The Devouring (audio story)

 was the first story in the audio anthology Audacity, produced by Big Finish Productions. It was written by Lisa McMullin and featured Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and introduced Jaye Griffiths as new companion Lady Audacity Montague.

Publisher's summary
Lady Audacity Montague - strong-minded and unconventional - has been gazing at the stars. But unfortunately for her - and everybody she knows - they've been staring back. She's made inadvertent, intergalactic eye contact with a malevolence known as The Devouring. Now it wants to consume her. But Audacity is already consumed. With rage.

Plot
After confronting the Prince Regent for failing to enact parliamentary reform despite him agreeing to it in return for her support, Audacity returns home to watch a shooting star through her telescope and makes contact with the Devouring, which threatens to consume her. She and her husband, Ignatius, force Clementine Inglewood and other guests at their ball to hand over valuables to benefit the poor and meet the Doctor, an uninvited guest who is the only one not to flee when Clementine is swallowed by the air. He is arrested by Bogderry when he is found searching the house for a telescope and tells Audacity not to look at the stars.

Audacity's maid, Dolly, is consumed like Clementine, leading her to have the Doctor released. She realises that she is the connection after Bert and Bogderry are consumed as well and heads to her observatory with the Doctor to show him her astronomical records of what the Doctor claims are spaceships.

to be completed

Cast

 * The Doctor - Paul McGann
 * Audacity Montague - Jaye Griffiths
 * Ignatius Montague - Joseph Millson
 * Clemetine Inglewood / Dolly - Emily Woodward
 * Bogderry / Carmichael / The Devouring - Richard Reed

Worldbuilding

 * George is Prince Regent of the United Kingdom.
 * Audacity has a pistol.
 * The Doctor is looking for Jane Austen.
 * Edward Burns attends the Montagues' ball.
 * Bert owes Audacity a pie since losing to her at arm-wrestling.
 * Ignatius has a rapier.
 * Caroline Herschel is an astronomer and, the Doctor believes, the first woman to receive a salary from the British government. She assists her brother in his work.

Continuity
to be added