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The Companion Chronicles #7.09
Doctor Who: The Scorchies
The Doctor, his companion Jo Grant and the Brigadier face their strangest case yet – a Saturday night TV show that has been invaded by aliens that look like puppets!
The Scorchies want to take over the world. They want to kill the Doctor. And they want to perform some outstanding showtunes. Though not necessarily in that order...
With Jo caught inside The Scorchies Show, can she save the day before the planet Earth falls victim to the dark side of light entertainment?
The Scorchies want to take over the world. They want to kill the Doctor. And they want to perform some outstanding showtunes. Though not necessarily in that order...
With Jo caught inside The Scorchies Show, can she save the day before the planet Earth falls victim to the dark side of light entertainment?
Audio CD
First published March 31, 2013
76 people want to read
About the author
James Goss
230 books181 followersJames Goss has written two Torchwood novels and a radio play, as well as a Being Human book. His Doctor Who audiobook Dead Air won Best Audiobook 2010. James also spent seven years working on the BBC's official Doctor Who website and co-wrote the website for Torchwood Series One. In 2007, he won the Best Adaptation category in the annual LA Weekly Theatre Awards for his version of Douglas Adams' novel Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 7, 2019
It is impossible to be sad and listen to Jo is making a thing! I just love this audio. This is about the third or fourth time I've listened to it. Just so funny and Katy does a wonderful job with all the voices. I love how it is both a tribute and mocks children's television.
February 9, 2023
If you like wacky.
If you like weird.
If you like surreal.
If you love the absurd.
If you love musicals.
If you love Muppets (oops, can’t call them that).
You will absolutely LOVE The Scorchies
If you like weird.
If you like surreal.
If you love the absurd.
If you love musicals.
If you love Muppets (oops, can’t call them that).
You will absolutely LOVE The Scorchies
February 17, 2023
It's hard to fully understand what's happening sometimes, but this audio drama is a lot of fun. In a twisted sort of way...
November 30, 2017
The Scorchies want to take over the world. The want to kill the Doctor. And they want to perform some outstanding showtunes. Though not necessarily in that order...
Doctor Who The Scorchies is a Big Finish Companion Chronicles story performed by Katy Manning and Melvin Hayes. The Scorchies are a very nasty bunch of aliens, who just happen to look like cute, adorable, puppets. They come to Earth and take over a children's TV show, using it to take over the minds of the adults who watch the program. Apparently, it's the television equivalent of comfort food - something not really good for you, but that adults can't ignore. Throw in some form of mind control and you have the basic plot.
The story, however, starts with Jo already captured at the television studio - by the Scorchies. The Doctor and UNIT are outside the studio, attempting to lay siege to it so they can defeat the "alien menace" so to speak. The plot, including the background of where the Scorchies come from, and the horrifying meaning of their name (they leave behind nothing but completely scorched planets - utter devastation). But because they look like puppets, and it's a "children's television show" this is accompanied by some truly awful songs and fairly terrible singing.
What surprised me about this particular story was that I expected it to be very, very funny. Instead, it's horrifying. The moral - "don't watch so much television" feels out of place in a television tie-in universe. Katy Manning, as always, is wonderful though, and the Scorchies (voiced by Melvin Hayes and by Katy herself) are voiced well, and at times, are very chilling. However, overall, since the actual story wasn't really what I expected, I didn't enjoy the story like I expected that I would. Still, even though it wasn't the wild and humorous story I expected, it's performed well, and it's also much more like a full audio play, rather than what's normal for the Companion Chronicles line where someone is telling someone else a story (not that I mind that, the story-telling part is a big part of what I like about the Big Finish Companion Chronicles.) Recommended with reservations - this is not what it says on the tin, rather, it's a fairly horrifying story.
Doctor Who The Scorchies is a Big Finish Companion Chronicles story performed by Katy Manning and Melvin Hayes. The Scorchies are a very nasty bunch of aliens, who just happen to look like cute, adorable, puppets. They come to Earth and take over a children's TV show, using it to take over the minds of the adults who watch the program. Apparently, it's the television equivalent of comfort food - something not really good for you, but that adults can't ignore. Throw in some form of mind control and you have the basic plot.
The story, however, starts with Jo already captured at the television studio - by the Scorchies. The Doctor and UNIT are outside the studio, attempting to lay siege to it so they can defeat the "alien menace" so to speak. The plot, including the background of where the Scorchies come from, and the horrifying meaning of their name (they leave behind nothing but completely scorched planets - utter devastation). But because they look like puppets, and it's a "children's television show" this is accompanied by some truly awful songs and fairly terrible singing.
What surprised me about this particular story was that I expected it to be very, very funny. Instead, it's horrifying. The moral - "don't watch so much television" feels out of place in a television tie-in universe. Katy Manning, as always, is wonderful though, and the Scorchies (voiced by Melvin Hayes and by Katy herself) are voiced well, and at times, are very chilling. However, overall, since the actual story wasn't really what I expected, I didn't enjoy the story like I expected that I would. Still, even though it wasn't the wild and humorous story I expected, it's performed well, and it's also much more like a full audio play, rather than what's normal for the Companion Chronicles line where someone is telling someone else a story (not that I mind that, the story-telling part is a big part of what I like about the Big Finish Companion Chronicles.) Recommended with reservations - this is not what it says on the tin, rather, it's a fairly horrifying story.
November 11, 2017
Were it not for the obvious copyright issues, this should really be called "The Muppet Invasion of Earth". The story takes the form of a broadcast of a children's TV show, in which the eponymous puppets have captured Jo Grant and are using her as their human guest star for the episode as they finalise their plans for world conquest.
Yes, it really is that mad. Naturally, this provides for lots of cheeky references to TV shows and stars of the 1970s, although it's probably fair to say that you have to be the right age (and British) to spot most of them. Indeed, a couple of the characters are at least as reminiscent of Bagpuss as they are of The Muppet Show or Sesame Street.
The Scorchies are voiced by veteran actor Melvyn Hayes, hamming it up with a range of comic voices that helps to mitigate the limited number of actors inherent to the format. I have to say that I laughed out loud on more than one occasion, which is really all one can ask of something like this. Especially effective is the Scorchies' habit of breaking into cheery songs at appropriate moments, with accompaniment that one can so easily imagine being provided by Rowlf and the Muppet Show house band.
I'll give it 4.5, deducting half a point for the inevitable limitations of the Doctor and Brigadier being very obviously not voiced by the originals. But, in every other respect, it's a triumph, and one of the better comedies that Big Finish has done.
And now I'm going to have the tune to 'Jo is Making a Thing' stuck in my head all week...
Yes, it really is that mad. Naturally, this provides for lots of cheeky references to TV shows and stars of the 1970s, although it's probably fair to say that you have to be the right age (and British) to spot most of them. Indeed, a couple of the characters are at least as reminiscent of Bagpuss as they are of The Muppet Show or Sesame Street.
The Scorchies are voiced by veteran actor Melvyn Hayes, hamming it up with a range of comic voices that helps to mitigate the limited number of actors inherent to the format. I have to say that I laughed out loud on more than one occasion, which is really all one can ask of something like this. Especially effective is the Scorchies' habit of breaking into cheery songs at appropriate moments, with accompaniment that one can so easily imagine being provided by Rowlf and the Muppet Show house band.
I'll give it 4.5, deducting half a point for the inevitable limitations of the Doctor and Brigadier being very obviously not voiced by the originals. But, in every other respect, it's a triumph, and one of the better comedies that Big Finish has done.
And now I'm going to have the tune to 'Jo is Making a Thing' stuck in my head all week...
May 20, 2025
The songs are fun and the meta joke about reversing the polarity was funny at first, but it quickly became overdone.
However, as far as the story goes, I just couldn't really get along with it. I get this is supposed to be more light hearted and it's a shorter companion chronicle, but I just wasn't really hooked by it. Nice cover artwork though.
However, as far as the story goes, I just couldn't really get along with it. I get this is supposed to be more light hearted and it's a shorter companion chronicle, but I just wasn't really hooked by it. Nice cover artwork though.
October 23, 2022
I just couldn't get into it. This story seems like it could have been a good idea however its implementation was pure unadulterated cringe. Voice acting and songs were alright but the story wasn't really that good.
June 27, 2018
This is one of the -if not the only - Story that expresses the weird side of Doctor Who
Literally, my first reaction is ”Welcome to Doctor Who everybody”
Literally, my first reaction is ”Welcome to Doctor Who everybody”
May 24, 2020
I’ve actually had this idea for a story where there are aliens who look like puppets, but I think it’s different here. Sounds like these aliens took on the forms of puppets. The songs are quite fun.
November 26, 2015
If you don't like Doctor Who stories that are silly, 1) you won't like this, and 2) I pity you. This audio is just fun for the sake of fun, and you can't not love the music. I know nothing about Melvyn Hayes, but he was a brilliant choice for the voices of these children's television puppet characters who are really evil aliens. Katy Manning is equally brilliant here as Jo Grant and various evil alien puppets as well.
My only qualm was in an audio which mostly eschews narration, it jars to hear her voicing the Brigadier, and is that her voicing the Doctor too? This is probably what led them to recast the Third Doctor for later stories that use the full cast format...
My only qualm was in an audio which mostly eschews narration, it jars to hear her voicing the Brigadier, and is that her voicing the Doctor too? This is probably what led them to recast the Third Doctor for later stories that use the full cast format...
October 16, 2018
"What a lovely thing to sing about Jo, making a Thing."
It's hilarious!!! I about laughed my whole head off, listening to this. I love Katy Manning! Her voices crack me up. X)
The reverse polarity-polarity reverser..
"Give a chew on the teething ring about.. Jo, making a Thing."
"I'm losin MAH FUZZ, MAAAAN! AW MAN! MY STITCHES!"
It's hilarious!!! I about laughed my whole head off, listening to this. I love Katy Manning! Her voices crack me up. X)
The reverse polarity-polarity reverser..
"Give a chew on the teething ring about.. Jo, making a Thing."
"I'm losin MAH FUZZ, MAAAAN! AW MAN! MY STITCHES!"
August 26, 2025
I've always wanted to listen to this and it did not disappoint. It's this weird version of the muppets but if they were homicidal aliens that held their human guest's hostage. This story is hilarious and packed full of musical numbers.
Love this experimental side of Big Finish.
Love this experimental side of Big Finish.
April 21, 2013
Wonderfully daft with tunes which got stuck in my head
May 31, 2016
Jo tries to stop a television show from destroying the world.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews