Iron Bright was the two hundred and thirty-ninth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Chris Chapman and featured Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor.
Publisher's summary[]
It's London, 1828, and the father-and-son team of Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel are masterminding a dangerous project - the digging of the Thames Tunnel. There's just one problem...
The Brunels' tunnel is haunted. Every night, a spectral blue lady walks the excavation.
Now, the 22-year-old Isambard, eager to step out of his famous father's shadow, finds himself dealing with not only the supposed supernatural, but a second unexpected guest - a colourful trespasser who calls himself 'the Doctor'.
Isambard would like to know a great deal more about this strange man and his mysterious blue box...
Plot[]
to be added
Cast[]
- The Doctor - Colin Baker
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel - James MacCallum
- Marc Brunel - Christopher Fairbank
- Tan - Catherine Bailey
- Rispa / Lady Raffles - Imogen Church
- Flo Hawkins / Alayna - Becky Wright
- Richard Beamish / John Chubb - Anthony Townsend
- Charlie / Lord Raffles / Captain Sanderson - Sam Woodward
- Tour Guide / Scientist - Richard Urwin
Crew[]
- Cover Art - Lee Johnson
- Producer & Director - John Ainsworth
- Executive Producers - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
- Music & Sound Design - Andy Hardwick
- Script Editor - Alan Barnes
- Writer - Chris Chapman
- Senior Producer - David Richardson
Worldbuilding[]
- The Doctor describes himself as not usually being skittish when he meets one of his heroes, in this case Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The Doctor calls Isambard "a genius of transportation".
- Throughout the story the Doctor tries to dissuade Isambard from being influenced by the advance technology he sees. However, the Doctor does inadvertently use the term "Industrial Revolution" which Isambard finds attractive.
- Despite trying to dissuade Isambard from future influences, the Doctor does then deliberately suggest that he starts to work in Bristol.
- Charlie compares the Doctor's clothes to something out of a circus. The Doctor retorts that he may one day audition as life on the road with the acrobats and firebreathers does appeal.
- The Doctor states he met Marc Brunel briefly a few year before in a different incarnation. He attended one of Marc's presentations about the automated production line and found him enthralling.
- The Doctor empties his pockets of several items that include an apple, a magnifying glass, a British Rail time table, a catapult, three ping-pong balls, a compass, a toothbrush, the TARDIS key and pair of table tennis bats.
Notes[]
- Recording of the story took place on 16 and 17 January 2018 at the Moat Studios.
- This was the first Main Range story to use a revised cover layout, the first time to have changed the house style significantly since the audio story Renaissance of the Daleks in 2007. It featured the new Doctor Who logo introduced by Little Hawk in 2018. Previous to that, a cover using the "sidebar" layout was released.
- An alternate cover was released with a similar house style, but with the era appropriate font and logo.
Continuity[]
- The Doctor has one of Marc Brunel's cards somewhere. (TV: The Two Doctors)
- The Doctor collects Brunel's business card, which he puts with his collection of cards from "geniuses". (TV: The Two Doctors)
- The Eighth Doctor later met an alternate version of Isambard Brunel. (PROSE: Reckless Engineering)
- The Doctor's suggestion of Isambard moving away from London, "...have you ever been to, Bristol?" paraphrases his question to Peri on Necros (TV: Revelation of the Daleks).
Cover gallery[]
External links[]
- Official Iron Bright page at bigfinish.com
