The latest Doctor Who adventure, titled The Lost Stories, delves into the origins of the Cybermen.

      Fans of Doctor Who – The Lost Stories series of audio dramas from Big Finish will be pleased to know that The Lost Stories: Genesis of the Cybermen is now available for purchase as a download or as a limited edition 2-disc box set. Featuring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, listeners will explore the origins of the infamous Mondasian antagonists, the Cybermen.

      In the 1980s, Gerry Davis, a co-creator of the Cybermen, presented the Genesis of the Cybermen concept to the Doctor Who team. Although it was not accepted at that time, an outline was later included in the 1988 book Cybermen by David Banks. Now, thanks to David K Barnes, it has been transformed into a complete audio drama with a full cast.

      On a distant planet, a king is on the verge of death, his successor shows no desire for the throne, and his younger son is determined to save the population from extinction. Upon the arrival of the TARDIS, the Doctor and his companions Tegan (Janet Fielding), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), and Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) believe they can offer assistance. However, this planet is Mondas, which presents a chilling and emotionless future.

      The TARDIS crew is joined by Nicholas Briggs as the Cybermen, Nuhazet Diaz Cano as Prince Sylvan, Kelly Price as Queen Meta, Colin Tierney as King Dega, Michael Abubakar as Young Dega/Raith, and Evie Ward-Drummond as Young Meta/Shan.

      In the back row are (L-R) Peter Davison, Matthew Waterhouse, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding, Evie Ward-Drummond, David K Barnes, Kelly Price, Michael Abubakar, and Colin Tierney; with Nuhazet Diaz Cano in the front row.

      “The environment Gerry envisioned is a captivating blend of futurism and fairy tale, depicting kings, castles, and rival princes, with the Cybermen symbolizing the dangers of science devoid of culture. I’ve aimed to deepen Gerry’s characters, providing the story’s villain with a more compelling motivation, while exploring themes that feel particularly relevant today, such as climate change, mental exhaustion, and the conflict between art and AI."

      The Lost Stories: Genesis of the Cybermen is available for purchase on the Big Finish website for £13.99 as a download, or as a limited collector’s edition 2-disc CD for £16.99.