The Next Life (audio story)

The Next Life was the final Big Finish Doctor Who audio story to feature Paul McGann as the "current" Doctor, since his next release wouldn't be until after David Tennant's debut. More significantly, it concluded the adventures set in the Divergent Universe that had begun at the end of Zagreus.

At six episodes, it was unusually long, especially for an Eighth Doctor audio.

Publisher's summary
'All things must die.'

Washed up on the sandy shores of a paradise island, a wild-eyed shipwreck survivor is rescued by the wife of Daqar Keep, the richest man in the galaxy.

Her name's Perfection. He's the Doctor. Together, they face a journey into the dark heart of this mysterious island, to discover the deepest secrets of this timeless cosmos. That's if the giant crabs, killer crocodiles and murderous natives don't get them first.

Meanwhile, fellow travellers Charley and C'rizz have their own ordeal to endure, in the grip of the Doctor's most dangerous rival.

And in a universe that's facing extinction, even the best of friends may soon become enemies...

This life is almost over. Not everyone will make it to the next.

Cast

 * The Doctor - Paul McGann
 * Charley Pollard - India Fisher
 * C'rizz - Conrad Westmaas
 * Perfection - Daphne Ashbrook
 * Keep - Stephane Cornicard
 * Guidance - Paul Darrow
 * L'Da - Jane Hills
 * Kro'Ka - Stephen Perring
 * Rassilon - Don Warrington
 * Louisa Pollard - Anneke Wills
 * Simon Murchford - Stephen Mansfield
 * Mother of Jembere-Bud - Jane Goddard
 * Davros - Terry Molloy (cameo)

Continuity

 * Charley and the Doctor previously encountered Rassilon in BFA: Zagreus.
 * Charley mentions that she visited the Crystal Palace as a child. She would later do so again in 1851. (BFA: Other Lives)
 * Suffering survivor's guilt for having survived the crash of the R101 on 5 October 1930, Simon Murchford became an Anglican minister. (BFA: Storm Warning) He succeeded Reverend Matthew Towsend following his death in 1951. (BFA: Zagreus)
 * The Doctor once again mentions playing Tiddlywinks with the Tsarina. (BFA: Storm Warning)
 * After mentioning Macbeth, the Doctor superstitiously corrects himself by referring to it as "the Scottish Play." (BFA: Medicinal Purposes)
 * Charley recognises the Daleks as she encountered them in the 2050s. (BFA: The Time of the Daleks)

Timeline

 * The Next Life occurs after BFA: Caerdroia
 * The Next Life occurs before BFA: Terror Firma