And now – they’re middle class, middle aged and in middle England. It’s time to meet ‘The Middling Monks’! 

A brand-new audio sitcom begins today, starring Rufus Hound and Gemma Whelan as two incarnations of the mischievous Doctor Who villain known as the Monk – or, in female form, the Nun. 

The Monk and the Nun are living together, having swapped adventures in time and space for quests to buy a house and get a job, during which they encounter various characters called John, Carrie, and Simon (voiced by Radio 4 comedy’s John Finnemore and his frequent collaborators Carrie Quinlan and Simon Kane). 

This is the first part of a brand-new trilogy in the Dark Gallifrey saga. Over the three releases, we’ll learn more about this bizarre situation the Monks have got themselves into and how it connects to the wider mystery of Dark Gallifrey, and there’ll be plenty of japes and scrapes along the way… 

Dark Gallifrey: The Meddling Monks – Part One is now available to purchase for just £8.99 (digital download to own) or £10.99 (download to own + single-disc collector’s edition CD), exclusively here. Please note: the collector’s edition CD is strictly limited to 1,000 copies and will not be re-pressed.

The two half-hour episodes in this release are: 

Monky House 

A Blinovitch based accident with the TARDIS has curtailed the Meddling Monk and the Meddling Nun’s travels together. Now they’re trapped on Earth with no means of escape. Or are they? The Nun has a mysterious plan and the first step is for them to buy a house. What could possibly go wrong? 

Monky Business 

Our Meddlesome heroes need money to help their plan and so opt to get a job with a local business. But there’s only one role available so they soon find themselves at loggerheads competing for the position. What could possibly go wrong? 

Actor Rufus Hound said: “In the words of one of the great comedians, what a fine mess you’ve got me into! The Monk has started travelling with the Nun, which is, as we all know, quite dangerous because Time Lords are not meant to travel with future or past versions of themselves, causing the TARDIS to do something rather unnecessary.

“But from that point onwards, the world around them is a mystery they then are out to solve. But it would appear they are solving it with a live studio audience.” 

His co-star Gemma Whelan added: “It’s a fantastically funny, bonkers gallop through different times and genres, with a lot of satisfying easter eggs for people who are deep fans of everything Doctor Who. There’s something for everyone!” 

Praise for the previous Dark Gallifrey trilogy, Master!: 

“An absorbing slow burning tale which takes the listener on twists and turns on the way to its revelatory finale.”
CultBox 

“The Master truly thrives as a character when they have the space to be properly explored.”
Doctor Who Magazine 

“I would really recommend this story if you love the Eric Roberts Master in fully bonkers control mode.”
Big Blue Box Podcast 

Big Finish listeners can pre-order all three instalments of the Meddling Monks trilogy in a multibuy bundle for just £24 (download to own) or £30 (download to own + collector’s edition CD).  

Alternatively, a bundle comprising all six of 2026’s Dark Gallifrey instalments – which includes the Meddling Monks trilogy as well as a second trilogy, starring a character yet to be announced – for just £50 (download to own) or £60 (download to own + collector’s edition CD). 

Other bundles are available: the complete Dark Gallifrey pre-order bundle, including all eight trilogies, each following a different renegade Time Lord, is just £188 (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 May 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.