが多くて楽しく聴けたと思う。
ただドラマが盛りだくさんすぎてなんだかもったいなかったかなというきも。
80歳となったチャーリーの謎���かも面白かった。
8thはまだまだチャーリーと冒険したかったんだなと思うと切ない。
チャーリーは遠い未来で再びターディスと遭遇、8thが生きていたとめちゃくちゃ喜んだら６thと会うことになってというのがリバー・ソングのようで面白い。
チャーリーの記憶を8thが全て消そうとしたのも10がドナにしたことを彷彿とさせたし、とてもドラマティックなシーンが多くて楽しく聴けたと思う。
ただドラマが盛りだくさんすぎてなんだかもったいなかったかなというきも。
80歳となったチャーリーの謎���かも面白かった。
8thはまだまだチャーリーと冒険したかったんだなと思うと切ない。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2024
A good ending, not on the level of the tv finales, but still good. I shall miss Charlie. The quality difference between this and the previous ten or so is quite staggering. This was excellent, especially the first two parts.
My only negatives was that I got lost between the third and fourth parts. I wasn't really sure what the cyber worm thing was, it seemed like it came out of nowhere, and the last Byron part was confusing.
I think I just have to listen to these longer adventures all at once next time instead of breaking them up.
My only negatives was that I got lost between the third and fourth parts. I wasn't really sure what the cyber worm thing was, it seemed like it came out of nowhere, and the last Byron part was confusing.
I think I just have to listen to these longer adventures all at once next time instead of breaking them up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2020
This is the final adventure that Charley Pollard has with the Eighth Doctor. Some time shenanigans go on, and the Cybermen are brought in as well. Ultimately, The Doctor and Charley are separated. I knew that this story would end with Charley meeting the Sixth Doctor and his theme music playing, but I wish that Colin Baker could have recorded a line or two for the ending. The story wasn't quite as poignant as I was expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2024
FINALLY I did it! I got through the Charlie era. Really good run of audios for the most part and some brilliant ideas. I hate that I've given 3 stars to most of these but that's because this app doesn't let me use half stars because some of these would have been 7/10s like this one. This was a pretty good last story as well. Can't wait to get to the 8th doctor adventures series as finally we can get to some stories with GOOD PACING. As 90% of these audios are way too long.
November 22, 2025
Fucking amazing ending for one of the best and most underrated and probably unknown companions of all time. Charlie really grew close and dear to my heart. Her chemistry with the Doctor really is unparalleled. She reminds me of my two other favourites, Donna and Clara with the banter and the toxicity so much. I know there are a lot more adventures with her down the line, but if this would be the final ending it would be amazing too. Poor Eight Doctor tho, Im sure nothing bad happens to him...
December 23, 2018
42 WORD REVIEW:
The plot is unnecessarily convoluted in places; so too is there cause for consternation in the lineage of Byron(s), the like-named but ostensibly distinct Australian ne’er-do-well(s). Still, there is something refreshing in a Doctor Who story scripted beyond the audience’s immediate needs.
The plot is unnecessarily convoluted in places; so too is there cause for consternation in the lineage of Byron(s), the like-named but ostensibly distinct Australian ne’er-do-well(s). Still, there is something refreshing in a Doctor Who story scripted beyond the audience’s immediate needs.
October 24, 2023
This certainly made up for some of the lacklustre stories in Charley's arc. An excellent, twisty story, with the added bonus of rusting Cybermen. Now debating whether I should follow Charley's 6th Doctor adventures... I might have met the dude IRL - along with 5, 7 & 8- but I've never actually watched his episodes lol
August 31, 2017
This was a pretty good send off for Charlie, but it also sort of felt like this story could have been written without cybermen. Everything could have revolved around some other, less used outside force.
November 29, 2022
The way they parted ways is devastating.
October 14, 2024
a dead woman and a weird man break up. commence cybermen
November 1, 2024
Good enough, but I somehow wanted something more from it.
Read
January 8, 2025Charlies last story so sad
December 11, 2025
My primary issue is that this story drops the ending of "Absolution" for just someone else leaving. This just seems like an odd sequence of events.
November 18, 2017
This is the final regular 8th Doctor story in Big Finish's main range of DW audio plays, wrapping up six years' worth of stories, prior to launching his own series with a clean slate. Mainly, of course, this means explaining what happened to Charley, and the story stands or falls on whether or not you care about the answer.
Fortunately, I did, but it does mean that you have to have some familiarity and investment with the character and her adventures for this play to work. This is about as far from a 'leaping in' point for the series as it's possible to get - and rightly so.
The story itself takes place in three different time zones, and works surprisingly well given that, for much of it, the two main characters are apart. It's an involving tale, with a reasonably complex plot that nonetheless manages to avoid becoming confusing.
But the core is Charley's fate, and that's certainly played upon here, with multiple red herrings recognising that, since it's the final instalment, there's no reason that she can't be killed off or have something equally unpleasant happen to her. Assuming that, at this many year's remove from the release date, you've somehow managed to avoid spoilers for the ending, you're probably going to be kept guessing throughout.
But I will say: do keep listening after the closing theme tune.
Fortunately, I did, but it does mean that you have to have some familiarity and investment with the character and her adventures for this play to work. This is about as far from a 'leaping in' point for the series as it's possible to get - and rightly so.
The story itself takes place in three different time zones, and works surprisingly well given that, for much of it, the two main characters are apart. It's an involving tale, with a reasonably complex plot that nonetheless manages to avoid becoming confusing.
But the core is Charley's fate, and that's certainly played upon here, with multiple red herrings recognising that, since it's the final instalment, there's no reason that she can't be killed off or have something equally unpleasant happen to her. Assuming that, at this many year's remove from the release date, you've somehow managed to avoid spoilers for the ending, you're probably going to be kept guessing throughout.
But I will say: do keep listening after the closing theme tune.
October 13, 2020
6/10
Verdict: Recommended
This is the last episode of the Charlie era. This story is somewhat all over the place as it goes for a 'past influencing the future' sort of narrative. Feels a bit lost at points but it's clear that this story is meant as a sort of 'last hurrah' for this era. It felt too light hearted for me to feel the stakes, however a lot of the comedy really worked for me. The ending is genuinely depressing, but the post credits scene sort of messes up the ending. Didn't feel a lot for anything of the side characters, except for the one with the funny accent, and I didn't fall for the twists.
Verdict: Recommended
This is the last episode of the Charlie era. This story is somewhat all over the place as it goes for a 'past influencing the future' sort of narrative. Feels a bit lost at points but it's clear that this story is meant as a sort of 'last hurrah' for this era. It felt too light hearted for me to feel the stakes, however a lot of the comedy really worked for me. The ending is genuinely depressing, but the post credits scene sort of messes up the ending. Didn't feel a lot for anything of the side characters, except for the one with the funny accent, and I didn't fall for the twists.
December 16, 2013
This was a very good ending to Charley and the Doctor's travelling together. It was a fun adventure with all sorts of twists and turns. There was mistaken identity and then cybermen and lots of time travel. It was also fantastic that the cybermen voices were the singing cybermen voices of tenth planet. That was just lovely. A good adventure though I am also sad that the adventures of Charley and this Doctor are coming to an end.
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April 8, 2009Alan Barnes is always a writer who makes me sit up, so I was looking forward to The Girl Who Never Was. However I was a little disappointed. The elements are great - Anna Massey claiming to be an elderly Charley, Cybermen on an abandoned ship near Singapore, timewarping and decay - but it doesn't quite gel as well as Barnes at his best.
March 26, 2012
Gave it four stars because I think Charley and Eight, despite some tension in the beginning, were back in fine form for this, their last adventure together. I enjoyed their banter and teamwork, and the ending was appropriately timey-wimey and bittersweet. Onwards and upwards! Starting in on the Charley and Six run tonight or tomorrow.
September 23, 2015
An unusual farewell to arguably the definitive Eighth Doctor companion, Charley Pollard. Again, the guest cast knocks it out of the solar system (Amanda Root!!!). I also like the speaking cadences of the [REDACTED] who sound much more like I always thought they should sound. Bonus for fooling me utterly on someone's identity BTW!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews