Hornets’ Nest: The Stuff of Nightmares, a Doctor Who audio drama written by Paul Magrs starring Tom Baker, Susan Jameson and Richard Franklin is being broadcast on Radio 4Extra starting on 16th December.

You could sit down and listen to it over Christmas while perusing Paul’s quirky tome The Annual Years: A Celebration of the World Distributor Doctor Who Annuals, perhaps! (Read our news story here)

“I’m very proud of this epic, macabre tale, written and recorded five years ago,” says Paul. “It involves stuffed museum animals coming to life, hornets building nests in people’s brains, ballet dancers’ shoes possessing feet, an evil circus, drunk nuns, and a wicked queen played by Rula Lenska.”

In Hornets’ Nest: The Stuff of Nightmares, Tom Baker reprises the role of the Fourth Doctor, with Richard Franklin as Mike Yates.

Responding to an advert apparently worded for him alone – “Wanted: retired army Captain for light household duties and fireside companionship. Must tolerate mild eccentricity and strong scientific advice. Knowledge of Giant Maggots, Super Intelligent Spiders and Prehistoric Monsters a positive boon” – Captain Mike Yates (retired) is reunited with a ghost from the past. But why has the Doctor, that mysterious traveller in Time and Space, sent for his former UNIT acquaintance?

Trapped by a horde of vicious creatures in an apparently innocuous English country cottage, the two old friends are on the brink of an enormous adventure. As the Doctor relates his recent escapades, it becomes clear to Mike that they – and the Earth at large – are facing an enemy of unimaginable power and horrific intent. The nightmare is only just beginning…

Along with Tom and Richard the cast include Susan Jameson as Mrs Wibbsey and Daniel Hill as Percy Noggins.

Stuff Of Nightmares is the first in the Hornet’s Nest series of inter-linked adventures and although each adventure can be easily listened to separately without hearing the last, they make more sense to listen to them in order.

• More information on the BBC web site: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009szrh/broadcasts/upcoming

• You can also buy Hornets’ Nest: The Stuff of Nightmares from various shops and amazon.co.uk

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

Categories: Audio, Doctor Who, Other Worlds, Television

Tags: Doctor Who, Hornets' Nest, Paul Magrs, Richard Franklin, The Annual Years, Tom Baker