Doctor Who: Paradise of Death. Starring Jon Pertwee (BBC Radio Collection) [Audiobook] (Audio CD)

Jon Pertwee had had many years experience as a radio actor, but had never before played Dr Who on the radio, and had not made a Dr Who story for nine years, when he recorded this 5 part BBC radio serial.

The sound effects are very good, and the story is not too badly affected by the fact that Jon Pertwee was at this point 18 years older than when he had retired from the television series in the 1970's; but you can tell from his voice that he was now much older.

The plot is not too well grounded in the tv series. The Brigadier for instance has acquired pink toes - only an illusion, fortunately, as virtual reality arrives in Doctor Who. In breach of established continuity, of course. Barry Letts has in fact chosen to base a significant part of the story on virtual reality, a very 1990's concept, in total disregard for the fact that the story is supposed to be set in the 1970's!

Sarah Jane Smith meanwhile has acquired a side-kick, an irritating young journalist, who has no basis at all for being in the story. In the tv series, Sarah had no assistant. It was she who was the assistant!

The plot puts the Tardis on an alien planet, and the Doctor is soon hip-deep in monsters, so not much wrong there! But nevertheless, the story has very much a 90's feel to it, not a 70's feel at all, and this rather grates. As does the needless use of violence. Somehow, the Daleks managed to take over half the universe in the 1960's and 1970's - frequently! - without ever descending to the level of violence which is present in this story.

So, in many ways, the plot is not authentic; and there is no feeling of being back in the Pertwee years on tv. However, it's good to have Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney and Elizabeth Sladen back together in their tv roles, and somehow this goes a long way towards making up for the plot's shortcomings. After 18 years, this production was worth it, just for the magic of bringing them all together again.

Don't expect classic tv Doctor Who; this is a souped-up nineties version. But the cast sound like they're enjoying themselves, the plot moves along at a fine old speed, and there's always death and disaster just around the corner. I even felt sad (half way through episode 5) when I realised that there were, in fact, only 5 episodes. Now where did I put that recording of 'The Ghosts of N-Space'...

Jon Pertwee makes one of his last appearances as the Doctor in a specially made for Radio 4 production. Whilst his return (and that of many old voices) is a plus, the production is let down by the one thing that always made Doctor Who great - the storyline.

The writer seems to have muddled through a range of cliches from Who and beyond to produce a weak, plodding and heavily padded affair. The director (I'm assuming there was one), seems to have given his directions through the phone, chinese-whispers style. Only this could explain the mess that is the Paradise of Death.

Typically in bad Doctor Who stories, it is the Doctor who saves the day, quite literally. Pertwee lifts the production to make it tolerable, and there is a real sense we're back in the good old days of Who. Completists will enjoy, newcomers will be confused. It's worth a listen, but borrow it from your mate before you split with your cash.