Big Finish Productions Plan an epic return for The Doctor’s deadliest enemies...

Before the Daleks invade Manhattan on our television screens, in the fifth story of season 3, it seems they are due in a number of stopping Big Finish Productions audio stories... in a big way.

As announced by co-executive producer Nicholas Briggs “Honestly, it’s not just because I do the Dalek voices!”

They are emerging in many different contexts – and yes Nicholas Briggs will be providing all the grating voices.

Already released is “Fear of the Daleks” featuring Wendy Padbury reading a brand new Second Doctor adventure involving virtual reality and Daleks inhabiting the personality of somebody.

Also released on CD is both parts of the BBC7 transmitted “Blood of the Daleks” with Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor and Sheridan Smith as Lucy Miller doing battle with two Dalek factions.

Coming in March is the eagerly-awaited “Renaissance of the Daleks”, written by Stephen Hawking (from a story by Christopher H Bidmead), starring Peter Davison and Sarah Sutton. It has been described as “a beautifully odd story” and has been likened to “The Chase”.

Finally the acclaimed Big Finish Productions spin-off audio series, “Dalek Empire”, is set to return in 2007. As announced by Nicholas Briggs; “We gave Dalek Empire a little rest last year and did Cyberman instead. There are plans for a second Cyberman series, but we always had plans in mind to return to Dalek Empire. And the fact that so many people asked for it to return really spurred us on.”

The fourth Dalek Empire is entitled “The Fearless” and is due to take place during the timeline of the first Dalek Empire series and will feature at least one of the original characters. Says Nicholas Briggs; “However, there is a new leading character and no prior knowledge of any of the previous serials is necessary. It’s a story from a different perspective set against a backdrop that those who’ve enjoyed Dalek Empire before will recognise, but that newcomers will still be able to understand and engage with. We’re exploring some great ideas for casting as well and will hopefully be in a position to reveal all very soon. And funnily enough, I’ll be in it too, as well as writing, directing and doing the music.”

The storylines for "The Fearless" have been approved by the BBC and scripts are currently being written, with studio sessions planned for May. The four-part series is due to be released from September to December 2007.