Coming for Christmas, Doctor Who – The War Doctor 1: Only the Monstrous begins an epic new series of Time War battles, delving into the life of the War Doctor (John Hurt), the secret incarnation of the Time Lord who waged a terrible campaign against the Daleks.

This four-disc box set has been written by Big Finish executive producer Nicholas Briggs, and includes the following three stories:

1.1 The Innocent

As the Daleks mass their time fleet for a final assault on Gallifrey, something ancient is waiting for them at Omega One. And a sacrifice must be made.

Arch manipulator and Time Lord strategist, Cardinal Ollistra receives shock news of the Doctor’s death.

Meanwhile, on the planet Keska, a parochial war has returned to plague a peaceful civilisation after decades of tranquility. But how can such a war have any connection with the great Time War which, at any one moment in the whole of eternity, could threaten to tear the universe apart?

If only the Doctor were still alive.

1.2 The Thousand Worlds

With the high ranking Time Lord Seratrix behind enemy lines, the War Doctor finds himself assigned to a rescue mission. But any room for manoeuvre is severely restricted by an area of space known as the Null Zone.

Times have changed on Keska, and a countdown to destruction is beginning.

But who are the Taalyens and what is their part in the great and terrifying Dalek plan?

1.3 The Heart of Battle

Trapped in a citadel swarming with Daleks, the Time Lord rescue force must find a way to overcome insurmountable odds. With the Daleks apparently planning to rule the Null Zone, perhaps their thirst for universal conquest and victory has been quenched…

The War Doctor doesn’t believe so — but how can he prove it without destroying any chance of peace?

As the countdown to the destruction of Keska proceeds, a deadly choice must be made… A choice that will define this Doctor and perhaps forever cast him in the role of ‘monster’.

The set features an all-star cast, including Jacqueline Pearce, Lucy Briggs-Owen, Carolyn Seymour, Beth Chalmers, Alex Wyndham, Kieran Hodgson, Barnaby Edwards, Mark McDonnell and John Banks.

You can pre-order Doctor Who: The War Doctor 1 – Only the Monstrous today from the Big Finish website for only £20. With the set's general release not until the end of February 2016, it's a perfect chance to be one of the first to hear it!

A special Time War bundle is also available to order, containing all four War Doctor box sets and the special prequel Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor - The Time War. As with all Big Finish website CD purchases, where possible a download copy is instantly and exclusively available upon buying.

Recording has also completed on our the second War Doctor set Doctor Who - The War Doctor 2: Infernal Devices – on which more details will be revealed soon!

And for those interested in exploring the build up to the Last Great Time War, you can check out the Doctor Who: Dark Eyes, with all four box sets available for just £20 each on CD and Download for this weekend!