Enemy of the Daleks (David Bishop)

 Skaro’s deadliest are back in May 2009. "Enemy of the Daleks", is an all-action space adventure by Judge Dredd/Sarah Jane Smith writer David Bishop, and has the TARDIS travellers fall in with starship troopers struggling to defend a remote research facility from an all-out Dalek attack. But this time, could it be the Daleks need saving…?

"Enemy of the Daleks" has been directed by Ken Bentley.

The Doctor is played by Sylvester McCoy, Ace by Sophie Aldred and Hex by Philip Olivier. The guest stars are: Kate Ashfield (Shaun of the Dead) as Lieutenant Beth Stokes, Bindya Solanki (EastEnders) as Sergeant Tahira Khan, and Eiji Kasuhara (Tenko) as Professor Shimura. Also starring is Jeremy James and, providing the voices of the Daleks, Nicholas Briggs.

As if they were ever likely to stay away for long! The Doctor’s oldest enemies, the Daleks are back! And this time being guided by a new writer.

Seventh Doctor

 ‘I’d written a dozen audio adventures for Big Finish before being commissioned for "Enemy of the Daleks"’, David Bishop has revealed, ‘and I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever get a crack at the main monthly Doctor Who range. Most of the other scripts I’ve written were hour-long stories, One joy of writing for the classic, 25-minute episode format comes from the cliffhangers. They create a natural structure that takes the strain out of sustaining narrative’ It’s kind of like being in a 25-metre pool’ swimming in the ocean on holiday. You get to the end of an episode and that kicks you off into the next part’.

‘Early last year’, the writer continues, ‘script editor Alan Barnes invited a fistful of writers to pitch for a Seventh Doctor, Ace, Hex and Daleks story - he wanted a “thumping good, Daleks in space, action-adventure thing” - and the story I pitched won the commission. Recent audio adventures involving the Daleks have delved into defining their essence, and I didn’t want to go over the same ground - so "Enemy of the Daleks" looks instead at the effect they have on others, how people react to this seemingly almighty force... what it drives them to do in response to the Dalek threat.’

‘This story is about how far people are willing to go to destroy something they perceive as evil. How much of yourself your beliefs, will you sacrifice for that cause? Where do you draw the line?’

Without giving to much of the plot away director Ken Bentley has revealed ‘It’s set on the planet Bliss, once home to the most varied and delightful examples of flora and fauna to be found just about anywhere. And due to its abundance of loveliness, Bliss is also home to a research facility that becomes an unlikely bolt-hole for the sole survivors of mankind’s latest tete-a-tete with the Daleks...’

On the Back Cover:

Bliss used to be a paradise planet. The Galapagos Islands of space. But when the TARDIS brings the Doctor, Ace and Hex there, it’s been over-run with ironweed plants, and the air is heavy with the stench of burnt silk and static electricity.

Worse, the Daleks are coming, on the trail of a lost patrol of starship troopers. Holed up in the Roarke 279 research facility, Lieutenant Beth Stokes is preparing her last stand against the invaders.

But there’s a secret on Bliss, a secret guarded by the obsessive Professor Shimura…

This time, could it be the Daleks that need saving?

The email arrived on a Monday: Big Finish had an opening far a Dalek audio featuring the Doctor, Ace and Hex. The offer came with a list of things to avoid: no Earth historical settings. No Davros. No Thals. No Gallifrey. Was I game? You betcha.

Back in 2003 I wrote Full Fathom Five, a controversial Unbound audio created for Doctor Who’s fortieth anniversary. It wasn’t the easiest of experiences, with numerous rewrites and much angst.

Enemy of the Daleks was a breeze by comparison. Alan and Nick gave brilliant notes after the first draft, pushing me to make the most of this story. Ken assembled and directed a cracking cast that brought it all to life.

After twelve Big Finish audios, I finally had a chance to write for the main Who range - and I loved every extermination-filled minute of it. Who says number thirteen’s unlucky? Not me.


Directors Notes: Ken Bentley

We kick off the latest Seventh Doctor season with a story that’s quite literally mental.

People will tell you all sorts of things about what makes a good story and why. When I sit down to read a script for the first time I’m looking for one thing - the question the writer asked themselves before they sit down to write. It always starts with ‘what if...’

David Bishop asked himself a very good question when Big Finish commissioned him to write a story about the Daleks. New stories featuring old villains are a joy and a challenge for all concerned. But it starts with the story, and the story starts with the question: so, what if the Daleks meet an enemy more powerful than themselves? I hope you enjoy the answer.