1963: Fanfare for the Common Men (audio story)

1963: Fanfare for the Common Men was the one hundred and seventy-eighth story in Big Finish's monthly range. The first story in the 1963 audio trilogy celebrating the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who, the story shone more light on the musical group John Smith and the Common Men, first mentioned in the very first episode of the series, giving them what one might arguably call an "origin story".

Publisher's summary
If you remember the Sixties, they say, then you can't have been there.

The Doctor remembers the Sixties. That's why he's taking Nyssa on a trip back to November 1963. Back to where it all began. Back to the birth of the biggest band in the history of British music. Back to see those cheeky lads from Liverpool...

Mark, James and Korky. The Common Men. The boys who made the Sixties swing with songs like "Oh, Won't You Please Love Me?", "Just Count To Three" and "Who Is That Man".

The Doctor remembers the Sixties. And there's something very wrong with the Sixties, if the Beatles no longer exist...

Part one
to be added

Part two
to be added

Part three
to be added

Part four
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Davison
 * Nyssa - Sarah Sutton
 * Mark Carville - Mitch Benn
 * James O'Meara - Andrew Knott
 * Korky Goldsmith / Compere / Pedestrian - David Dobson
 * Lenny Kruger / Shop Assistant - Ryan Sampson
 * Rita / Sadie / Control Officer - Alison Thea-Skot
 * Paravatar / Waiter / Barman / Policeman - Jonty Stephens
 * Commander / Newsreader - Barnaby Edwards

Cultural references to the real world

 * Korky compares his name to Korky the Cat.

Music from the real world

 * One of the Beatles' songs is "A Day in the Life".
 * When Nyssa responds, "the who?" when told of the Common Men, the Doctor says, "No, they don't get together until next year".

Technology

 * The gunman and Nyssa travel in time by matter dematerialisation circuit.

Continuity

 * The gunman is carrying an impulse laser, a Time Lord weapon introduced in TV: Arc of Infinity.
 * A part of Earth's history has been time-locked. (TV: The Stolen Earth, The End of Time)
 * The Doctor mentions the Ferutu. (PROSE: Cold Fusion)
 * Kruger thinks Nyssa is an Adjudicator. (PROSE: Original Sin)
 * The Doctor mentions his recent experience with aeroplanes. (TV: Time-Flight)
 * The Doctor mentions Susan having had an album by The Common Men aboard the TARDIS. He says he didn't like it much, "but [he] was older then." (TV: An Unearthly Child)