Nanny duty for the Eighth Doctor

After the dramatic ending of November’s New Pathways, the TARDIS has taken the Eighth Doctor and his friends far from home, and if they’re ever to return, hard choices must be made...

But first, there’s a unique challenge for the Doctor – how will the Time Lord cope when tasked with looking after a human baby?

Fear the Reapers, due for release in December, is the second half of a thrilling full-cast audio drama miniseries, starring Paul McGann as the Doctor alongside two new companions – Sam Stafford as gentle giant Alfie Steep and Natalie Gumede as adventure-loving creative Chase Moyo.

There’s also a return to a planet from the Doctor and Alfie’s earlier journeys, where they must face the consequences of their previous visit. And, in the miniseries’ finale, there’s a deadly encounter with the Reapers – the brutal gargoyle-esque creatures who feed on time paradoxes, introduced in 2005 Doctor Who TV episode Father’s Day.

Doctor Who – The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Fear the Reapers is now available to pre-order for just £19.99 (download to own) or £24.99 (download to own + collector’s edition CD box set), exclusively from www.bigfinish.com. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed.

The three full-cast audio adventures in this box set are:

The Junction by Helen Goldwyn

Investigating the TARDIS crew’s latest predicament, the Doctor takes on a new challenge – dealing with nappies and bedtimes – while Chase discovers what her life might have been like along a different path.

But choices have repercussions – and some decisions put the entire universe in danger...

Yesterday Dies Today by Alfie Shaw

A long time ago, the Doctor and Alfie visited Mahradroxia. Their experiences there haunt them to this day.

Now, they’re back with Chase in tow, determined to lay the ghosts of the past to rest.

Matilda by Alan Ronald

One decision can change everything. The TARDIS is helpless, and the Reapers are coming...

For the Doctor, Chase and Alfie, life will never be the same again.

Susan Aderin returns to the role of Chase’s mother Romy, and the box set’s guest cast also includes Arita Sadiku (Gangs of London), Beth Goddard (The Serpent Queen), and Ian Conningham (Insomnia), plus further names to be announced.

The first story’s writer Helen Goldwyn said: “I couldn’t believe I was allowed to write an episode where the Doctor is a nanny, because it feels so mundane in theory and also it’s such a particular human experience. Of course he’s going to look after a baby to the best of his ability and he’s going to be a really fun caretaker, but there’s always an element of danger with the Doctor!”

The second story was written by Alfie Shaw, who said: “When we had the group meeting to discuss this project, it was casually dropped in that there was a companion who goes to the gym a lot called Alfie, at which point I was slightly worried that I’d signed away my life rights to Big Finish without knowing it. Because a lot of the chat was focused on Chase, I wanted to do a story that focused on Alfie, so we get to know him a bit better as well.”

And, Al Ronald, who wrote the thrilling finale – as well as the opening episode of previous box set New Pathways – said: “It’s nerve-wracking introducing new companions, and you never know quite how it’s going to come together. In the first episode, that’s part and parcel of the story, but by episode six, the chemistry that’s developed is really exciting. They’re all bouncing off each other wonderfully. And to be able to bring the Reapers in is super exciting – who doesn’t love a Reaper, right?”

Big Finish listeners can save money by pre-ordering both of this year’s The Eighth Doctor Adventures box sets – New Pathways and Fear the Reapers – together as a multibuy bundle for just £38 (as digital downloads to own) or £47 (downloads + collector’s edition CDs), exclusively here.

Alternatively, listeners can buy this series as part of a bundle of all 15 Classic Doctor Who box sets released in 2026 for just £285 (download to own).

All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 31 January 2027.

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.