Looking for action, adventure and exciting reading? Coming Sunday 6 July, Doctor Who: The Legacy begins its fourth season with the Doctor regenerating. Or does it? Andie Frankham (Executive Editor) and Richard Dinnick (Co-Editor) answer that and a few more questions about what they have planned for the upcoming season.
‘First of all, we have the titles,’ Andie says. ‘Every season we have our gimmicks – last season it was having a mention of coffee in every story, and this season it is the title. Every title is a play on a TV or Big Finish title.’ Richard admits he was a bit sceptical about that, “but now we have most of the titles confirmed, I think it has worked very well.”
(Indeed. Some of the titles scheduled for season four are: TIME AND THE DOCTOR (Time and the Rani), FURIES FROM THE DEEP (Fury from the Deep), WINTER LIGHT (Ghost Light), ENDARKENMENT (Enlightenment), and THE SOAP OF FATAL DEATH (The Curse of Fatal Death).)
Other plans scheduled for this season are geared to reflect Doctor Who’s fortieth anniversary.
‘One way or another we are trying to get all eight TV Doctors to cameo in the stories from November up until the end of the season. But I can’t tell you how. You’ll have to wait and see,’ Andie declares cryptically. Richard talks about the anniversary story itself, THE DOMMERVOY MASTERPLAN. ‘As Andie says, “The name says it all, really!” The Dommervoy have been such a staple of the Legacy Universe that it seemed appropriate to do something special with them.’ Special? How? ‘It kind of acts as the beginning of the end for the will they/won’t they get the real Who Universe back question.’
Clearly, there are plenty of changes and surprises in store for readers. In addition to the Dommervoy, what about villains? ‘Villains? Well, let’s see. Obviously the season picks up with the continuation of the vampire story, and in particular the story of Bradley and the Kuang-Shi God, Ashgotoroth. We seem to have a lot of deities popping up this season, in one way or the other. And we definitely have the Daleks making their first proper appearance,’ Andie states, and hints, ‘there is a rumour that the Master may pop up in this season but I cannot confirm that at this time.’
About new villains, Richard says; ‘There are a few of them this season As well as some familiar faces. But no Cybermen. You’ll have to tune into Cyber Legacy for that.’
Richard also agrees on the many surprises in the making and indicates; ‘This is a humdinger of an idea and has developed really well over the last few months.’ He is talking about the concluding trilogy of stories penned by Richard, Julio Angel Ortiz, and Andie. ‘To say too much about the trilogy at this stage would spoil things, but I believe we have come up with a very cool “uberstory” into which the three of us have tapped with very different stories coming together.’ About the season finale, Andie would only comment cryptically; ‘There is a mystery afoot with Missy [the cat] as the centre.’
All very well and intriguing, but what about the new Doctor? After all, what would any Doctor Who story be without the Doctor himself and his travelling companions? Yes, the Doctor does regenerate in this season, from Brian Blessed to Anthony Stewart Head, (Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and special guest in the Big Finish Excelis trilogy) in the opening novella, TIME AND THE DOCTOR.
Why Head? ‘Why not?’ Andie asks rhetorically, laughing. ‘Truthfully, since the early days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I have always thought that Anthony Steward Head would make a good Doctor.’ Andie continues, saying, ‘physically he has an air of dignity and quiet power about him, which is always good for the Doctor. Very distinguished, that’s how I like to think of Anthony Stewart Head’s Doctor.’ What does Richard think of the new Doctor? ‘The new Doctor is great. I’ve only written for the Brian Blessed Doctor once, but having read all of The Legacy I was beginning to think it was time for a change, my dear! Andie has resisted the temptation until now very well, instead coming up with the innovative idea of the clone. Whereas Blessed was bullish, a tad overbearing and a bit of a glutton, ASH is more pensive, quieter in his determination and very personable. I like to think that the nearest TV Doctor to Brian Blessed was Colin Baker. Well for shorthand think of the new Doctor as Peter Davison meets Paul McGann with a tad of Sylvester McCoy thrown in for good measure! At least that’s how I’ve been thinking of him.’
Along with a brand new Doctor, will any new companions be appearing? ‘Oh, yes, definitely,’ Andie replies. ‘Season Three introduced readers to both the new Doctor and new companion, although people may not have known so at the time. For this Doctor we have created a companion called Ruby Mundy (the name is pure coincidence, since this year is Doctor Who’s ruby anniversary). She’s a lovely and jovial type of woman, but quite tough when she wants to be. What I’m trying to do here, with the help of my writers, is give The Legacy our own version of Evelyn (the companion created for the Sixth Doctor by Big Finish). Someone who is more of a friend to the Doctor than just a companion for him to rescue.’ Andie then adds; ‘Oh, and we also have another two companions joining at later points of the season, but again, their identities are under wraps.’ Richard’s answer was equally evasive on the other new companions. ‘Yup. Out with the old in with the new. You can see from the blurbs of the first three stories that Ruby Mundy joins the TARDIS for a bit of time-faring adventure, but there will be others… I don’t think it would be prudent of me to reveal too much (I’m like a stuck record, aren’t I?) but the later additions will be groundbreaking for very different reasons.’
A regeneration and companions and some very special plans and surprises to commemorate Doctor Who’s fortieth year, all on tap for the fourth season of Doctor Who: The Legacy. Don’t miss it!
