Doctor Who news: Winston Churchill meets the Monk in brand new audio Subterfuge – out now!

The Seventh Doctor meets an old friend and an old enemy in today’s Doctor Who audio release, Subterfuge. But can the Doctor help Winston Churchill this time?

This year’s trilogy of Seventh Doctor audios has been a little bit different compared to Big Finish’s usual “seasons”. Usually, three adventures would be released for a particular Doctor, before another Doctor is focused on for three more releases. As such, the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Doctors each get at least one season a year. That much at least remains true for the current trilogy of Seventh Doctor audios that kicked off 2020.

However, one noticeable difference is that, chronologically, they don’t appear to be consecutive. Instead, they each share a common theme: major Time Lord foes. In January’s release Dark Universe, the Doctor faced the Eleven – a Time Lord criminal who retains all ten of his previous personalities. Last month, the Doctor was reunited with the Master in The Psychic Circus, albeit an incarnation he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The enemy he faces this month, in the brand new audio Subterfuge, is less psychotic, but still very dangerous – the Meddling Monk. On television, the Monk made only two appearances, but he’s still a memorable character. More mischievous than enemies like the Master or the Rani, the Monk’s main aim is to improve history by changing it in massive ways, regardless of the consequences. His goal this time? To ensure the success of Winston Churchill – even though this time, Churchill has to fail…

Both the Monk and Winston Churchill feature in the brand new audio Subterfuge.

Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions

Churchill returns

"London, 1945. Winston Churchill campaigns for re-election. His new strategic adviser assures him that Britain has a bright future under his continued leadership. It’s a vote he can’t possibly lose. But the Doctor knows that he must.The Monk is meddling, altering history for his own selfish ends. With spies and aliens in the mix, Winston realises victory may not be so simple. But at least he can trust his old friend… can’t he?"

Since 2015, Rufus Hound has been brilliant as the Monk. Unsurprisingly, his incarnation has a lot of wit and a great sense of humor, making him one of the more “fun” villains in Doctor Who. It would certainly be fantastic if he got the chance to play the role on television, but right now, we can at least enjoy his performance in this brand new audio adventure.

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Along with Hound returning, we also have Ian McNeice reprising his role of Winston Churchill. Big Finish have had a lot of fun with this particular iteration of the character – along with him meeting the Eighth Doctor in Ravenous, he was also given his own series, The Churchill Years. Not only will he be meeting the Third Doctor in May, but Ian McNeice is more than happy to continue playing the role in many more stories, as he reveals.

"The thing I enjoy about Doctor Who is, actually, there’s no reason why Churchill couldn’t come back at any time, day or night, with any Doctor. We are laying the groundwork in this story for him to turn up again. It’s a joy to appear with the Doctors themselves in these audio dramas. I’ve now done one with Sylvester McCoy and one with Paul McGann. Here’s to many more."

Subterfuge is available on CD and download now, directly from Big Finish’s website.

Are you a fan of the Meddling Monk? Do you think he should face the Thirteenth Doctor, at some point? Should Churchill appear in the TV series again? Let us know in the comments below.