Doctor Who: Situation Vacant

The Eighth Doctor Adventures #4.02

by Eddie Robson, Paul McGann (Performer), Barnaby Edwards (Performer)

TRAVELLER IN TIME AND SPACE seeks male or female companion with good sense of humour for adventures in the Fourth and Fifth Dimensions.

No experience necessary.

No time wasters, no space wasters please.

Genres: Doctor Who, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Time Travel

Audio CD

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Eddie Robson is a comedy and science fiction writer best known for his sitcom Welcome To Our Village, Please Invade Carefully and his work on a variety of spin-offs from the BBC Television series Doctor Who. He has written books, comics and short stories, and has worked as a freelance journalist for various science fiction magazines. He is married to a female academic and lives in Lancaster.

Robson's comedy writing career began in 2008 with material for Look Away Now. Since then his work has featured on That Mitchell and Webb Sound, Tilt, Play and Record, Newsjack, Recorded For Training Purposes and The Headset Set. The pilot episode of his sitcom Welcome To Our Village, Please Invade Carefully was broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 5th July 2012. It starred Katherine Parkinson and Julian Rhind-Tutt.

His Doctor Who work includes the BBC 7 radio plays Phobos, Human Resources and Grand Theft Cosmos, the CD releases Memory Lane, The Condemned, The Raincloud Man and The Eight Truths, and several short stories for Big Finish's Doctor Who anthologies, Short Trips. He has contributed comic strips to Doctor Who Adventures.

Between 2007 and 2009, Robson was the producer of Big Finish's Bernice Summerfield range of products, and has contributed four audio plays to the series. He has also written books on film noir and the Coen Brothers for Virgin Publishing, the Doctor Who episode guide Who's Next with co-authors Mark Clapham and Jim Smith, and an illustrated adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lucie Miller left the TARDIS so there is an emptyness aboard. So it seems that the Doctor has put an advertisement in the paper for a new companion. So far so silly......
The 4 candidates are frankly rubbish at solving issues whereby two actually mollest an alien who is actually doing his job.
the first part is plain silly in the second part we get some depth and darkness. And the revelations about the various candidates are fun. But at the end we discover that there were more candidates at a different location. So is there a second timetraveller?

A mostly silly episode which is probably meant as an intro for the seasons overreaching Arc.
Paul McGann is as always impressive as the Doctor. One hopes that the BBC would use him in some more tv movies.

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of the Apprentice, I kinda really liked this audiobook, as it was a Doctor Who parody of the Apprentice. Other than that, the plot was a bit poor and it was literally just the Doctor choosing a new companion to replace Lucie, and kickstart the overarching plot for the series.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another silly one, this time trying to spoof The Apprentice as the Doctor appears to be looking to replace Lucie Miller (as if anybody could). None of the four finalists are quite what they seem, and even the Doctor is not entirely sure what's going on. But, but they end we get a new companion - and sadly it's not the hotel manager - she's never fancied travel that much. No real story to speak of, the story serves only to select the new companion - although there is the possibility of a set-up for a future storyline maybe...

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having spoofed Top Gear in a previous season, the 8th Doctor Adventures now tackle The Apprentice, with four candidates vying for the position of the Doctor's assistant, having to prove their mettle in dealing with disappearing scientists at a conference and then an attack on London by giant robots.

At the end of the first half, I wasn't terribly enthusiastic. For a start, much of the first half involves the potential companions working with each other, not with the Doctor, which seems like a strange way of going about things when the Doctor/companion chemistry is so important to the companion role. At the halfway point, none of the four candidates seemed like promising companion material to me, and only the fact that the Doctor obviously felt the same way gave me some reassurance. However, things picked up quite a bit in the second half, as the candidates began to show some useful traits, and to reveal that they weren't initially what they seemed.

I don't want to spoil the surprise, so I'll just say I'm tentatively pleased with the final selection. I can't say that the character made as strong an immediate impression as Lucie Miller did, but it's someone who has potential.

[Nicholas Whyte · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another new series starting from Big Finish, this time with Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor auditioning four potential new companions in a set-up intended more for comedy than common sense. Not all of the potential companions are exactly who or what they say they are; I thought the show was stolen by Joanna Kanska as the manager at the hotel where it all took place, rather than by any of the formal contestants. Lots of stuff happening but it didn't quite hang together for me.

[April Mccaffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, but not the best?

Eddie Robson always writes enjoyable ones and this was easily entertaining about the Doctor looking for new companions and missing scientists in a hotel.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

ホテルに候補者たちが集まってドクターの旅友となるテストを受ける。審査員はもちろんドクター。

ルーシーを失って8はどんだけ落ち込んでるんだろうと心配しながら聴き始めたら旅友オーディション。しかもなんだかすごくバカバカしい。ラストは吸血鬼もでてくるし。
聴き終わってなんじゃこりゃと思って調べたら「The Apprentice」というリアリティ番組のパロディだったそうな。前のTop Gearは面白かったけどこれはうーんツッコむタイミングがなぁ....

続きを聴いたらTamsinが正式なコンパニオンになっていたのでもう一度聞き直してみた。前回聴いた時はこっちがルーシーのことを引きずっていたせいもあって「ナニコレ」となったけれども、あらためてきくと普通に面白かったので星2から4に嵩上げ。

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Doctor is seen to be holding auditions for a new companion.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“SITUATION VACANT”
Scritto da EDDIE ROBSON.
Con PAUL McGANN, NIKY WARDLEY, JAMES BACHMAN, SHELLEY CONN e JOE THOMAS.
VIAGGIATORE NEL TEMPO E NELLO SPAZIO cerca un compagno maschio o femmina con buon senso dell'umorismo per avventure nella Quarta e Quinta Dimensione.
Non c'è bisogno di esperienze pregresse.
Niente perditempo, niente perdispazio, grazie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Se un Signore del Tempo si ritrova improvvisamente senza companion, quale modo migliore di scegliere il successivo se non pubblicare un annuncio sul giornale e fare dei provini? Quando quattro candidati si presentano per il posto, il Dottore dà subito loro un compito: scoprire cosa sta causando la sparizione di diversi partecipanti a una conferenza scientifica. Saranno all'altezza della situazione? E soprattutto, ci si potrà fidare di loro?
Un inizio assolutamente adorabile per la stagione. Dopo che Lucie se n'è andata, c'è bisogno di introdurre un nuovo companion, è questo è certamente il modo più originale per farlo che ho mai visto. Prendendo spunto da certi reality show come The Apprentice, Eddie Robson si inventa una situazione in cui gli sfidanti devono dare prova delle loro capacità, mentre nel frattempo affrontano problemi reali. Ma oltre a questa divertente idea, si celano anche delle sorprese, perché nessuno di loro è chi dice di essere, e il colpo di scena finale dà inizio ad un mistero che sarà risolto più avanti, andando per una volta ad assegnare un tema e un villain specifico per la stagione.
Tutti e quattro i possibili companion sono scritti in maniera da essere delle plausibili scelte, e si vengono a creare delle fantastiche dinamiche e delle divertenti battute. Il Dottore sembra un po' diverso dal solito: se normalmente si imbatte nei suoi possibili compagni di viaggio per caso, qui ha modo di dire con schiettezza quali caratteristiche sono per lui essenziali nel genere di avventure che affronta e quali difetti non sono perdonabili. E se a prima vista può sembrare una situazione fin troppo out-character per lui, tutto sarà spiegato alla fine.
La musica di Jamie Robertson inoltre condisce il tutto con una composizione dal carattere quasi cinematografico, con pure l'inserimento del tema “There's a Man I Know” che è uno dei miei preferiti.
È certamente un episodio leggero e sbarazzino, ma dopo la tristezza di quello precedente è una ventata di aria fresca, e apre la stagione con brio e vivacità.
E benvenuta a bordo, Tamsin Drew.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A seemingly lighter story, but with a few darker hints at what is still to come. With Lucie Miller having left him (for the moment), the Doctor is alone and learns that a time traveler has put out an add for a companion. Since it certainly wasn't him, he decides to investigate. He discovers 4 applicants, none of whom are what they seem.

Honestly, it was a decent story, though not exactly remarkable. Humorous at times as the 4 would-be Companions struggle to figure out the mystery, mostly failing horribly. The whole set-up is clearly a riff on The Apprentice (which isn't as funny in 2024 as it was back in 2010, but that's in no way Robson's fault).

The new Companion, Tamsin, is a bit of a mystery, since it turns out she was an actor who made up the role of Juliette, hoping that the persona would win her the spot. After finding that out, we find out only that she's an unsuccessful actor who is looking for something new and exciting. So she's a bit of a blank slate. Hopefully she improves and grows on me. As it stands, I really wish the hotel manager had been the one to become the new Companion. She was fantastic and had me grinning every time she popped up.

[David Layton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lost Lucie, the Doctor goes off searching for a new companion in the style of The Apprentice. Or does he? Someone seems to be manipulating things behind the scenes. Meanwhile, none of the candidates is who he or she appears to be. There is some good humor in the story. The Doctor is surprisingly tetchy at times. However, most of this is just the working out of a cute idea following the inevitable course it must follow given the premise. In that, the kinds of surprises were not all that surprising. The story also sets us up for a story arc of some kind, a bit of business to be revisited.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

In at nutshell Doctor Who does The Apprentice.
Since Lucie left we find the Doctor (McGann) interviewing for the post of companion. The candidates get more than they bargain for having to deal with giant robots.

This one's not bad. I really really miss Lucie, but I thought the core concept of the Doctor actually interviewing for companions was great fun.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doctor becomes the Apprentice and is putting 4 people to the test to see who should get the job as his next companion. I love this, its so silly and the twists are so fun considering most of the people wanted the job to kill the Doctor or exploit him.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

A pretty fun parody story in which the Doctor sees potential new companions compete for the role.

[Charles Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice dose of humor

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The introduction of Tamsin Drew as a companion. It’s kind of funny how it feels like The Doctor is looking for a new roommate or something.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very silly....

I'm loving it!

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story that would have become tiresome if it was any longer. This was just the right length for it.

[Gabriel Mero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept for this story.

[SuperPiggy5000 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great episode, I loved the "job interview" setting of the story, I thought that was unique. Also, a new companion!

And the first appearance of Eighth's theme!

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting and experimental 8th Doctor story. I like it and would like to see more stories like this. Well balanced with multiple characters.

[TheSmilingDragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Situation Vacant is about four people competing to become the Doctors new companion after the departure of Lucie Miller.

I was looking forward to this as "Human Resources", which was written written by Eddie Robson for the Eight Doctor's first series, is one of my favorites from the range so I was interested to see what he done with this story and whilst I prepare "Human Resources" this was a fun and clever story that sets up the rest of the series.

I don't want to say much more so not to ruin the twists and surprises and I advise that you try and listen to this knowing nothing more than the main concept so not to spoil it as it's a great addition to the series.

[sabisteb aka callisto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nach den Enthüllungen in Death in Blackpool hat Lucie Miller den Job beim Doktor geschmissen. Sie hat keine Lust, ein Spielstein im großen Spiel der Timelords zu sein, belogen zu werden und in ihrem Leben herumpfuschen zu lassen. Nun muss der Doktor sich einen neuen Begleiter suchen. Eine Zeitungsannonce soll Abhilfe schaffen:

„TRAVELLER IN TIME AND SPACE seeks male or female companion with good sense of humour for adventures in the Fourth and Fifth Dimensions.
No experience necessary.
No time wasters, no space wasters please.”

Das Casting der Kandidaten findet in einem Hotel statt, in welchem gerade eine wissenschaftliche Tagung stattfindet. Wissenschaftler verschwinden einfach so, und mit einfach so ist genau das gemeint. Mitten im Vortrag lösen sie sich vor den Augen des Auditoriums in Luft auf.
Die Kandidaten werden in Zweierteams eingeteilt und sollen Informationen sammeln. Derjenige, der am besten Abschneidet, wird der neue Begleiter oder die neue Begleiterin des Doktors.

Nett, ein Zeitreisender schaltet einfach mal so ne Anzeige und sucht einen neuen Begleiter. Eine Persiflage auf das, was Bewerbern derzeitig tatsächlich so blüht, wenn sie mal zu einem Vorstellungsgespräch eingeladen werden: Singen sie, werfen Sie einen Ring über einen Stab…. Lauter debile Spielchen, um den angepasstesten, unterwürfigsten Kandidaten zu finden. Und wen wählen die Firmen dann meist aus? Den größten Deppen und Psychopathen, weil die Leute, die es wirklcih drauf haben, das aktuelle Team möglicherweise schlecht aussehen lassen könnten und von diesem rausgewählt werden. Ja, auch der Doktor fällt erst mal böse auf die Nase mit der Wahl des/der richtigen Kanditaten/Kandidatin. Jeder verdient den Angestellten/Mitreisenden, den er sich nach seinen (schwachsinnigen) Kriterien aussucht.

Dazu natürlich noch die übliche Action, Außerirdische und Katastrophen in Typischer BBC Umsetzung mit top Sprechern und super Klangkulisse.

Die Laufzeit entspricht zwangsweise dem Sendeformat der 7th Dimension.

[Jamie Revell · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the departure of long-term audio companion Lucie Miller in the previous episode, the Doctor is looking for a replacement. So here we get a pastiche of The Apprentice, with four candidates vying for a spot on the TARDIS. (And, no, not really The X-Factor, despite the cover image).

The story, which concerns disappearing scientists and world-conquering robots, is a light bit of fluff that does no more than serve to fill a gap. But the real focus is on the contestants, each of whom turns out to be hiding a secret of some kind. Considering that we know that (at most) only one of them will win, they're all fleshed out rather well, and get about equal air-time - if you don't already know which character is also in the next episode, there's a good chance you'll be kept guessing until the end.

On the other hand, having to share time with the others means that we know rather less of the new companion than we would expect to after a more typical starting story. There's also the problem that the concept itself is a bit daft. Sure, not all is as it seems, and there's a mystery being set up for later in the season, but the nature of the contest means that the story lacks real depth, and there isn't much in the way of comedy to distract from that.

It's actually pretty well done for what it is, and it's an amusing conceit, but in the end I can't give it more than 3 stars.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

One thing that irritates me about Big Finish is that it's soooooo middle class. Often I'll find it hard to distinguish the characters, and not just because the BF audios are glorified fan fiction, at times seemingly written by people who've never interacted with another human being in their lives (I'm looking at you, Marc Platt). No, the problem is that too many of the actors sound alike: that same bland Home Counties, I'm-just-out-of-drama-school-and-I-work-cheap voice. This is aggravated in 'Situation Vacant' by the fact that the two Apprentice-like teams, each made up of a man and a woman, sound almost exactly the same. A promising story, let down by hamfisted casting.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The potential companions struggle to find out what’s going on at a hotel conference, leaving the audience to laugh at the conventional approach to a very non-conventional situation. I've thought about writing a story like this once or twice, so it was great fun to listen too.

[Mel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the top gear was bad but spoof apprentice? EDA just doesn't do comedy well. After the sadness of Lucie leaving this was just awful! Even though it wasn't as it seemed it was just too ridiculous to be believed! Definitely one to avoid. I can't believe it's continuing!

[Keiran Thegreat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Doctor auditions for a new assistant, or should that be apprentice?
A story with a strong humorous element combined with a parodic concept and a deadly secret. The cast give great performances and the production is excellent.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10
Verdict: Recommended

Seriously fun story with really great re-listen value. Every character in this is fantastic and just keep getting better as you listen. Brilliant comedy, satisfying twists and a consistent pace that keeps things exciting. Also 8s theme is just 👌.