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The Companion Chronicles #4.12
Doctor Who: Solitaire
"What if there were a game you didn't know you were playing? Where you didn't know the aim and you hadn't seen the rules?"
Charlotte Pollard arrives in a toyshop, but she doesn't know where she is — or even who she is. The mysterious owner wants to play games. He's the Celestial Toymaker, and he has already defeated the Doctor, whose essence is hidden inside a ventriloquist's doll.
The Doctor is gone. The TARDIS is lost. But the game is only just beginning...
Charlotte Pollard arrives in a toyshop, but she doesn't know where she is — or even who she is. The mysterious owner wants to play games. He's the Celestial Toymaker, and he has already defeated the Doctor, whose essence is hidden inside a ventriloquist's doll.
The Doctor is gone. The TARDIS is lost. But the game is only just beginning...
Audio CD
First published June 1, 2010
82 people want to read
About the author
John Dorney
166 books26 followersJohn Dorney is a British writer and actor best known for stage roles including the National Theatre, the BBC Radio 4 sitcom My First Planet; and his scripts for the Big Finish Doctor Who range. His script 'Solitaire' was rated the most popular Doctor Who Companion Chronicle of 2010 on the Timescales website and was the runner up in Unreality Sci-fi net's poll for Story of the Year 2010-11.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
As well as Doctor Who, he has written for Big Finish's Sapphire and Steel series and on radio co-wrote three series of BBC Radio 4's Recorded for Training Purposes. He won the BBC Show Me the Funny 'Sketch Factor' competition, was a finalist in the BBC 'Laughing Stock' competition, and has performed in Mark Watson's Edinburgh Comedy Award winning long shows as 'The Balladeer'. On stage, he has written plays for the Royal Court Theatre, Hampstead and Soho Theatres.
He trained at LAMDA.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 25, 2022
‘I am the Toymaker and I do not lose!’
September 27, 2023
Oh my! This was wonderful! So close to get a 5-star rating. My only quibble is that the voice of The (eighth) Doctor was filled in by India Fisher. But then we’re aren’t really sure that’s The Doctor are we? Oh yes, nicely done.
Usually these Companion Chronicles have more in common with narrated audiobooks than audio-dramas. But this is really a full-cast audio-drama with a cast of two. Well written and wonderfully executed.
Usually these Companion Chronicles have more in common with narrated audiobooks than audio-dramas. But this is really a full-cast audio-drama with a cast of two. Well written and wonderfully executed.
February 2, 2021
I sometimes dislike when The Companion Chronicles have the companion's voice for The Doctor's voice, but it works here because The Doctor has been turned into a dummy. So Charley has to provide his voice. Admittedly, the fact that this was a story involving a dummy was my main reason to get it, and it took me a while to notice that the Celestial Toymaker was on the cover. His serial ended with implied setup for a later encounter with him on the TV show, but that never happened. It almost happened with The Nightmare Fair, which was scrapped from the screen and later adapted into a novel, and later as a pretty good audio. Solitaire is pretty good as well, perhaps even better, with the Toymaker's characterization being very eerie and mysterious, as well as childish when he can't handle the idea of losing. I also appreciate that he mentions that he and The Doctor have gone toe-to-toe multiple times. The ending, however, felt more enigmatic than it needed to be. Also, who knew I'd be hit with such nostalgia hearing the intro music that had been used for the Eighth Doctor and Charley's audios in the monthly range?
March 16, 2024
There is something so magical about starting the day with a doctor who adventure, just finishing it before work. I always get a sense of well I wouldn't call it hope per se but like a shot of adrenaline or something when I get back into this world.
Doing this before work, before the coffee had set in was the best way to start the day.
And to add to it this story was masterful.
This could've been a bogstandard tale of hey do you remember the celestial toymaker??
I'm so glad that it was exactly the opposite of this.
The toymaker being the one playing the game instead of Charley.
Funny to see Charley getting the amnesia this time instead of the eight doctor.
Only seen David Baillie as Cotton in Pirates of the Caribbean in which he played a mute character, finally hearing his voice but not seeing him was a fun switcheroo.
And his toymaker is played so brilliantly. He really , really gets annoyed with Charley here. He's very childish but feels true to the character he was in the original serial.
Love, love, love that the Toymaker tells Charley that he and the Doctor have gone toe many times before.
Another thing I adored was the very end, Charley half in the TARDIS offering to take the Toymaker out of the game as well, The Doctor would've been proud of her.
Big finish companions really do not have it easy, do they?
One tiny teensy bit of annoyance was that Paul McGann didn't goice the eight Doctor but rather India Fisher voiced him as the dummy version which yes I get cause he's a dummy here but how much effort would it have taken to get McGann in the recording booth for an hour?
Should really give the Nightmare Fair a listen these days.
This was pretty fantastic
Doing this before work, before the coffee had set in was the best way to start the day.
And to add to it this story was masterful.
This could've been a bogstandard tale of hey do you remember the celestial toymaker??
I'm so glad that it was exactly the opposite of this.
The toymaker being the one playing the game instead of Charley.
Funny to see Charley getting the amnesia this time instead of the eight doctor.
Only seen David Baillie as Cotton in Pirates of the Caribbean in which he played a mute character, finally hearing his voice but not seeing him was a fun switcheroo.
And his toymaker is played so brilliantly. He really , really gets annoyed with Charley here. He's very childish but feels true to the character he was in the original serial.
Love, love, love that the Toymaker tells Charley that he and the Doctor have gone toe many times before.
Another thing I adored was the very end, Charley half in the TARDIS offering to take the Toymaker out of the game as well, The Doctor would've been proud of her.
Big finish companions really do not have it easy, do they?
One tiny teensy bit of annoyance was that Paul McGann didn't goice the eight Doctor but rather India Fisher voiced him as the dummy version which yes I get cause he's a dummy here but how much effort would it have taken to get McGann in the recording booth for an hour?
Should really give the Nightmare Fair a listen these days.
This was pretty fantastic
October 11, 2018
John Dorney’s debut script is filled with intelligence and wit. Charley and the Toymaker are an interesting pair of enemies and India Fisher and David Bailie bring out their best. This was when the Companion Chronicles really started to branch out into new heights, and I cannot thank Big Finish enough for making this practically flawless story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
I enjoyed hearing a Charley story. I think I've only listened to one other before. After yesterday's final Doctor Who 60th Anniversary special, I needed to listen to more Toymaker stories. I enjoyed that Charley went up against the Toymaker on her own and won. She's a smart character, even when she has no memory of the Eighth Doctor, with no time for the Toymaker's games.
June 28, 2018
Interesting and well made.
Charley plays a game against the Celestial Toymaker and the way the Doctor is brought in is quite original.
Very enjoyable.
Charley plays a game against the Celestial Toymaker and the way the Doctor is brought in is quite original.
Very enjoyable.
May 21, 2023
A very enjoyable short one with Charley, featuring the Celestial Toymaker.
July 3, 2024
I’ve slogged through a lot of these but this one is just next level. It’s a two-hander drama rather than a narrated story, and it’s spectacularly good.
December 10, 2025
Underrated story and maybe the best Celestial Toy Maker story. If you're a fan of Scherzo, you'll enjoy the atmosphere this story brings.
September 5, 2010
Although this is part of the Companion Chronicles range, this is basically a full-fledged two-hander play, with just a little narration to wrap the story up at the end. As such, it features even less of the Doctor than is usual for a typical Companion Chronicle, which might be a defect for some, but didn't bother me.
The setup is simple: Charley is trapped in a game with the Celestial Toymaker, and has to figure out how to win in order to save herself and the Doctor. And it's a game where one of the rules of the game is that you don't know the rules. I really enjoyed watching Charley try to figure out the rules, and trying to figure out the rules myself.
The early 8th Doctor and Charley plays were among the first plays I listened to when I was discovering Big Finish, and so revisiting that era has a special thrill of nostalgia for me, because not only does it remind me how much I loved those stories, but it reminds me of the thrill of discovering a whole new universe of Doctor Who on audio. I'm glad that Big Finish gave me a chance to revisit that era, and I hope they'll do so again.
The setup is simple: Charley is trapped in a game with the Celestial Toymaker, and has to figure out how to win in order to save herself and the Doctor. And it's a game where one of the rules of the game is that you don't know the rules. I really enjoyed watching Charley try to figure out the rules, and trying to figure out the rules myself.
The early 8th Doctor and Charley plays were among the first plays I listened to when I was discovering Big Finish, and so revisiting that era has a special thrill of nostalgia for me, because not only does it remind me how much I loved those stories, but it reminds me of the thrill of discovering a whole new universe of Doctor Who on audio. I'm glad that Big Finish gave me a chance to revisit that era, and I hope they'll do so again.
May 19, 2011
A Doctor Who audio which doesn't feature a Doctor. Well, it does but as you can maybe guess from the front cover, it's a bit complex.
I quite liked this story. A shame we don't get to hear Paul McGann's voice. The Doctor remains a dummy, literally, throughout but is voiced by India Fisher, who plays Charley.
I quite liked this story. A shame we don't get to hear Paul McGann's voice. The Doctor remains a dummy, literally, throughout but is voiced by India Fisher, who plays Charley.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2014
Charley doing the doctor's voice as a puppet was brilliant!
This was a very fun companion chronicle. Rather than a narration it was a nice two hander with Charley and the Toymaker in a game that neither of them understand. Even without her memory Charley just carries on and is very clever and determined, never ready to admit defeat and just wants to puzzle everything out.
This was a very fun companion chronicle. Rather than a narration it was a nice two hander with Charley and the Toymaker in a game that neither of them understand. Even without her memory Charley just carries on and is very clever and determined, never ready to admit defeat and just wants to puzzle everything out.
February 22, 2013
This companion chronicle was done a bit differently as a two person play, rather than a two person narrative but it worked really well with several twists and turns right up to the end. Charlie and the Toy Maker play against each other well (no pun intended).
January 21, 2016
Charley loses her memory and ends up in what she thinks is a toyshop. It is actually a game run by the Celestial Toymaker. The Doctor is a doll and the toymakers store gets smaller with every wrong answer and loss. Can Charley survive and win?
September 2, 2016
I like Charlie as a companion, yet there are times when she starts to lose her patience and seems to have a tantrum. I really loved the ending though.
November 29, 2022
Was a fun interesting solo adventure for Charlie.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews