Doctor Who news: Big Finish’s first-ever release is now free on download
By James Aggas
Oh No It Isn’t! – the first-ever story released from Doctor Who audio producers Big Finish – is available right now to listen to for free.
It’s a good day for Big Finish fans. In fact, it’s a good day for those who’ve yet to try out Big Finish’s many audios at all. Not only are the earliest series of Bernice Summerfield – starring Lisa Bowerman as the former Doctor Who companion – finally available on download for the first time ever. But newcomers can also enjoy her first audio story for free right now!
Oh No It Isn’t! is a pretty significant release for Big Finish, for several reasons. Surprisingly, the fact that it’s Benny’s first story on audio isn’t the biggest one. Nor is it the fact that it’s the first time that Bowerman played the character.
No, it’s the fact that, one year before they started making full-cast Doctor Who audios, Oh No It Isn’t! was Big Finish Production’s first-ever audio drama. As such, the fact that it’s free is pretty fantastic – especially as today marks the first time it’s ever been available on download.
Starring Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Courtney, Oh No It Isn’t! is an incredibly significant release for both Benny and Big Finish.
Pictured: Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Courtney. Image Courtesy Big Finish Productions
Oh No It Isn’t!
"What could possibly go wrong on Professor Bernice Summerfield’s investigation into the lost civilisation of Perfecton ? Nothing, it seems – until they leave the planet and spot a dirty great missile heading towards their ship. But instead of oblivion, Benny finds herself plunged into the strange world of… panto."
This sounds like an extremely strange story to begin a series with. And yet, at the same time, it also sounds so perfect for someone like Benny. She’s been involved in many strange and bonkers adventures over the years, so it makes sense that her first audio story sees her in the world of pantomime.
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On top of that, it’s also been written by Paul Cornell and adapted by Jacqueline Rayner. Both of these writers are hugely significant when it comes to Benny and her long history. Cornell originally created Bernice and wrote her first novel, Love and War. Rayner meanwhile has written many stories for Benny, both on audio and in literature. In fact, she later adapted Love and War for audio in 2012 to celebrate the character’s 20th anniversary.
The early days of Big Finish
Oh No It Isn’t! should be a great story to check out, especially while it’s free. For those new to Bernice, it’s an exciting opportunity to check out one of the most-loved characters of Doctor Who‘s vast expanded universe. And with its release on download for the first time, even existing fans of the character will be keen to check out her first audio story. More than that – it’s an exciting glimpse of the very earliest days of Big Finish.
Oh No It Isn’t! is currently free to listen to on download until 23:59, Sep 6 UK time. All the audio stories from Bernice Summerfield: Series 1-4 are also currently on sale, both individually and in bundles. Make sure to check out our reviews of each story over the coming months.
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Are you a fan of Bernice Summerfield? Have you listened to or read Oh No It Isn’t? Are you glad it’s currently free for a brand new audience to discover? Let us know in the comments below.