Doctor Who: The Chimes Of Midnight Review

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS.

Released in February 2002, The Chimes of Midnight was the 29th Doctor Who audio drama to be released by Big Finish. It stars Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and India Fisher as companion Charley Pollard. It is written by Robert Shearman and directed by Barnaby Edwards.

Big Finish's synopsis:

"Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house not a creature was stirring...

But something must be stirring. Something hidden in the shadows. Something which kills the servants of an old Edwardian mansion in the most brutal and macabre manner as possible. Exactly on the chiming of the hour, every hour, as the grandfather clock ticks on towards midnight.

Trapped and afraid, the Doctor and Charley are forced to play detective to murders with no motive, where even the victims don't stay dead. Time is running out.

And time itself might well be the killer..."

This is definitely the best Big Finish audio I've ever listened to. It's scary, exciting, it's everything I want to see in Doctor Who and more. If you thought the Weeping Angels were scary, you've never listened to this...

The story starts with The Doctor and Charley trying to get to Singapore but landing in a scullery which at first glance seems completely empty... Then they notice various things that indicate someone is working in it... Then a murder happens and all the staff think it's suicide, which is what this story revolves around. It also teaches us quite a bit about Charley's past, but I don't want to spoil too much!

Paul McGann and India Fisher both do an amazing job, as do all the other actors. Robert Shearman has written some of the best Big Finish audios such as this, Jubilee and The Holy Terror as well as the Series 1 TV episode Dalek. Barnaby Edwards is also a fantastic director.

The setting (an old Edwardian mansion on Christmas eve) is fantastic - who knew a story set entirely in a house could be so good!?

Despite being 120 minutes long, I don't think there are any parts that feel too slow and I didn't get bored of it once!

My favourite line would have to be "Edward Grove is alive. Together my poppet, we make him so."

If you're already familiar with the Eighth Doctor and Charley Pollard, then I'd certainly recommend this to people trying to get into the audios. Hell, even Steven Moffat has said it's his favourite Eighth Doctor story.

It's things like this that make you realise Paul McGann would have been a fantastic Doctor and while Christopher Eccleston did an amazing job, I've always thought it a huge shame that they didn't ask Paul McGann if he'd like to return in 2005. Still, I'd put The Chimes of Midnight up there with classics like City of Death and The Caves of Androzani.

At it's current price, it's a must buy! Oh, and make sure you listen to it in the dark!

Overall Rating: 10/10

You can buy The Chimes of Midnight for £2.99 download or £5.00 CD here.