The Time War era incarnation of the Master, portrayed by the acclaimed Sir Derek Jacobi, returns for four brand-new audio episodes today. And finally, he’s had enough of the never-ending war… 

With both the Daleks (Nicholas Briggs) and the Time Lords out to destroy him, the Master decides it’s time to flee. But even on the run, the desperate and deadly Master finds opportunities to exercise his wickedness. 

From a school for alien girls to a deep-space refugee camp, and a ship of adventurers from Ancient Gallifrey, the Master can’t help but create a little mayhem wherever he passes through. 

The Worlds of Doctor Who – The War Master: His Greatest Trick  is available to purchase now for just £24.99 (download to own) or £30.99 (download to own + collector’s edition 4-disc CD box set) exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,250 copies and will not be repressed. 

The box set’s four masterful episodes are: 

The Grievance Bureau by Lizzie Hopley 

Like many a top-class criminal, the Master has been caught on a misdemeanour. Both the Time Lords and the Daleks intend to destroy him forever but they can’t do it alone. Can the two sides of the deadly Time War come together to eradicate a mutual enemy? 

But as the Master’s show trial commences, there’s a danger that his ‘misdemeanour’ may not be as minor as they thought… 

Last Girl Standing by Katharine Armitage 

The Master has taken charge of an exclusive alien girls’ school, where he’s lying low in comfort. But when pushed by a suspicious colleague, he weaves a treacherous web around students and teachers alike.  

Under the guise of choosing a new Head Girl, the ‘Head Master’ sets off a twisted competition; a race for survival where there can only ever be one winner... 

The Worst of All Evils by Ian Winterton

Damaged by a Dalek time-destructor, the Master’s TARDIS is spat from the vortex onto Horoka – the hub of Earth Empire’s transmat network, and the site of a refugee camp. Injured, the Master is taken to a hospital run by the ever-hopeful activist Carla Zheng.  

Their situation is desperate, but to the Master there is one thing even worse than despair… 

The Blue Shift Ritual by Adam Christopher

On the run from both the Daleks and the Time Lords, the Master stumbles across an out-of-control time capsule. The crew are on a mission from Ancient Gallifrey to the legendary planet of Arkheparas, where they hope to prevent the Cult of the Infinite from activating their great Engine – a device which the seers foresaw would end all of time. But with both factions of the Time War on his tail, the apocalypse is just what the Master needs... 

Sir Derek Jacobi said: “The Master is a kaleidoscope of feelings and emotions and plans and ideas. That's what makes him so wonderful to play, really. But he can display weakness, and sometimes, actually, they come very close to beating him. It’s interesting to find out what the obstacles put in his way are – they’re always different, and they're always very interesting psychologically. It certainly keeps you on your toes!” 

Bethany Antonia, known for her roles in House of the Dragon and Doctor Who TV episode The Well, plays schoolgirl Suki in Last Girl Standing. She said: “I love everything about the world and about the writing. It’s so cool to watch Sir Derek work and to see the nuances in how he delivers different lines and how he self-regulates his own notes. Because obviously he’s so brilliant that no one has to give him notes. It’s like watching an expert give himself feedback!” 

The guest cast of His Greatest Trick also includes  Laura Aikman (Gavin & Stacey), Sèverine Howell-Meri  (Hanna), Sophie Shad (Grange Hill) and Darragh Cowley (Masters of the Air), as well as Ben Arogundade, Elizabeth Hollingshead, Jessica Dennis, Isabelle Farah, Sapphire Joy, Quanna Luo Masterson, Richard Reed, Andrew James Spooner, Lizzie Hopley, and Sarah Whitehouse. 

The War Master will return in October 2026, in Deeds Without Name. This box set will comprise four more episodes starring Sir Derek Jacobi, as the Master continues his flight from Daleks and Time Lords alike. 

Big Finish listeners can save money by purchasing His Greatest Trick in a multibuy bundle with Deeds Without Name, for just £48 (download to own) or £58 (download to own + collector’s edition CD), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. 

All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 31 December 2025. 

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.