Doctor Who: The Auntie Matter

The Fourth Doctor Adventures #2.1

by Jonathan Morris, Tom Baker (Narrator), Mary Tamm (Narrator)

England in the 1920s.

Whilst K9 is off in the TARDIS leading the Black Guardian on a wild goose chase, the Doctor and Romana are enjoying a leisurely lifestyle as the Lord and Lady of a London townhouse. But trouble never stays away from them for long, and before they know it a chance discovery of alien technology leads them deep into the heart of the English countryside where a malign presence lurks.

As the Doctor dodges deadly butlers and ferocious gamekeepers, Romana is faced with a malevolent Aunt and an even deadlier peril - marriage.

Written By: Jonathan Morris
Directed By: Ken Bentley

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Mary Tamm (Romana), Julia McKenzie (Florence), Robert Portal (Reggie), Lucy Griffiths (Mabel), Alan Cox (Grenville), Jane Slavin (Ligeia)

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel, Fiction

1 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Jonathan Morris is one of the most prolific and popular writers of Doctor Who books, including the highly-regarded novels 'Festival of Death' and 'Touched by an Angel' and the recent guide to monsters, 'The Monster Vault'. He has also written numerous comic strips, most of which were collected in 'The Child of Time', and audios for BBC Audio and Big Finish, including the highly-regarded comedies 'Max Warp' and 'The Auntie Matter', as well as the adaptation of Russell T Davies’ 'Damaged Goods'.

Recently he has started his own audio production company, Average Romp. Releases include a full-cast adaptation of Charles Dickens' The Chimes', an original play, 'When Michael Met Benny', and three episodes of a SF sitcom, 'Dick Dixon in the 21st Century'.

For details visit www.averageromp.com

He also originated his own series, Vienna and script-edited the Nigel Planer series 'Jeremiah Bourne in Time'. He’s also written documentaries and for TV sketch shows.

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name

Reviews

[Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Mary Tamm as Romana...

and wish that she hadn't passed years ago - there is *great* potential just from this story. I'll definitely purchase the rest of this season.

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I adore Romana II, it's so lovely to hear her in her first incarnation, especially after listening to so much Gallifrey. Mary Tamm was such a gem and it's nice to hear this Romana - still as intelligent and resourceful as Lalla's Romana but much more naive.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little run around in 1920 with the Doctor and Romana. One side character was annoying but the ending was really sweet. After watching the Key to Time I have to say knowing this Romana a bit better makes this more enjoyable.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The First Romana is probably the least used of the main companions of the Fourth Doctor in the tie-in media, so it's a pleasure that we got this season of seven audio plays, recorded shortly before Mary Tamm passed away in 2012, and released posthumously.

In this first story, the Doctor and Romana are hiding from the Black Guardian in 1920s England. And, specifically, the England of P.G. Wodehouse (rather than, say, Agatha Christie). To be sure, there is a limit to how far you can pastiche Wodehouse when you have to include hostile aliens and killer robots, both of which are on display in the large country house that forms the main setting. But throw in the aristocratic twit, the unflappable valet, and, of course, the formidable aunt of the title, and you are at least half way there.

It's a fun story, not quite perhaps a full on comedy, but with plenty of humorous elements. The plot is fairly straightforward, but bulked up with appropriate misunderstandings, coincidences, and improbably sudden romances that contrast nicely with the core storyline. The guest characters are, of course, all a little over the top, but that's all part of the charm.

If the first season of these audio plays was trying to imitate Hinchliffe (with, it has to be said, limited success), this play does a good job of emulating some of the Williams-era episodes, such as The Pirate Planet or The Androids of Tara, in style, if not exactly in theme. It's an easy 4 stars.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite TARDIS teams reunited for these Big Finish audio productions, and it doesn't disappoint. Tom Baker and Mary Tamm are back as the Doctor and Romana, and I think this one would have been good enough for an episode of the TV series. This takes place right after the events of The Key to Time season, and The Doctor and the first Romana are back as if no time had passed since they left the series. The story is a send-up of PG Wodehouse. Mr. Morris did a much better job of creating a Wodehouse and Doctor Who mash-up than the great Michael Moorcock did in his Doctor Who novel The Coming of the Terraphiles. Although Moorcock's novel was inventive, the Wodehouse elements just didn't gel as well as they did in this story.

[Jadetyger Sevea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was all right. The story had its moments, but it felt over-written to me. Add to that the fact that I'm 'meh' on the Romanas* (Yes, sacrilege, I know), and this story fell a bit flat for me.

*With the exception of Romana II in Big Finish's Gallifrey line.

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, Mary Tamm. I both love and miss her. I am a huge fan of the season long story Key to Time featuring the 4th Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana I (Tamm).
The Auntie Matter is the first story of the second season of Big Finish's Fourth Doctor Adventures. Excellent as always.

[John Parungao · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's Doctor Who meets Oscar Wilde. Not necessarily the best use of Mary Tamm's Romana. There's comedy in the scenes between Reggie and Romana, but it's painful to listen to. Mabel makes a good foil for either the Doctor or Romana.
It's not my favorite.

[Aidan Brack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing, lightweight take on PG Wodehouse and his obsession with aunts. The script is very funny for those in the know while the piece feels well-balanced overall. A shame we didn't get much more Tamm because she slays here...

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short DW story. Romana, the first and the 4th Doctor, are hiding on 1920's Earth and whilst there they end up running into a body snatching alien. I enjoyed the overall plot and found the humor funny.

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My relisten.

Just as brilliant as I remember it to be and pure good Romana/Doctor story with fantastic Romana development. Mary just sounds exactly the same when she first appeared on Who.

[Stephen Theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful to hear the 4th Doctor and Romana again!

[Eddie Kristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adventure was a charming nod to Bertie Wooster with the Aunt Agatha character being transformed into a classic Who villain. I had fun from start to finish.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing Romana and Fourth Doctor audio where it’s explored how they deal with the same enemy while separated. Mary Tamm and Tom Baker are phenomenal as always!

[Felecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely comedy of errors style story.

[Rex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fans of PG Wodehouse will appreciate this fast moving Jeeves and Wooster spoof. Fans of Tom Baker will, of course, enjoy it as well.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

this one is an absolute hoot!

[Steven Shinder · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the sound effects but was not quite as immersed.

[Sara Habein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun one with the first Romana.

[Miguel Gutierrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

una ligera comedia con peligro y relaciones entretenidas entre todos los participantes

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most of Series 2 of the Fourth Doctor Adventures is taken up with an ongoing plot involving David Warner's character Cuthbert and a mysterious project of his Conglomerate. But before that arc kicks off, we are given this funny little story that comes off as if P.G. Wodehouse wrote a Doctor Who episode.


The Auntie Matter finds the Doctor (played by Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) hiding from the Black Guardian (this is intended to be set immediately after the television episode The Armageddon Factor) and taking a little holiday in England where they get mixed up with a mysterious and malevolent auntie, her bumbling nephew, robotic butlers, coincidences, missed-meetings and aliens. It's a light-hearted farce that revels in its Wodehouseian nods.

Absolutely delightful, and I'm not the sort of person who typically says things are "delightful."

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series two of the Fourth Doctor Adventures featured Mary Tamm renewing her portrayal as the first incarnation of Romana. While hiding from the Black Guardian, the Doctor are in 1920’s England, posing as the Lord and Lady of a manor. But both of them end up separately battling aliens. The episode is a pastiche, a Dr who episode as if it was written by P.G. Wodehouse. It includes the stock characters of the stupid astocrat, his domineering aunt, stuffy butlers and daffy maids along with witty humor and outrageous coincidences. But this is Dr Who, so we also have spaceships, aliens and androids. This episode provides “a jolly good time”.

Only a few months after this series was recorded Mary Tamm died from cancer. The usual post episode interviews and commentary included a tribute to the actress.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the first of the new series of adventures. It was lovely to hear Mary Tamm as Romana again, she sounded like she hadn't aged a day. The story was a fun Woodhouse-esque parody. I didn't find this quite as funny as some of the adventures with Leela last year but it was still very good. The tribute to Mary Tamm at the end was particularly moving. It was lovely to hear how much she enjoyed making the audios and great to hear Tom Baker's comments about her. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series so much!

[Keiran Thegreat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong beginning to a series of audio dramas featuring Tom Baker and Mary Tamm. A script packed with Douglas Adams style humour and some exciting chases gives the feeling of the best fourth Doctor television stories.
Also included is are cast & crew interviews which focuses mainly on the sad death of Mary Tamm. Tom Baker's contribution is very touching and makes this production all the more powerful and interesting.

[Oliver Böttcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with gothic flair and a little bit of sillyness, sounds like a fourth doctor story to me.
The script lets the protagonists jump through many hoops to keep them apart. This is tiring after a while, especially since this is only important for the final gag.
But all the actors are in fine form and the dialogs are very funny. Mary Tamms Romana I fits right into the posh countryside and Tom Baker sounds just like in the 70's. Overall, very enjoyable.

[Kelly McCubbin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deliberately designed as a Wodehousian kind of comedy, this really works! I have been critical of Big Finish's attempts at comedy along the way as it often comes across as crass and grotesquely broad. This falls into neither trap, though, and is really a must listen for Fourth Doctor fans.
Our Tom is an absolute joy here and his own enjoyment of the material spills out through the speakers.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great production by the people at big finish. These ar e the last of the Mary Tamm stories with Doctor Who, so it is just great to get the Romana and the Doctor together for these few last adventures.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tom Baker and Romana - Still funny, camp and light-hearted after all these years.

[Debra Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor and Romana investigate a woman who is absorbing women's life energy.