The Fourth Doctor – the eccentric traveller in time and space portrayed since 1975, and to this day, by Tom Baker – returns for a brand-new series of audio dramas alongside his capable companion Sarah Jane Smith (Sadie Miller), as the first of 2026’s three Fourth Doctor Adventures box sets is released today. 

The Doctor and Sarah Jane have been exploring the universe, but in The Ministry of Death, they find themselves summoned back to Earth, where they’re reunited with their old friends at UNIT, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Jon Culshaw) and Harry Sullivan (Christopher Naylor). 

Across two exciting tales, comprising approximately three-hours of full-cast Doctor Who audio adventure, the team must investigate a series of bizarre deaths related to the latest technology, before they look into an alien incursion at the National Museum. 

Doctor Who – The Fourth Doctor Adventures: The Ministry of Death is now available to purchase for just £19.99 (download to own) or £24.99 (download to own + collector’s edition 3-disc CD box set) exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD box set is strictly limited to 1,500 copies and will not be re-pressed. 

The stories in this box set are: 

The Ministry of Death by Robert Valentine (four parts) 

When the Brigadier uses the Space-Time Telegraph to summon the Doctor and Sarah Jane from their travels, they know it’ll be for something unusual. But neither could possibly expect something quite this strange. 

An electronics expert has died after being struck by lightning. But how could this possibly happen in his office? And that’s only the first death they discover. 

A wild scheme is underway. A case of twisted science and revenge. That’s about to hit closer to home than they could possibly anticipate. 

The Inhuman Empire by Phil Mulryne (two parts) 

Sarah is contacted by an old friend who knows her predilection for ‘rum goings on’, asking her to investigate unusual activities at the National Museum. Sarah agrees to look into it, with the Doctor tagging along – but they soon discover things are worse than they thought. 

Because the Museum is host to alien activity – very familiar aliens at that. And if they don’t stop these relic hunters quickly, then humanity itself might not survive. 

The first story’s guest cast includes Carolyn Seymour as Diana Stravius, Carla Mendonça as Mildred Harbin/Miss Price, Richard James as Deverell/Walter Stravius, and Wayne Forester as Prendergast/The Postman. And, The Inhuman Empire guest stars Jayne Ashbourne as Alison Carmichael, John Heffernan as Carson Baylis, and Nick Ellsworth as Sir William Kenyon. 

Actor Christopher Naylor described The Ministry of Death: “It has a real adventure serial feel to it. It moves at a good pace and it’s very reminiscent of those early stories in Tom’s tenure, like Robot. You can imagine those very brightly lit sets and the jeeps zooming all over the place and lots of colour separation overlay of actors and creatures getting bigger.” 

Sadie Miller, who plays Sarah Jane Smith, agreed: “It’s a really fun adventure. It reminds me of Roger Corman movies – that sort of creature feature element, which I absolutely adore, and a gothic spooky element to the sci-fi, with a mad scientist character, which I’ve always really enjoyed as a viewer and as a listener.” 

Praise for the previous Fourth Doctor Adventures release, The Last Queen of the Nile: 

“An epic, emotional audio blockbuster that is guaranteed to rival some of the best televised Who historicals.”
Who Review 

“Both Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are on top form throughout, responding to the quality of the scripts. 5/5”
Cultbox 

“Possibly one of the best Fourth Doctor stories ever.”
Doctor Who Magazine 

The Ministry of Death is the first of three Fourth Doctor Adventures box sets released in 2026, with the two further sets due for release in June and September. All three can be pre-ordered together in a multibuy bundle for just £57 (download to own) or £70.50 (download to own + collector’s edition CD). 

Alternatively, listeners can buy this release as part of a bundle of all 15 Classic Doctor Who box sets released in 2026 for £285 (download to own). A very limited number of the download to own + collector’s edition CD bundle remains, at £352.50.  

All the above prices (including pre-order and multibuy bundle discounts) are fixed for a limited time only and guaranteed no later than 30 April 2026. 

SALE! For a limited time only, get discounts on selected Fourth Doctor audio dramas and bundles. Click here to browse the deals. Offers end no later than 23:59 (UK time) on 08 March 2026.

Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mailout of collector’s edition CDs will be delayed, 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.