In three full-cast audio dramas set during the tumultuous Time War, Jonathon Carley’s War Doctor is held captive on a Thal ship and faces an astonishingly vicious variant of the Daleks. But his biggest enemy of all might be himself. 

Emma Campbell-Jones, best known to Doctor Who viewers as Cass from 2013's story The Night of The Doctor, guest stars in the box set’s opening adventure. This time the actor plays Layla Bridge, a brave and loyal friend to the warrior Time Lord. 

Doctor Who – The War Doctor Begins: Battlegrounds is available to pre-order at £19.99 as a collector’s edition CD box set or £16.99 as a download, exclusively here. 

The Doctor is no more. In his place, a warrior, finally joining the Time War between the Daleks and Gallifrey. 

But how far will he go to end the conflict? What lines will he cross? How much of himself will he sacrifice? 

The War Doctor is beginning to find out who he is… 

The three exciting adventures are as follows: 

The Keeper of Light by Phil Mulryne 

The Doctor and his faithful companion are on the trail of strange psionic signals… 

At a remote costal cottage, holidaymakers David and Dorothy think there’s something strange about the lighthouse. But the Doctor can’t shake the sense of an even bigger mystery to solve… 

Temmosus by Rossa McPhillips

Fighting alongside the Time Lords against their common enemy, some Thals have realised that this collaboration is not between equals. 

When his new battleship is stolen, the War Doctor must convince his old allies that they are on the same side. 

Rewind by Timothy X Atack 

Lacuna is on the brink of destruction, attacked by a new breed of Dalek. But every day, it is pulled back from that brink, and everyone prepares to live through the end of their world once again. 

One strange man, alone in his castle, holds the key to Lacuna’s ultimate salvation – or its annihilation. 

Script editor Matt Fitton said: “In Layla we have someone who might have been ideally suited to travelling with the Doctor in his previous lives. She brings out his best qualities, and in some ways, she reminds him of some of his friends from the past.  

“Emma Campbell-Jones is fantastic, and it's wonderful to bring her back into the world of audio Doctor Who as a companion, but probably not the one you're expecting!” 

Emma Campbell-Jones added: “I think Layla Bridge is a very passionate sort. She's quite playful and I enjoy that funny little spur she has with the Doctor – the sparky bits and moments of back and forth. She clearly cares a great deal — not just for the Doctor — for everyone they meet along the way.  

“She’s bold and I love her courage. She’s very hands on and is off exploring around the corner when she doesn't know if there are monsters around there. I think the Doctor needs a companion who is unafraid and willing to go on the journey with him.” 

The incredible cast also includes Adèle Anderson (as Dorothy and Tamasan), Ken Bones (as David and Anders Kristiansen), Nicholas Briggs (as the Daleks), David Warwick (as Dylon), Homer Todiwala (as Regis Parenthis), plus Big Finish newcomers Rose Basista (as Soolal), Troy Alexander (as Gilder), Sarah Moss (as Ignis Abel), and Julian Forsyth (as Grei Potemic).

Doctor Who – The War Doctor Begins: Battlegrounds is available to pre-order at £19.99 as a collector’s edition CD box set or £16.99 as a download from the Big Finish website. 

Big Finish listeners can save money by pre-ordering the complete The War Doctor Begins series in a bundle (of all four volumes) from £76 on collector's edition CD or £66 on digital download.  

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release.

Please note that Big Finish is currently operating a digital-first release schedule. The mail-out of collector’s edition CDs may be delayed due to factors beyond our control, but all purchases of this release unlock a digital copy that can be immediately downloaded or played on the Big Finish app from the release date.