The Cradle of the Snake (audio story)

 was the one hundred and thirty-eighth monthly Doctor Who audio story produced by Big Finish Productions. It was the third and final Big Finish audio story in the 2010 Fifth Doctor season. It continued a series of stories starring Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, who were reunited as a TARDIS team for their first new Doctor Who stories since 1983. It was further notable for including the return of the Mara, a recurring enemy of the Fifth Doctor's era on television.

Publisher's Summary
"The Mara is in all of us, deep in our minds. In our darkest thoughts, that’s where it started. Some people call it a demon, but that’s too simple. It’s about temptation."

Tegan's nightmares have returned. Seeking to banish the snake-like Mara from his companion's psyche, the Doctor sets course for Manussa, the creature's point of origin. But the TARDIS arrives instead in the heyday of the Manussan Empire, where infotainment impresario Rick ausGarten is preparing to turn dreams into reality.

The sun is setting on the Manussan Empire... and it's all the Doctor's fault.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * Fifth Doctor - Peter Davison
 * Tegan Jovanka - Janet Fielding
 * Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
 * Turlough - Mark Strickson
 * Rick ausGarten - Dan Stevens
 * Dr. Hanri Kerrem - Hugh Fraser
 * Yoanna Rayluss - Madeleine Potter
 * Dadda Desaka - Vernon Dobtcheff
 * Baalaka - Toby Sawyer

History

 * Tegan's father owned a sheep farm with two thousand head of merino. He flew a Cessna Skyhawk. Flying the plane over the farm was one of Tegan's favourite memories.
 * Turlough has never previously heard of the Mara.

Planets

 * Nyssa says the goodness on Traken is more robust and less forced than on some other worlds.

Plants

 * Manussa has roses, palm trees and tuk-tuks.

Timeline

 * This story takes place in the Manussan year 2215.

Story notes

 * This story marks the first appearance of the Mara in an audio story.
 * Vernon Dobtcheff (Dadda Desaka) previously played the War Lord scientist in DW: The War Games and would later play Professor Sibelius Crow in JAL: The Necropolis Express and Shamur in BFA: The Children of Seth.
 * Hugh Fraser (Dr. Hanri Kerrem) previously played Lord Cardinal Zero in BFA: Spring.
 * This audio drama was recorded on 6 and 8 January 2010 at The Moat Studios.

Continuity

 * The Doctor, Nyssa and Tegan encountered the Mara on two previous occasions. (DW: Kinda, DW: Snakedance)
 * The Doctor mentions that he plans to catch up with Dojjen at a later date. (DW: Snakedance)