Doctor Who: Dare You

The Ninth Doctor Adventures #4.3

by Lisa McMullin, Christopher Eccleston (Narrator ), Billie Piper (Narrator )

Something or someone is playing truth or dare with the people on the Powell Estate. And it's dangerous to play games with a Time Lord. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can REALLY hurt you.

Genres: Doctor Who, Audiobook, Time Travel

Audio CD

First published December 4, 2025

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

The new Doctor and Rose installment on the Powell estate where a mischievous entity preys on the minds of people and they act on the darkest desires or thoughts because their mental brake is taken away.
And now this creature tries to take away the Doctor his inhibitions, the last Timelord, well there is a good idea for you.

the story starts gently but gets dark soon. It starts funny, becomes uncomfortable and when this Hellion tries to bent the Doctors defenses he is playing with realiteit and time as we know.

The Doctor and Rose continue their run from the tv series and are really an advertisement for BF and its audiobooks. Russel T Davies relaunched the TV show with these two and the incredible Jackie as in Rose's mum.
This series is worth your time and you wordt feel cheated at all.

[Emilija · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 2025 52 Book Challenge - December Mini Challenge - 1) Feels Like Home

I am loving this Ninth Doctor and Rose series, I just think it's fantastic and I've enjoyed every one so far. That being said, I don't think that this story was as strong as previous installments in the actual plot and the "Call of the Void" stuff.

However, I did really like seeing the Doctor's darker side, which was something that I appreciated about the Ninth Doctor back in 2005, so I did really like the character development in this "episode".

[Seb Hasi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third installment in the new series of 9th Doctor and Rose stories is certainly an interesting one, diving almost head first into the fantasy genre. On paper the Doctor and Rose chasing a goblin for a bit doesn’t sound exciting, but that really isn’t the sum of the story; with the almost philosophical or possibly psychological aspects being the highlight. This story really did feel like slipping back into my childhood, as I was immediately enraptured by Rose and the Doctor, with the same comedy they had on television and the same dramatic performances. I’m loving the Powell Estate series arc and I do hope more is coming as it is a fantastic idea that really keeps the story to the earthbound nature; replicating the creative style of series one. The villain in this one is quite fun, and his evil shenanigans do make for some vivid imagery and plenty of dread.

Funnily enough I never actually knew that ineffable urge to jump was named ‘call of the void’ so I was truly delighted to find that even after all these years Dr Who is teaching me things I never knew. The story doesn’t have such powerful performances as Last Days of the Powell Estate, but I’m not complaining as this one didn’t slow down for a second. It’s a magical experience that your mind doesn’t get a chance to slow down, creating this feeling of connection to the Doctor as he never slows down trying to defeat the evil goblin dude. I don’t really think Jackie was crucial here, but I did appreciate her in the respect of set dressing; especially considering everyone else in the story bar our protagonists are effectively just cannon fodder. I’m really loving this range and safe to say any fan who grew up in this era really will not have any complaints about the authenticity of this one.

[Danny Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back at the Powell Estate for more adventures Nine and Rose. I enjoyed the previous two stories so I’ve been looking forward to this one.

Something is making the residents of the Powell Estate giving in to their deepest compulsions, things they wouldn’t otherwise do. The Doctor and Rose arrive to find a naughty little gremlin in a pawnshop is playing a childish game with the people who enter the new shop. It loves daring people but it might have bitten off more than it can chew with The Doctor.

Lisa McMullin has written an incredible script that is fun, tense, dramatic with a really simple idea that takes on a bigger scale. It’s very much a character driven kind of story that really takes Nine, Rose and Jackie to places they’ve never been before.

Overall: An outstanding story I loved from start to finish. 10/10

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic story to this latest collection of Ninth Doctor audio dramas! Big Finish pulled out the big guns for this series in reuniting Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper, and so far they have not disappointed!

While this story's creepy factor doesn't reach the heights of The Last Days of the Powell Estate, the psychological aspects of it make it just as interesting. People are born with filters, with self-restraint, for a reason, and this story illustrates why perfectly. Being impulsive can cause a lot pain and suffering for any human being, so how much worse can it be if the Doctor himself loses his self-restraint?

Great story!

[MrColdStream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dare You wraps up the Powell Estate trilogy with an eerie, emotionally cruel premise that weaponises honesty itself. While the neighbours remain thinly sketched and the central concept feels familiar, the Hellion is a strong, mischievous antagonist brought vividly to life by Harry Myers. Eccleston and Piper continue to excel, with Rose once again central to the resolution; the story’s real strength lies in its bleak tone, its exploration of the Ninth Doctor’s buried darkness, and its quiet, affecting focus on the unspoken truths between Rose and Jackie.

✅74/100

[Toby Sutton-Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely phenomenal story, and a stroke of sheer genius! It feels like a really nice mix of RTD1 and RTD2, with the kitchen sink drama mixing in with the supernatural. One of the best Big Finishes I've listened to. Eccleston, Piper, Coduri and McMullin all smashed it as they always do, plus a great guest cast. The words "doing the hokey cokey in class" will stay with me for a long time...

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfully creepy at times, this audiobook briefly delves into Rose and Jackie's relationship and how we don't say the things we mean or mean the things we say. I have to say... I am REALLY enjoying the work of the female writers Big Finish has been employing of late. I am connecting to BF's audiodramas more than ever before.

[R.H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another relistenable release with some great character moments for Camille,Chris and Billie.
This current run of 9 adventures has perked me up and i seem to look forward to the next release or i look forward to releases that i want to replay almost immediately.

[Marcel Driel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out really good and then became a big incomprehensible mess. The heartfelt dialogue at the end redeemed it a bit, but this could have been so much better. 2,5 stars.

[Jurgen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.2 'Dare You' by Lisa McMullin: 4,5*

[Sara Habein · Rating 5 out of 5]

All these stories with the Ninth Doctor and Rose have been excellent, and this story is no different. I enjoy when Jackie's in the mix.

[Piper Huxley · Rating 5 out of 5]

FANTASTIC !!

4.5/5

[A Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

gotta love a classic big finish crash-bang-wallop soundscape finale

[Boone Bluemel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn this was good. Great character drama fitting right in with Series 1. So much of the solo 9DAs were missing anything like that.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This starts off as just another little wacky adventure in the Powell Estates. Literally, just some twee one-off and then we’ll move on to something interesting. But then the ramifications set in. And then the characters really take over the control of the narrative. The whole story morphs into something you were not expecting and we really get to see (well hear) the actors digging into their roles. Absolutely BRILLIANT! There’s a fascinating new wrinkle to The (Ninth) Doctor’s personality. There’s a new depth to Rose Tyler. And, best of all, there’s a new appreciation for Jackie Tyler. This is exactly why I LOVE Doctor Who from Big Finish!