This title was released in June 2026. It will be exclusively available to buy from the Big Finish website until 31 July 2026, and on general sale after this date.
The Doctor and Peri track a criminal imposter to a moon sanctuary of healing ponds, only to discover the lone Rutan the Doctor has previously met trapped in a self-made web of lies.
Experiments to rejoin the Host have forged a bond with grieving pond farmer, Ooland. As their mutual obsession tightens, so Ooland's ponds grow more polluted and their farm cut off from what is really happening on the moon: a full-on Rutan invasion.
As the Doctor and Peri strive to free Melmoth and Ooland from each other, another Doctor is at work close by - with far-reaching plans of his own for the lone Rutan.
**Please note: the collector’s edition CDs are strictly limited to 1,500 copies**
Recorded on: 30 October 2025
Recorded at: The Soundhouse
Writer Lizzie Hopley said: "I chose to use the Sixth Doctor and Peri in this story, because I've always adored the energy of those two. Nicola and Colin have always had such an amazing humour, and a unique ability to slide from this humour into serious change. I thought it would be great to pitch that energy against a messed-up love story.
"It's basically impossible for a Rutan to fall in love, so I thought, well, let's do that then. I wanted us to care about this lone Rutan, and I wanted to create a tragedy, because if you invest in characters and you believe they care for one another, even for selfish reasons, then you can create terrible tragedy, and I wanted to have our Eighth and Sixth Doctors and Peri really experience that."
Lead actor Colin Baker added: "I was rather captivated by the Romeo and Juliet story, the two warring factions who have not exactly a romantic relationship, but a relationship of affection, love, understanding. And I think that's rather sweet and rather tragic, and it really appealed to me."
Nicola Bryant and Vineeta Rishi
Rachel Bavidge and John Banks
Rachel Bavidge, John Banks, Abi Harris, Nicola Bryant and Vineeta Rishi
