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The Sixth Doctor Adventures
Doctor Who: The Sixth Doctor Adventures - Purity Unbound
The Doctor, Mel and Hebe are reunited – but Purity's temporal meddling has altered history as they know it. To make matters worse, whatever is left of the being once known as Patricia McBride is still intent on fulfilling her grand design for humanity.
Girl in a Bubble by Jacqueline Rayner - The TARDIS arrives in Hebe’s flat but it’s not how the Doctor and Mel remember it – and neither is Hebe! In Purity's new timeline, Hebe Harrison lives in a grand penthouse with armed guards and a live-in factotum – Ron! – and if she ever leaves her sanctuary... the world will end. Are these strangers the ones who have been sending her messages? And can this reality be undone without losing Hebe forever?
The Corruptions by Mark Wright - Melanie Bush is a popular part of the Pease Pottage village community, and her best friend Hebe runs the local café where Elise the florist often drops by. Elsewhere, the Doctor is trapped in a nightmarish realm – Pease Pottage Services – unable to cross the boundary of the motorway where shadowy creatures drift amid the traffic. Purity is watching, and if the Doctor attempts to rescue his friends... they will cease to exist.
The Wrong Side of History by Robert Valentine - Mel, Hebe and Elise find themselves inside a plastic bubble-city in a distant future of humanity where robotic ‘Purifiers’ police the sickly populace. Purity rules this antiseptic nightmare from her high tower, and with the Doctor as her unwilling new helper, she can finally make everything... perfect.
Girl in a Bubble by Jacqueline Rayner - The TARDIS arrives in Hebe’s flat but it’s not how the Doctor and Mel remember it – and neither is Hebe! In Purity's new timeline, Hebe Harrison lives in a grand penthouse with armed guards and a live-in factotum – Ron! – and if she ever leaves her sanctuary... the world will end. Are these strangers the ones who have been sending her messages? And can this reality be undone without losing Hebe forever?
The Corruptions by Mark Wright - Melanie Bush is a popular part of the Pease Pottage village community, and her best friend Hebe runs the local café where Elise the florist often drops by. Elsewhere, the Doctor is trapped in a nightmarish realm – Pease Pottage Services – unable to cross the boundary of the motorway where shadowy creatures drift amid the traffic. Purity is watching, and if the Doctor attempts to rescue his friends... they will cease to exist.
The Wrong Side of History by Robert Valentine - Mel, Hebe and Elise find themselves inside a plastic bubble-city in a distant future of humanity where robotic ‘Purifiers’ police the sickly populace. Purity rules this antiseptic nightmare from her high tower, and with the Doctor as her unwilling new helper, she can finally make everything... perfect.
- GenresDoctor WhoAudiobook
Audio CD
First published August 1, 2023
21 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Rayner
89 books168 followersJacqueline Rayner is a best selling British author, best known for her work with the licensed fiction based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
Her first professional writing credit came when she adapted Paul Cornell's Virgin New Adventure novel Oh No It Isn't! for the audio format, the first release by Big Finish. (The novel featured the character of Bernice Summerfield and was part of a spin-off series from Doctor Who.) She went on to do five of the six Bernice Summerfield audio adaptations and further work for Big Finish before going to work for BBC Books on their Doctor Who lines.
Her first novels came in 2001, with the Eighth Doctor Adventures novel EarthWorld for BBC Books and the Bernice Summerfield novel The Squire's Crystal for Big Finish. Rayner has written several other Doctor Who spin-offs and was also for a period the executive producer for the BBC on the Big Finish range of Doctor Who audio dramas. She has also contributed to the audio range as a writer. In all, her Doctor Who and related work (Bernice Summerfield stories), consists of five novels, a number of short stories and four original audio plays.
Rayner has edited several anthologies of Doctor Who short stories, mainly for Big Finish, and done work for Doctor Who Magazine. Beyond Doctor Who, her work includes the children's television tie-in book Horses Like Blaze.
With the start of the new television series of Doctor Who in 2005 and a shift in the BBC's Doctor Who related book output, Rayner has become, along with Justin Richards and Stephen Cole, one of the regular authors of the BBC's New Series Adventures. She has also abridged several of the books to be made into audiobooks.
She was also a member of Doctor Who Magazine's original Time Team.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 21, 2025
This collection of three 2-part stories wraps up the "Purity" plot arc that began with Water Worlds (although the fact that it is an arc only became obvious with the second release). The episodes here are all directly linked in a way that makes this feel much more like one continuous story that just happens to move through three different settings - in each of which the villain warps history further towards her goal of creating a perfect world.
The first part is the best, evoking a world that seems eerily plausible, a kind of right-wing utopia that necessarily hides a dirty secret. There are no monsters, and not really any high-concept sci-fi here, just an alternate world where a certain (admittedly rather specific) kind of conservative mindset has won out and decided to brush uncomfortable realities under the carpet. That may make it sound more political than it really is, however, since the message is a focused one rather than a broad attack - although anyone who finds "diversity" a dirty word might feel otherwise.
From there, we move to an alternate Pease Pottage created solely to trap the Doctor and his companions. Here, we actually do get monsters, albeit they're rather vaguely described, and it's these that lead into the finale. Otherwise, this middle segment takes on the restrictions of village life, and the tedium of motorway service stations. (In our world, the presence of such a service station is just about the only thing that's remotely notable about Pease Pottage). The 1980s setting fits with the show, since one could imagine it being made during Baker's TV run, but the same principles could just as well apply today.
Unfortunately, for me, the final segment is the weakest. It needs, of course, to wrap up the plotline, and it does so by showing the ultimate expression of the villain's ideas of perfection, a sterile bubble where everyone willingly conforms. In doing so, it moves away from the relatable worlds of the previous segments and into one that's just about battling a futuristic machine and its human cohorts. It's not bad in itself, but just lacks the punch of the previous parts. And, in fairness, there's a good portrayal of the human villain, giving a deeper look at her motivations than we've seen before, denouncing her as wrong without simply portraying her as 'evil'. Plus, there are ties back to earlier audios for the long-term fan.
Although the story is wrapped up, the ending is left open for future adventures with Hebe as companion. She has been really good in this, sometimes forcing writers to come up with alternate ways of dealing with problems without restricting her to one defining characteristic... but, sadly, as Ruth Madely has a recurring role in the TV series now, it all seems unlikely.
The first part is the best, evoking a world that seems eerily plausible, a kind of right-wing utopia that necessarily hides a dirty secret. There are no monsters, and not really any high-concept sci-fi here, just an alternate world where a certain (admittedly rather specific) kind of conservative mindset has won out and decided to brush uncomfortable realities under the carpet. That may make it sound more political than it really is, however, since the message is a focused one rather than a broad attack - although anyone who finds "diversity" a dirty word might feel otherwise.
From there, we move to an alternate Pease Pottage created solely to trap the Doctor and his companions. Here, we actually do get monsters, albeit they're rather vaguely described, and it's these that lead into the finale. Otherwise, this middle segment takes on the restrictions of village life, and the tedium of motorway service stations. (In our world, the presence of such a service station is just about the only thing that's remotely notable about Pease Pottage). The 1980s setting fits with the show, since one could imagine it being made during Baker's TV run, but the same principles could just as well apply today.
Unfortunately, for me, the final segment is the weakest. It needs, of course, to wrap up the plotline, and it does so by showing the ultimate expression of the villain's ideas of perfection, a sterile bubble where everyone willingly conforms. In doing so, it moves away from the relatable worlds of the previous segments and into one that's just about battling a futuristic machine and its human cohorts. It's not bad in itself, but just lacks the punch of the previous parts. And, in fairness, there's a good portrayal of the human villain, giving a deeper look at her motivations than we've seen before, denouncing her as wrong without simply portraying her as 'evil'. Plus, there are ties back to earlier audios for the long-term fan.
Although the story is wrapped up, the ending is left open for future adventures with Hebe as companion. She has been really good in this, sometimes forcing writers to come up with alternate ways of dealing with problems without restricting her to one defining characteristic... but, sadly, as Ruth Madely has a recurring role in the TV series now, it all seems unlikely.
August 30, 2023
So here we are at the end of the Purity storyline in the 6th Doctor Adventures. Incredibly excited to see how it all concludes!
Girl in a Bubble:
The Doctor and Mel have arrived in Hebe's flat, but this is an alternative timeline where Purity's rule is law. With their arrival, Hebe's memories slowly return, whilst The Doctor and Mel truly find out what Patricia Mcbride's vision for the world truly entails.
Jacqueline Rayner has written a terrific script that wonderfully sets up this boxset which at the moment seems to be a 3-part finale to the arc we've been following since Purity Undreamed. It's another character piece set in a dystopian timeline, really highlighting just how ignorant and terrifying Patricia's views are and what's she done to achieve it. It's a really solid way to open up this set and the cliffhanger leading into the next episode really has me on the edge of my seat and wanting to find out what happens next! 9/10
The Corruptions:
Mel is back home in Pease Pottage along with her neighbors Elise and Hebe Harrison. Something very strange is going on in the village green and why is there a blue box in the square? The Doctor is coming but his arrival might very well mean the destruction of them all.
Mark Wright's script is by far the best installment out of this entire series. It's such an atmospheric and eerie story with a really interesting and terrifying threat. It's amazing to see everything that's been set up all come to fruition in this final set so far and it's honestly been amazing to have some results at last. I love how this story also tackles just how complex Mel's timeline is as well. 10/10
The Wrong Side of History:
Purity has one last trick up her sleeve. The Doctor, Hebe, Elise, and Mel are thrown into another dystopian timeline, this time mirroring the one of a better future perverted into a dark age of purification. But Purity isn't the only threat they have to face for an old enemy is about to make it's return.
Robert Valentine's script brilliantly concludes the Purity arc in a really satisfying way, whilst also bringing back a character or two from The Chronomancer. It's a story that's tied together brilliantly and I love the scene near the end with good old Sixie and Patricia McBride, as The Doctor allows himself to feel regret for what she has become, and how he feels he could have done more to prevent all this and realize her prejudices are in fact wrong. A terrific episode with some very emotional scenes. 9/10
Overall: 28/30
Girl in a Bubble:
The Doctor and Mel have arrived in Hebe's flat, but this is an alternative timeline where Purity's rule is law. With their arrival, Hebe's memories slowly return, whilst The Doctor and Mel truly find out what Patricia Mcbride's vision for the world truly entails.
Jacqueline Rayner has written a terrific script that wonderfully sets up this boxset which at the moment seems to be a 3-part finale to the arc we've been following since Purity Undreamed. It's another character piece set in a dystopian timeline, really highlighting just how ignorant and terrifying Patricia's views are and what's she done to achieve it. It's a really solid way to open up this set and the cliffhanger leading into the next episode really has me on the edge of my seat and wanting to find out what happens next! 9/10
The Corruptions:
Mel is back home in Pease Pottage along with her neighbors Elise and Hebe Harrison. Something very strange is going on in the village green and why is there a blue box in the square? The Doctor is coming but his arrival might very well mean the destruction of them all.
Mark Wright's script is by far the best installment out of this entire series. It's such an atmospheric and eerie story with a really interesting and terrifying threat. It's amazing to see everything that's been set up all come to fruition in this final set so far and it's honestly been amazing to have some results at last. I love how this story also tackles just how complex Mel's timeline is as well. 10/10
The Wrong Side of History:
Purity has one last trick up her sleeve. The Doctor, Hebe, Elise, and Mel are thrown into another dystopian timeline, this time mirroring the one of a better future perverted into a dark age of purification. But Purity isn't the only threat they have to face for an old enemy is about to make it's return.
Robert Valentine's script brilliantly concludes the Purity arc in a really satisfying way, whilst also bringing back a character or two from The Chronomancer. It's a story that's tied together brilliantly and I love the scene near the end with good old Sixie and Patricia McBride, as The Doctor allows himself to feel regret for what she has become, and how he feels he could have done more to prevent all this and realize her prejudices are in fact wrong. A terrific episode with some very emotional scenes. 9/10
Overall: 28/30
November 19, 2023
another fabulous boxset from big finish.
i love this TARDIS team!
1. girl in a bubble - 5/5
WOW! great start, very conceptual. so many nods to evelyn and just - a fabulous opening story.
2. the corruptions - 4/5
another great addition. another alternate reality, where our faves are all besties in a little village - living the dream tbhhhh. a lovely run of the mill story, realising the truth, thwarting the baddies - and kicking ass.
3. the wrong side of history - 3/5
honestly forgot about the chronomancers. this was okay, but wasn’t my favourite episode. liked that the boxset was left open-ended. and we got to see more of elise and ron! plus, more evelyn mentions!!
4/5
i love this TARDIS team!
1. girl in a bubble - 5/5
WOW! great start, very conceptual. so many nods to evelyn and just - a fabulous opening story.
2. the corruptions - 4/5
another great addition. another alternate reality, where our faves are all besties in a little village - living the dream tbhhhh. a lovely run of the mill story, realising the truth, thwarting the baddies - and kicking ass.
3. the wrong side of history - 3/5
honestly forgot about the chronomancers. this was okay, but wasn’t my favourite episode. liked that the boxset was left open-ended. and we got to see more of elise and ron! plus, more evelyn mentions!!
4/5
September 10, 2025
I’ve really enjoyed this arc and I really like Hebe, as an ambulatory wheelchair user although starting much later in life so no lame ducks for me sadly, I think she’s an extremely well written disabled character and I’m glad to see reviews of the sets on here reflecting that for a character that get hate elsewhere for no reason. I would love to see Big Finish due more with Hebe even with Ruth having had a TV role on Doctor Who.
This was a great wrap up to the arc from the 4 sets with Hebe and I recommend the entire run.
This was a great wrap up to the arc from the 4 sets with Hebe and I recommend the entire run.
September 21, 2023
end of purity trilogy
September 26, 2023
Did they recon Ellie being wheelchair bound?
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews