British acting legend Derek Jacobi returns as the Master in all-new Doctor Who adventure

Sir Derek Jacobi is returning to Doctor Who in a brand new audio drama, titled The War Master: Deeds Without Name.

The brand-new box set, which comes from Big Finish Productions and sees Jacobi reprise his role as the titular villain, is released today (Tuesday 27 October).

The synopsis reads: “The Master is on the run from Daleks and Time Lords alike, and has decided that, since there’s no chance of the Time War ending well for him, he might as well have some fun. Of course, what’s fun for the Master usually involves torment and pain for others."

The new drama comprises four adventures: The Unstately Home by Alison Winter, Dead Man’s Pulse by Mark Bowsher, The Devil in the Detail by David K Barnes and In His Anecdotage by Matthew Sweet.

The synopsis for The Unstately Home reads: "The super-rich elite residents of Aurora Mansions, a high-tech luxury retirement village and nursing home, have every imaginable comfort and amenity in their golden years. But the Master, posing as a cognitive hypnotherapist, is keen to demonstrate that no amount of money can provide sanctuary from the troubled mind... especially when he’s inside it."

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Alongside Jacobi, who first played the character in the Doctor Who season 3 episode Utopia back in 2007, the guest cast for the box set includes Carolyn Seymour (Survivors), Sorcha Cusack (Father Brown), Sarah Hadland (Miranda), Josh Finan (The Responder) and Ben Whitehead (Wallace & Gromit).

Other guest stars include Kieran Hodgson (Two Doors Down), Cassie Bradley (Pushers), Kathryn Drysdale (Bridgerton), Chizzy Akudolu (Holby City) and Will Keen (Wolf Hall).

Jacobi said in a statement: “The villains are always the best parts, absolutely. Being nasty and evil has somehow more depth than being good and heroic. And there’s a heroic aspect, certainly, to the Master. He’s got all the answers, all the exits and entrances. He’s the powerful one, he’s strong and assured and he knows he’s a winner.”

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Winter added: “The Master at this point is no longer making plans for the future because he’s realised there isn’t one. He’s always wanted to survive the TimeWar but now that he’s accepted it can’t be survived, he’s indulging in wanton wickedness in the face of his own inevitable destruction.

“I found that premise fascinating. When someone knows the end is coming, it focuses the mind. The Master acts as if he’s immortal, but he is also highly intelligent and recognises the end is nigh. So what does he do with the time he has left? Does he reflect at all? I imagined he might find himself haunted and, perhaps to manage that, decide to experiment on the ghosts of others.”

The War Master: Deeds Without Name is available to purchase now exclusively from www.bigfinish.com.

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Molly Moss is a Trends Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest trends across TV, film and more. She has an MA in Newspaper Journalism and has previously written for publications including The Guardian, The Times and The Sun Online.