Written by Noga Flaishon Julian Richards Mark Wright Jonathan S Powell

Starring Michelle Gomez Colin Baker Paul McGann and others

Originally released : December 2025

Listened to: December 2025

Episodes

1. Unholy Night by Noga Flaishon – a Missy Adventure

2. Legacy of Blood by Julian Richards – a Sixth Doctor and Jago & Litefoot Adventure

3. Presents of Mind by Mark Wright – a Smith & Sullivan Adventure

4. It’s a Wonderful War by Jonathan S Powell – an Eighth Doctor Adventure

THE REVIEW

What I thought: I tremendously enjoyed this boxset, and like the recent Halloween boxset (which I listened to over Halloween) this Xmass themed boxset hit the spot for me, getting me in the Xmass sprit, and providing some relief from some of the darker aspects of life. A very welcome set of top episodes.

The starting Missy episode is great fun, Missy trapped on what initially appears to be a Christmas planet leads to a host of high jinks and schemes thwarted as Missy attempts to both mess the place up and escape. Very strong ending to this one, unexpectedly moving and putting Missy in a very interesting position by the end of the episode.

The next episode, a 6th Doctor adventure is good vampire fun, with intrinsic connections to the Jago and Litefoot adventures, so I must admit some of this was lost on me as I haven’t listened to any of those adventures yet. Nonetheless, there is pathos and sadness a plenty here due to the loss of the wonderful actors that brought Jago and Litefoot so vividly to life. The inclusion of Leela was a big surprise and a brilliant sparing companion to this version of the Doctor. The vampire threat is a bit same old same old for me but fun nonetheless. A very strong episode.

The Sarah, K9 and Harry adventure is good fun, set on a train where everything goes pear shaped quickly due to harry attempting to give Sarah a nice xmass gift. K9 is fun as always, the highlight though is Annette Badland as Aunt Lavinia, brilliant characterisation and performance, with some lovely back story stuff from Sarah’s childhood. Brilliant.

The final episode had me with the twist, despite the rather obvious clue in the opening credits! The 8th doctor sparing off against what he thinks is a standard, and unfamiliar timelord, is great fun and this quickly turned into a moving episode, a very ‘spirit of xmass’ themed episode that I really needed, fantatsic stuff and a highlight of a set full of highlights.

Rating: 4.5 fitness out of 5: a fantastic festive listen with many many highlights. All four episodes have lots of offer, amazing experiences and brilliant stories, loved this boxset.

What am I left thinking/feeling/wanting?

• Really hope that xmass specials become a big thing for BF, regular xmass short trips releases would be most welcome

Memorable bits

• So many! Missy in pretty much every scene is a highlight
• The spirit of Jago and Litefoot
• The 8th Doctor coming up against the War Doctor
• Aunt Lavinia
• The 6th doctor in full on argument mode with Leela