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BBC Doctor Who: New Series Audio Exclusives #1
Doctor Who: Pest Control
An exclusive audio adventure read by David Tennant. The Doctor and Donna face monstrous insects and a ruthless robot exterminator in this thriling, exclusive audio story.
The TARDIS is lost in battle on a distant planet. When the Doctor sets off in pursuit, Donna is left behind, and finds herself accepting a commission in the Pioneer Corps. Something is transforming soldiers into monstrous beetles, and she could be the next victim.
Featuring the Doctor and Donna, as played by David Tennant and Catherine Tate in the hit series from BBC Television, this story has been written specially for audio by Peter Anghelides, and is read by David Tennant, with additional music and sound effects.
©2008 Peter Anghelides; (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd
The TARDIS is lost in battle on a distant planet. When the Doctor sets off in pursuit, Donna is left behind, and finds herself accepting a commission in the Pioneer Corps. Something is transforming soldiers into monstrous beetles, and she could be the next victim.
Featuring the Doctor and Donna, as played by David Tennant and Catherine Tate in the hit series from BBC Television, this story has been written specially for audio by Peter Anghelides, and is read by David Tennant, with additional music and sound effects.
©2008 Peter Anghelides; (P)2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd
Audiobook
First published April 15, 2008
7 people are currently reading
1394 people want to read
About the author
Peter Anghelides
51 books34 followersAnghelides' first published work was the short story "Moving On" in the third volume of the Virgin Decalog collections, which led to further short stories in the fourth collection and then in two of the BBC Short Trips collections that followed. In January 1998, his first novel Kursaal was published as part of BBC Books' Eighth Doctor Adventures series on books. Anghelides subsequently wrote two more novels for the range, Frontier Worlds in November 1999, which was named "Best Eighth Doctor Novel" in the annual Doctor Who Magazine poll of its readers, and the The Ancestor Cell in July 2000 (co-written with departing editor Stephen Cole). The Ancestor Cell was placed ninth in the Top 10 of SFX magazine's "Best SF/Fantasy novelisation or TV tie-in novel" category of that year.
Anghelides also wrote several short stories for a variety of Big Finish Productions' Short Trips and Bernice Summerfield collections. This led, in November 2002, to the production of his first audio adventure for Big Finish, the play Sarah Jane Smith: Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre.
In 2008, he wrote a comic which featured on the Doctor Who website
Anghelides also wrote several short stories for a variety of Big Finish Productions' Short Trips and Bernice Summerfield collections. This led, in November 2002, to the production of his first audio adventure for Big Finish, the play Sarah Jane Smith: Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre.
In 2008, he wrote a comic which featured on the Doctor Who website
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
January 23, 2018
I did not realize how much I missed Donna Noble and the 10th Doctor until I started listening to this audiobook. Donna Noble's sass and the Doctor's humor come out within the first minute of the production and it doesn't stop until the very end! Great chemistry! David Tennant, as narrator, does a wonderful imitation of Catherine Tate's Donna. I could envision the actress in my head saying the lines. :) Ahhhh, the wonderous days of the 10th Doctor. I miss him! (Tom Baker as Doctor #4 is still my favorite....but David Tennant as #10 is a very close second).
There's a little bit of everything in this adventure.....battlefield action, warrior centaurs, giant beetles, a lost TARDIS and a violent exterminator robot. I loved it! The best part was when the doctor introduced himself and Donna Noble as Doctor McCoy and Captain Kirk. :) Great Doctor Who adventure!
As usual, this BBC audiobook is great -- nice sound effects and perfect narration and acting by David Tennant. At almost 2.5 hours long, the audiobook is of easy listening length. I enjoyed listening while doing household chores and driving in my car. Very enjoyable story!
I'm definitely going to listen to more of these BBC Doctor Who audiobooks read by David Tennant. So far I have loved every one I've listened to!
There's a little bit of everything in this adventure.....battlefield action, warrior centaurs, giant beetles, a lost TARDIS and a violent exterminator robot. I loved it! The best part was when the doctor introduced himself and Donna Noble as Doctor McCoy and Captain Kirk. :) Great Doctor Who adventure!
As usual, this BBC audiobook is great -- nice sound effects and perfect narration and acting by David Tennant. At almost 2.5 hours long, the audiobook is of easy listening length. I enjoyed listening while doing household chores and driving in my car. Very enjoyable story!
I'm definitely going to listen to more of these BBC Doctor Who audiobooks read by David Tennant. So far I have loved every one I've listened to!
June 21, 2015
i didn'tlike bugs much before, but i really don't like em now
April 25, 2018
Entertaining and fun even though a bit disgusting at times. In short: I loved it 😍!
October 10, 2018
The story was ok. It's the basic "what humans do to a planet when they encounter a life form they feel threatened by" story, complete with centaurs and giant insects. It was pretty decent and captured the essence of the tenth Doctor and Donna well.
But let's face it, I only bought this because David Tennant reads it and I miss him <3 Oh, and he does a really good Donna impression. Not as hilarious as his Rose impression, but pretty spot on :D
But let's face it, I only bought this because David Tennant reads it and I miss him <3 Oh, and he does a really good Donna impression. Not as hilarious as his Rose impression, but pretty spot on :D
June 22, 2019
David Tennant reading Doctor Who.
I think yes.
I think yes.
May 17, 2019
This is based on the television series and is only available as an audiobook. This one has the Tenth Doctor who was portrayed by David Tennant and he also narrates this book. He is joined by his companion Donna Noble. In this one, they visit a planet where there is a war going on but there is more to it than just a simple war.
When the actor who plays the main character narrates the book one would expect that the portrayal would be spot on and it is. David Tennant does a amazing job with his narration of the book with the story and the characters. As for the story it was passable but nothing earth shattering. It was your basic story where enemies have to unite because there is a bigger threat. It was a quick listen that definitely entertains the reader and it works for this universe.
The story was a middle of the pack story for this universe. The highlight of this book was David Tennant. He steals the show like he use to when he was on the actual show. This book was probably just two stars but he garnered a complete star just for his work. This book is worth a read just for his portrayal of Donna. It brought a smile to my face as it was perfect.
When the actor who plays the main character narrates the book one would expect that the portrayal would be spot on and it is. David Tennant does a amazing job with his narration of the book with the story and the characters. As for the story it was passable but nothing earth shattering. It was your basic story where enemies have to unite because there is a bigger threat. It was a quick listen that definitely entertains the reader and it works for this universe.
The story was a middle of the pack story for this universe. The highlight of this book was David Tennant. He steals the show like he use to when he was on the actual show. This book was probably just two stars but he garnered a complete star just for his work. This book is worth a read just for his portrayal of Donna. It brought a smile to my face as it was perfect.
June 23, 2019
actual rating: 3.5
Honestly I wanted this to be better than it was. That technical extra half star is due soley to David Tennant's wonderful narration, which was the entire reason I decided to listen to this in the first place so I suppose I got what I wanted out of it at any rate. I miss Ten so much, and watching the new Good Omens series just made me remember how much I love David Tennant. His narration is great and I love that we get his regular voice, his Doctor voice, and his Catherine Tate voice all in one nice package.
The plot was a pretty run of the mill 'Doctor and companion go to some random planet where there is a war on and try to make everyone get along' plotline, but I'd honestly prefer something like that than all the crap Moffat came up with later. I think the real reason this didn't get a higher rating from me is because the Doctor and Donna were separate for most of the time. I do think Donna is one of the more competent companions so it makes sense for her to be off on her own, but also Ten and Donna just play off each other so well and their combined sarcasm levels are off the charts so I do kind of hate it when they're separated long term.
Basically the plot is pretty standard but David Tennant is wonderful and Ten and Donna are also wonderful and it's a good quick listen if you are feeling nostalgic and missing the RTD era of Doctor Who.
Honestly I wanted this to be better than it was. That technical extra half star is due soley to David Tennant's wonderful narration, which was the entire reason I decided to listen to this in the first place so I suppose I got what I wanted out of it at any rate. I miss Ten so much, and watching the new Good Omens series just made me remember how much I love David Tennant. His narration is great and I love that we get his regular voice, his Doctor voice, and his Catherine Tate voice all in one nice package.
The plot was a pretty run of the mill 'Doctor and companion go to some random planet where there is a war on and try to make everyone get along' plotline, but I'd honestly prefer something like that than all the crap Moffat came up with later. I think the real reason this didn't get a higher rating from me is because the Doctor and Donna were separate for most of the time. I do think Donna is one of the more competent companions so it makes sense for her to be off on her own, but also Ten and Donna just play off each other so well and their combined sarcasm levels are off the charts so I do kind of hate it when they're separated long term.
Basically the plot is pretty standard but David Tennant is wonderful and Ten and Donna are also wonderful and it's a good quick listen if you are feeling nostalgic and missing the RTD era of Doctor Who.
November 16, 2023
David Tennant is an excellent narrator, as usual. The story is pretty decent as far as Doctor Who stories go, but the way the villain was described was pretty fatphobic and kept making me uncomfortable for that reason, so I couldn't rate it any higher.
September 14, 2018
Impeccable narration (as always), but a somewhat lacking story.
September 5, 2009
Awesome! Seriously, there's just no other word for it. The story is truly captivating, the dialogues are perfect, the character voices are dead-on and last but not least it's brilliantly read by David Tennant.
It's sad that not all of the characters survive, but... well, I think it adds a little to the "credibility" of the whole story, when not everyone comes through.
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
It's sad that not all of the characters survive, but... well, I think it adds a little to the "credibility" of the whole story, when not everyone comes through.
Brilliant. Just brilliant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2021
David Tennant reads the David Tennant Doctor every bit as well as you'd expect, although his Donna is a little less on the mark. The story is your standard Whovian tale of a crash into a war zone. With another enemy about to appear, the Doctor and Donna have arrived just in time...
April 1, 2015
Dr Who. Read by David Tennant. What's not to like?
July 17, 2019
Engaging story about the tenth Doctor and Donna Noble getting caught up in a war between humans and centaur-like aliens on a distant world. The mystery is that the humans seem to be turning into giant insects and there's a rampaging robot killing the insects. The audio CD is read by David Tennant who does a great job bringing the characters to life.
September 20, 2023
i love these kinds of novels so much. dr who novels are my lil scamp books like hardy boys etc.
January 16, 2024
One of those Doctor Who stories that's a hat on a hat on a hat: there's a war on an alien planet AND there are parachuting centaurs AND there are people being turned into bugs AND it's too much stuff without ever giving Donna anything all that interesting to do. Fine-to-bad, but I also guarantee I will have forgotten it by the next time I go through a Who phase.
August 7, 2020
The worst Doctor Who (audio) book I have read so far. It took me ages to finish and I the Doctor was out of character the whole time..
May 30, 2017
5/5 Stars
This was one of my favorites so far. The Doctor and Donna are separated for most of the story, and seeing it come together in the end is amazing. This was probably the most suspenseful out of all the DW audio books I've listened to thus far, and the music and sound effects definitely aided in that.
This was one of my favorites so far. The Doctor and Donna are separated for most of the story, and seeing it come together in the end is amazing. This was probably the most suspenseful out of all the DW audio books I've listened to thus far, and the music and sound effects definitely aided in that.
January 27, 2019
I love the 10th Doctor and Donna. The fact that it’s read by David Tennant makes it even better.
Read
September 3, 2011The Doctor and Donna arrive on a planet, where humans and centaurs rage war over the right of the land.
With the TARDIS carted off and Donna separated and branded another soldier, the Doctor soon discovers there are more horrific deeds afoot.
A large species of insect is threatening to wipe out both sides of the war.
The question is: how did they come to be on the planet and who is organising their spread?
It seems that no creature is safe from infestation or the extermination that comes from another source all together: an automaton with a very simple pest control solution...kill everything.
Can the Doctor and Donna convince the humans and the centaurs to put aside their hatred and band together?
This is the first exclusive Doctor Who audio book I've listened to (not a narrated novel but instead written straight for radio play) and also the first one narrated by David Tennant.
A science fiction with centaurs? Count me interested! Although, I had no idea I was in for it when I purchased the audio book. I really just wanted to hear David Tennant's narration and I wasn't disappointed. I loved being pulled back to the ways of his Doctor and his dynamic with Donna.
Tennant narrates the novel with his wonderful Scottish accent and has a great vocal diversity for the accents of different characters. He really brought to life the alternate characters and scenarios in the story. I could picture it well.
One thing in this audio book that was different to the other Doctor Who ones I've listened to, is the inclusion of music and sound effects. It really added a distinct mood and added to the tension build-up. The fact that you could hear the noises that the insects made was eerie. A fantastic new dimension.
'Pest Control' is divided into two parts and is somewhat like experiencing a two-part episode of Doctor Who, only audibly. I'd recommend it to any avid Doctor Who fans, especially those of the 10th Doctor.
(From my blog: Quill Café)
In accordance with the FTC, I would like to disclose that I purchased this book. The opinions expressed are mine and no monetary compensation was offered to me by the author or publisher.
With the TARDIS carted off and Donna separated and branded another soldier, the Doctor soon discovers there are more horrific deeds afoot.
A large species of insect is threatening to wipe out both sides of the war.
The question is: how did they come to be on the planet and who is organising their spread?
It seems that no creature is safe from infestation or the extermination that comes from another source all together: an automaton with a very simple pest control solution...kill everything.
Can the Doctor and Donna convince the humans and the centaurs to put aside their hatred and band together?
This is the first exclusive Doctor Who audio book I've listened to (not a narrated novel but instead written straight for radio play) and also the first one narrated by David Tennant.
A science fiction with centaurs? Count me interested! Although, I had no idea I was in for it when I purchased the audio book. I really just wanted to hear David Tennant's narration and I wasn't disappointed. I loved being pulled back to the ways of his Doctor and his dynamic with Donna.
Tennant narrates the novel with his wonderful Scottish accent and has a great vocal diversity for the accents of different characters. He really brought to life the alternate characters and scenarios in the story. I could picture it well.
One thing in this audio book that was different to the other Doctor Who ones I've listened to, is the inclusion of music and sound effects. It really added a distinct mood and added to the tension build-up. The fact that you could hear the noises that the insects made was eerie. A fantastic new dimension.
'Pest Control' is divided into two parts and is somewhat like experiencing a two-part episode of Doctor Who, only audibly. I'd recommend it to any avid Doctor Who fans, especially those of the 10th Doctor.
(From my blog: Quill Café)
In accordance with the FTC, I would like to disclose that I purchased this book. The opinions expressed are mine and no monetary compensation was offered to me by the author or publisher.
June 15, 2014
Mediocre at best, The Doctor and Donna find themselves in a war between humans and a type of centaur look-a-like alien. The plot is a bit derivative and perdictable, just plain uninspired. The saving grace of this audio special is David Tennant's sexy voice and his prefect interpretation/imitation of Donna Noble.
Overall, don't expect much out of the story but give it a listen if you want to fangirl over Tennant's delicious narration.
Overall, don't expect much out of the story but give it a listen if you want to fangirl over Tennant's delicious narration.
July 29, 2020
Doctor Who is kinda’ my therapist at the moment so adding audiobooks to the novels & TV episodes was the next obvious step. I loved having more of 10, & David Tennant does a brilliant job of replicating Donna’s character (as well as his own). The story felt like a typical Doctor Who adventure from David Tennant’s era, with danger & comedy laced throughout.
⚠️ This audiobook contains mild violence, gun/bomb use & mild gore ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-379
⚠️ This audiobook contains mild violence, gun/bomb use & mild gore ⚠️
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-379
December 28, 2015
This is the kind of story I was looking for. David Tennant sounds like 10. Donna Noble is being Donna Noble. Giant bugs and a ridiculous nemesis.
Not for the serious reader but fun for the Doctor Who fan. (I do believe the author overused the word "really" but I give him a pass because DT says it so well.)
Not for the serious reader but fun for the Doctor Who fan. (I do believe the author overused the word "really" but I give him a pass because DT says it so well.)
November 18, 2019
Honestly, the story was so garbage that, if left too long to fester, pest control might have actually been required. Not to mention the weird sexism thing it had going on (the female soldier is a female. Got it). But I would happily listen to David Tennant read the phone book, so I threw in an extra star for that.
December 15, 2015
i liked the doctor who story. yay! :D
lol @ david tennant doing eastern european accent (polish?, serbian?, russian? i dunno)
lol @ david tennant doing eastern european accent (polish?, serbian?, russian? i dunno)
January 27, 2016
Bought mainly because Tennant narrated. Not one of my favorite stories. It was slow and sort of dull. Tennant did a great job narrating, and I enjoyed his Catherine Tate impression, but I probably wouldn't listen to this one again.
July 14, 2019
This was....so weird/bad??? Introduced things out of nowhere, EXTREMELY weird concept (even by Doctor Who standards), fatphobia/sexism, & not even that compelling or interesting of a plot. I don't mind if my scifi is wacky, but you need to construct it in a way that at least makes SENSE.
January 6, 2013
Awesome book. I absolutely love this book! It's a thrilling adventure with the Doctor and Donna! :) I highly recommend this book!
June 11, 2015
I love David Tennat's voice and the story it's fun. Loved it
January 13, 2026
"You don't have the courage to bear arms, Doctor."
"Oh there are lots of other things I'll bear, and bravely too. I'll bear witness, I'll bear the blame, bear ridicule, bear fruit, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, I can bear a burden, bear inspection, bear pain, I can grin and bear it, I may be a bear of little brain, General, but what you should bear in mind is I don't care to, and I don't need to, bear arms."
I daresay one of my favourite Doctor monologues?
— — —
I absolutely adore Ten and Donna's friendship. I needed more of them and ao3 wasn't cutting it—hence this audiobook. And what I got was awesome, their dynamic holds up really well in this story.
But... and herein lies the problem... THEY'RE SEPERATED FOR LIKE 80% OF THE STORY. AND THE STORY IS AN ABSOLUTE SNORE. It's like Avatar, if the Na'vi were centaurs that people kept making horse puns about and non-consetually riding. But then also throw in Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis why don't you, all the humans and centaurs are getting turned into bugs now. And there's a giant robot who wants to kill the bugs, but not the humans or centaurs. And now we gotta stop the war to kill the bugs. It sounds so wild that you might be tempted to think it's interesting. It's not. It would have been fine if The Doctor and Donna could at least interact the whole time. But no.
Aside from that, David Tennant is fantastic as narrator, all his accents for each character are really fun (the American one is especially silly). I mean it's David Tennant what else is there to say.
But I do fear that this show might have consumed me beyond escape.
"Oh there are lots of other things I'll bear, and bravely too. I'll bear witness, I'll bear the blame, bear ridicule, bear fruit, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, I can bear a burden, bear inspection, bear pain, I can grin and bear it, I may be a bear of little brain, General, but what you should bear in mind is I don't care to, and I don't need to, bear arms."
I daresay one of my favourite Doctor monologues?
— — —
I absolutely adore Ten and Donna's friendship. I needed more of them and ao3 wasn't cutting it—hence this audiobook. And what I got was awesome, their dynamic holds up really well in this story.
But... and herein lies the problem... THEY'RE SEPERATED FOR LIKE 80% OF THE STORY. AND THE STORY IS AN ABSOLUTE SNORE. It's like Avatar, if the Na'vi were centaurs that people kept making horse puns about and non-consetually riding. But then also throw in Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis why don't you, all the humans and centaurs are getting turned into bugs now. And there's a giant robot who wants to kill the bugs, but not the humans or centaurs. And now we gotta stop the war to kill the bugs. It sounds so wild that you might be tempted to think it's interesting. It's not. It would have been fine if The Doctor and Donna could at least interact the whole time. But no.
Aside from that, David Tennant is fantastic as narrator, all his accents for each character are really fun (the American one is especially silly). I mean it's David Tennant what else is there to say.
But I do fear that this show might have consumed me beyond escape.
August 17, 2018
his was a lot of fun. The scope of the settings for the books is incredible. You often find tales that cannot be done without major cost of special effects for the TV show but can be filled in through our imagination very well. A good story with a catch. They had these critters before in Tom Baker's time as the Doctor but they did not have the same name. If memory serves Wyvern might have been the old name. Look up Ark in Space with the Doctor, Harry and our loved Sarah Jane. Then listen to this story. Read by David Tennant, it has a lot going for it. Not just hearing him read with his natural Scottish accent and then have to flip to his Dr. Who accent, but the great fun of hearing him be Donna Noble with that accent! I am still laughing.
The writing is very good. Really on the level of some of the better writing of the last few years. A story that makes you think as well as an adventure. The descriptions give you a good idea of what all the main characters look like except for the Doctor and Donna. I think they are assuming all readers know what they look like. Fair enough. The dialogue is very good. Everything from snarly to making a joke and then realizing you put you foot in it. I saved this one. I had found it on Youtube and I may just listen to it again some time. I had not heard any before that I wanted to do that with. Sometimes one needs a reminder of how easy it is to unconsciously do something stupidly bigoted just because the group you are with or the boss is doing it.
The writing is very good. Really on the level of some of the better writing of the last few years. A story that makes you think as well as an adventure. The descriptions give you a good idea of what all the main characters look like except for the Doctor and Donna. I think they are assuming all readers know what they look like. Fair enough. The dialogue is very good. Everything from snarly to making a joke and then realizing you put you foot in it. I saved this one. I had found it on Youtube and I may just listen to it again some time. I had not heard any before that I wanted to do that with. Sometimes one needs a reminder of how easy it is to unconsciously do something stupidly bigoted just because the group you are with or the boss is doing it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews