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The Companion Chronicles #7.07
Doctor Who: The Flames of Cadiz
The TARDIS materializes in Spain in the late sixteenth century. The country is at war with England – and the travellers find themselves on the wrong side of the battle lines.
When Ian and his new friend Esteban are captured by the Inquisition, the Doctor, Susan and Barbara plan to rescue them.
But these are dark days in human history. And heretics face certain death...
When Ian and his new friend Esteban are captured by the Inquisition, the Doctor, Susan and Barbara plan to rescue them.
But these are dark days in human history. And heretics face certain death...
Audio CD
First published January 1, 2013
55 people want to read
About the author
Marc Platt
111 books48 followersMarc Platt is a British writer. He is most known for his work with the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who.
After studying catering at a technical college, Platt worked first for Trust House Forte, and then in administration for the BBC. He wrote the Doctor Who serial Ghost Light based on two proposals, one of which later became the novel Lungbarrow. That novel was greatly anticipated by fans as it was the culmination of the so-called "Cartmel Masterplan", revealing details of the Doctor's background and family.
After the original series' cancellation Platt wrote the script for the audio Doctor Who drama Spare Parts. The script was the inspiration for the 2006 Doctor Who television story "Rise of the Cybermen"/"The Age of Steel", for which Platt received a screen credit and a fee.
He lives in London.
After studying catering at a technical college, Platt worked first for Trust House Forte, and then in administration for the BBC. He wrote the Doctor Who serial Ghost Light based on two proposals, one of which later became the novel Lungbarrow. That novel was greatly anticipated by fans as it was the culmination of the so-called "Cartmel Masterplan", revealing details of the Doctor's background and family.
After the original series' cancellation Platt wrote the script for the audio Doctor Who drama Spare Parts. The script was the inspiration for the 2006 Doctor Who television story "Rise of the Cybermen"/"The Age of Steel", for which Platt received a screen credit and a fee.
He lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 21, 2026
There's a good run of historical adventures in the Companion Chronicles, of which this is a double-disc four-part story. To be honest I didn't realise this one was a four-parter until what I thought was the main peril swung neatly into Ian Chesterton's rather impetuous quest to meet one of his heroes, Sir Francis Drake.
The pacing doesn't quite work for that shift, and having just escaped the Spanish Inquisition and their soft cushions, I doubt Ian would think "yeah, let's go do something equally daft!"
But if you stick with the story, which doesn't flinch at the terrors of fanaticism in its first two parts, you'll find there's a different, more mercenary sort of fanaticism being held up to the light in the latter half of this tale. And, also, a very good moment where the Doctor goes charging towards a windmill on the back of a donkey.
So, perhaps a little bloaty, but fair.
The pacing doesn't quite work for that shift, and having just escaped the Spanish Inquisition and their soft cushions, I doubt Ian would think "yeah, let's go do something equally daft!"
But if you stick with the story, which doesn't flinch at the terrors of fanaticism in its first two parts, you'll find there's a different, more mercenary sort of fanaticism being held up to the light in the latter half of this tale. And, also, a very good moment where the Doctor goes charging towards a windmill on the back of a donkey.
So, perhaps a little bloaty, but fair.
September 11, 2015
A double-length audiobook starring both Carole Ann Ford and William Russell, the Flames of Cadiz is a historical set in southern Spain at the turn of the 16th century, at the cusp of the invasion of England by the Spanish armada.
A pure historical of the First Doctor era, the story doesn't hesitate to involve local people from multiple tiers of society, from Moorish paper merchants to Felipe II of Spain himself. The Doctor throws himself with glee at important personas around him, always opinionated and seeming to have fun despite the sometimes unfortunate consequences of his actions. We also get a glimpse of Ian's motivation to play hero, as he gets out of his way to meet one of his role models. Barbara is described as more standoffish and respectful of the course of history around her; and Susan is observing the comings and goings wide-eyed as usual.
It is great to have both narrators display such a wide gamut of voice acting; the dialogues are especially rewarding, and it's easy to forget that only the pair of them (plus a guest performance by Nabil Elouahabi) is involved.
However, the story stretches credibility a lot, including escapades from royal castles and holy inquisitions. The TARDIS acted as a Room of Requirement, procuring more than once some tool or device to foil the Spaniards' plans. But even so, seeing (well, hearing) what one expects to be whole retinues of soldiers and guards being foiled so easily is a bit of a disappointment. In the end, it's what would be expected from the low budget and sparse resources available to the 60's crew. A modern audiobook could have aimed for a less lazy and more grandiose and fulfilling plot.
A pure historical of the First Doctor era, the story doesn't hesitate to involve local people from multiple tiers of society, from Moorish paper merchants to Felipe II of Spain himself. The Doctor throws himself with glee at important personas around him, always opinionated and seeming to have fun despite the sometimes unfortunate consequences of his actions. We also get a glimpse of Ian's motivation to play hero, as he gets out of his way to meet one of his role models. Barbara is described as more standoffish and respectful of the course of history around her; and Susan is observing the comings and goings wide-eyed as usual.
It is great to have both narrators display such a wide gamut of voice acting; the dialogues are especially rewarding, and it's easy to forget that only the pair of them (plus a guest performance by Nabil Elouahabi) is involved.
However, the story stretches credibility a lot, including escapades from royal castles and holy inquisitions. The TARDIS acted as a Room of Requirement, procuring more than once some tool or device to foil the Spaniards' plans. But even so, seeing (well, hearing) what one expects to be whole retinues of soldiers and guards being foiled so easily is a bit of a disappointment. In the end, it's what would be expected from the low budget and sparse resources available to the 60's crew. A modern audiobook could have aimed for a less lazy and more grandiose and fulfilling plot.
July 13, 2016
This story deals yet again on a historic time-travel story. In this case they went to Cadiz in XVI century when Spain was at building their warships to invade England with what we would know as the Great Armada.
Ian tries to a save a house from burning and he is arrested charged by the Holy Inquisition and as a Traitor. He was sentenced to die.
The Doctor dresses himself as a Cardinal from Papal States to try to appease the King and save Ian. After the rescued worked he then escapes with Estaben to thwart the plans of the Spanish Armada.
The Doctor becomes very upset because he is sick of warning them that they shouldnt change history, but Barbara lash out saying that if he was human he would understand that they were in the year before Spanish Invasion and there was a attack on shipyard of Cadiz that delayed the invansion for one year therefore he wasn't changing anything...
This tale deals with something very interesting. In this story the englishmen were going to attack on lisbon but on Ian feedback they attacked Cadiz which really happenened on History, so, it was a future person who change previous history so... it's a loop? Or is that damn question what came before the egg or the chicken?
I really like this notion and what's interesting in all these audiobooks is the continuous fight of the Doctor against his companions about the repurcusions of changing history but it was him that saved Marco Polo because without it he was to be dead even before he went to mongol lands and became known. So...
Ian tries to a save a house from burning and he is arrested charged by the Holy Inquisition and as a Traitor. He was sentenced to die.
The Doctor dresses himself as a Cardinal from Papal States to try to appease the King and save Ian. After the rescued worked he then escapes with Estaben to thwart the plans of the Spanish Armada.
The Doctor becomes very upset because he is sick of warning them that they shouldnt change history, but Barbara lash out saying that if he was human he would understand that they were in the year before Spanish Invasion and there was a attack on shipyard of Cadiz that delayed the invansion for one year therefore he wasn't changing anything...
This tale deals with something very interesting. In this story the englishmen were going to attack on lisbon but on Ian feedback they attacked Cadiz which really happenened on History, so, it was a future person who change previous history so... it's a loop? Or is that damn question what came before the egg or the chicken?
I really like this notion and what's interesting in all these audiobooks is the continuous fight of the Doctor against his companions about the repurcusions of changing history but it was him that saved Marco Polo because without it he was to be dead even before he went to mongol lands and became known. So...
September 27, 2017
A First Doctor story told from the perspectives of Ian and Susan, who alternate narration throughout the course of the play.
This is a straight historical, and one in the relatively grim style of Marco Polo or The Massacre, rather than, say, The Romans. The TARDIS crew arrive in Seville in 1587, the year before the Spanish Armada sets sail. The first half of the story, however (and it's a double-length one) instead concerns Ian being arrested by the Inquisition, and really gets quite chilling in places.
There are some historical inaccuracies regarding the Inquisition here, although they may be intentional, to help move the story along. And, if I hadn't read a fairly detailed history of the organisation and its methods, it's unlikely I'd have noticed most of them. At any rate, the general menace of the Inquisition, which was undeniably real, is played up, along with the danger they posed to the Morisco population at that time.
The second half switches to Cadiz and the Singeing of the King of Spain's Beard, the historical event that provides the title of the play. The horrors of war are addressed amidst the action, and the depiction of Francis Drake as a bit of a thug seems plausible enough to me. The weakness in this section though, is the difficulty in believing that, given what he's just been through, Ian would be stupid enough to get himself involved in this - Barbara, at least, seems to get the historical significance, but Ian just seems to think it's going to be fun.
The guest characters are well written, as is so often the case, and there are some amusing hints to the secret about one of them that's revealed right at the end. As is also usual, the story suffers from the Companion Chronicle format, and William Russell's voice is definitely betraying his age, but the fact that there are two guest stars as well as two narrators does help to mitigate against this.
The story does stretch credibility in a couple of places, although it's not inconsistent with the TV stories of the era. How much you enjoy it may well depend on how easily you can put those elements aside and appreciate the characters and setting. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
This is a straight historical, and one in the relatively grim style of Marco Polo or The Massacre, rather than, say, The Romans. The TARDIS crew arrive in Seville in 1587, the year before the Spanish Armada sets sail. The first half of the story, however (and it's a double-length one) instead concerns Ian being arrested by the Inquisition, and really gets quite chilling in places.
There are some historical inaccuracies regarding the Inquisition here, although they may be intentional, to help move the story along. And, if I hadn't read a fairly detailed history of the organisation and its methods, it's unlikely I'd have noticed most of them. At any rate, the general menace of the Inquisition, which was undeniably real, is played up, along with the danger they posed to the Morisco population at that time.
The second half switches to Cadiz and the Singeing of the King of Spain's Beard, the historical event that provides the title of the play. The horrors of war are addressed amidst the action, and the depiction of Francis Drake as a bit of a thug seems plausible enough to me. The weakness in this section though, is the difficulty in believing that, given what he's just been through, Ian would be stupid enough to get himself involved in this - Barbara, at least, seems to get the historical significance, but Ian just seems to think it's going to be fun.
The guest characters are well written, as is so often the case, and there are some amusing hints to the secret about one of them that's revealed right at the end. As is also usual, the story suffers from the Companion Chronicle format, and William Russell's voice is definitely betraying his age, but the fact that there are two guest stars as well as two narrators does help to mitigate against this.
The story does stretch credibility in a couple of places, although it's not inconsistent with the TV stories of the era. How much you enjoy it may well depend on how easily you can put those elements aside and appreciate the characters and setting. 3.5 rounded up to 4.
February 11, 2024
The Companion Chronicles is a range I adore with all my heart, so to hear that Big Finish are hoping to produce more in the future rather than just end the range outright has me really excited. Especially since I don't have many more to listen to now. The Flames of Cadiz is the last of the 2-hour feature-length audios they produced on special occasions I needed to listen to, It's sad to say goodbye to these 4-parters but this is a range that excels just fine with its 2-parters.
The Tardis materializes in Spain during the late sixteenth century and unfortunately for them Spain is about to go to war with the British over religious politics. The Spanish Inquisition are in control and their dominance over the country and hatred towards the British is unparalleled. The crew are in danger, so when Ian tries to save a young man's life and his burning house he is arrested for being a heretic. Events are spiralling out of control and it would seem Ian's time is finally up. Barbara may very well be his only hope for survival.
Marc Platt has written a really engaging 4-part story that changes things up a notch halfway through the story. The first half is very much a desperate and bleak execution storyline where Ian is put through hell and the second half is more of an adventure story for him on his way to meet a hero of his. Its history in the making even if it is one of the lesser-known events. The characterization in this story is terrific, the arrogance of The Doctor makes for interesting drama between him, Ian, and Barbara. The two gallifreyans in this felt like the actual troublemakers in this story rather than the human companions which makes for a nice change of pace.
Overall: A terrific story that has an intense, bleak atmosphere and thrilling characterization. 9/10
The Tardis materializes in Spain during the late sixteenth century and unfortunately for them Spain is about to go to war with the British over religious politics. The Spanish Inquisition are in control and their dominance over the country and hatred towards the British is unparalleled. The crew are in danger, so when Ian tries to save a young man's life and his burning house he is arrested for being a heretic. Events are spiralling out of control and it would seem Ian's time is finally up. Barbara may very well be his only hope for survival.
Marc Platt has written a really engaging 4-part story that changes things up a notch halfway through the story. The first half is very much a desperate and bleak execution storyline where Ian is put through hell and the second half is more of an adventure story for him on his way to meet a hero of his. Its history in the making even if it is one of the lesser-known events. The characterization in this story is terrific, the arrogance of The Doctor makes for interesting drama between him, Ian, and Barbara. The two gallifreyans in this felt like the actual troublemakers in this story rather than the human companions which makes for a nice change of pace.
Overall: A terrific story that has an intense, bleak atmosphere and thrilling characterization. 9/10
February 4, 2020
I love a good historical. I especially loved that Barbara had a better knowledge of history than the Doctor and he got all cross and bent out of shape because he thought it was the better known historical event rather than the one it actually was. And Barbara was right. Because Barbara should always be right. Especially about history.
November 24, 2020
This is longer than I'd usually expect from The Companion Chronicles, but it works. As expected, it is a historical serial, but one with effective drama and really good sound effects. Nice to have the original Ian Chesterton and Susan Foreman actors.
January 2, 2022
Continuing my trek through the Doctor's life chronological. This one had both William Russell and Carole Ann Ford in it which I did like. Russ does a better impersonation of Hartnell than Carole but when Carole is being Susan when she was younger it is spot on.
September 14, 2022
Good concept for a historical, and written by one of my favorite Doctor Who writers. Which is why I’m so disappointed. Silly melodrama. Everyone is out of character. Especially Barbara. Boring predictable story. Just kind of a lame duck.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2016
Doctor, Ian, Barbara, and Susan land in Spain just before the war of the Spanish Armada.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews