Doctor Who: Demon Quest: Relics of Time v. 1 [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

We waited nearly 30 years for another adventure for the 4th Doctor featuring Tom Baker. Last year our patience was rewarded with the five part adventure `Hornet's Nest'. Even after the waves of nostalgia had subsided this turned out to be an entertaining adventure and worth the wait. I had hoped that it would not be a one off, and my prayers have been answered.

This is the first part of another 5 CD release. The Doctor has returned to Nest Cottage and his redoubtable housekeeper Mrs. Wibbsey for Christmas and a much needed overhaul of the TARDIS. Things soon go wrong, and some of the components of the TARDIS that he has removed for repair get lost and he is sent off on a trail through time as he tries to track them down.

Written again by Paul Magrs, this is an entertaining tale that recalls the 4th Doctor's TV era nicely. Baker's voice is a joy to listen to. He slips straight back into the role with no trouble. His is a voice well suited for audio work, he has an excellent range of expression, and wonderful rolling tones that wrap themselves around each syllable and draw you into the story. Louise Jameson as Mrs. Wibbsey makes a perfect companion for the 4th Doc, prickly, strong and able to stand up to Four's enthusiasms and flights of fancy. I think they make a good double act. Full of the whimsy, humour, sci-fi and horror that made the TV series such a success, this is a cracking story.

This follows a little from `Hornet's Nest', but it is not necessary to have heard that adventure to understand this. This is another excellent audio release, and hopefully the other 4 will be as good.

In an age where Russell T Davies, David Tennant, Steve Moffat and Matt Smith have radically reinvented Doctor Who and taken the world by storm, it's most pleasing indeed that the BBC hasn't forgotten the show's original roots. To the point where they keep its legacy alive in the form of brand new audiobooks featuring none other than the Fourth Doctor himself, Tom Baker.

Fresh off the success of the Hornets' Nest audio series, Tom reprises the role (along with his hat and scarf) once again for another five-part audio series called Demon Quest. In tow is Susan Jameson reprising her role as Mrs Wibbsey (the Doctor's Housekeeper!) as the Time Lord's companion from Hornets' Nest, and the whole arc is written by the same man, Paul Magrs.

Set one year after the conclusion of Hornets' Nest, the Doctor returns to Nest Cottage to see how Mrs Wibbsey is adapting to her new life. Unfortunately, whilst the Fourth Doctor is rebuilding the TARDIS, Mrs Wibbsey accidentally sells a key component at the jumble sale! But upon investigation, its revealed that the purchaser traded the TARDIS part for a bag containing four mysterious items, which leads the Doctor and his companion on a travel to Ancient Britain, shortly before Emperor Claudius' invasion, and find themselves caught in-between a war of opposing tribes.

The Relics of Time is an enjoyable audio play. Tom Baker, a natural voiceover, settles in comfortably to the role once again. He narrates the events with great charm and sophistication, bringing life to the character of HIS Doctor, which remains the stuff of legend. You can visualise this chapter of Demon Quest as though you were watching an original episode of the old series. It certainly captures the style and heart of old Who, thanks to Tom, Ron Grainer's vintage theme tune, the great sound-effects and background music, and Paul Magrs' script.

Magrs has been loyal to everything that made the original series so special, writing a tale that faithfully captures the essence of Doctor Who's early days. Story-wise, it has the typical silliness, drama, shocks and intrigue that any fan can expect. The Relics of Time, though, isn't all that special, and the events don't really leave you hungering for more. Rather, merely curious to discover how the loose-ends and unresolved sub-plots will be continued across the whole arc.

But The Relics of Time is certainly worth checking out, down to Tom Baker's terrific narrative, and Mrs Wibbsey, who proves to be an inspiring companion for the Fourth Doctor. Susan Jameson definitely relishes in performing such a strong character, and with Nigel Anthony providing merriment as the mysterious `Wizard' and Richard Franklin making a welcome cameo return as Captain Mike Yates, there's a lot of charm to be found here.

Kudos must also go to the BBC's graphics department for producing a delightful cover for the CD. Aside from having a great mosaic portrait of the Fourth Doctor, the inside sleeve is laid out with `cut-outs' of information, done in the style of the Radio Times from long ago, which is a nice touch, as is the excerpt from the history book that plays relevance in the story.

Doctor Who: Demon Quest looks set to being a worthwhile audio saga. While The Relics of Time is hardly a promising start (and is left far behind by the likes of The Forever Trap and Prisoner of the Daleks), it's nevertheless a fine audio book, and for Tom Baker fans - and fans of the old days of Doctor Who - it's a worthy addition to your collection, and you feel safe with the knowledge that this is early days, and the best is surely yet to follow.

To be honest I'm not that bothered about any weaknesses in Paul Magrs' story here; Tom Baker is back and as boomingly barmy and brilliant as ever. With a little more character interaction than the previous series, Doctor Who: Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series this is a superb double-act from the irrepressible Baker and his cantankerous housekeeper out-of-time the fantastically named Mrs Wibbsey, played by Susan Jameson. Just listening to the Fourth Doctor curling his tongue around the name 'Wibbsey' is enough for me, and my only grumble is that these audio books are so few and far-between.
With The Doctor and Wibbsey on the case of an Emperor Claudius impersonator, and about to arrive at the famed Moulin Rouge theatre, things are poised perfectly and I can't wait for part 2 to arrive..!