Doctor Who - Audio Details

A nation divided
A Queen's life at risk
A net of conspiracy closing in...
Sometimes being a time travelling adventurer just isn't easy...

For a start there's a temperamental TARDIS that lands a few thousand years off course in 17th Century Paris. But why shouldn't the Doctor, Peri and their travelling guest Erimem take a look around the city on the morning of King Louis' annual State Ball?

As Peri becomes embroiled in a plot to kill Queen Anne and smash the unity of the Church and the Crown, the Doctor finds himself duelling Musketeers on the streets.

With Peri missing, Erimem catching King Louis' eye and a Musketeer's sword at your throat, could things get any worse?

Probably...

YOU KNOW, TIME TRAVEL is supposed to be fun.  From watching the Fifth Doctor's era on TV, you may have missed that bit.  The TARDIS crew of the time were a whining bunch of kids who spent most of the time arguing whilst the Universe tapped its foot, looked at its watch and waited to be saved.  Nobody seemed to want to be there.  And let's not get started on Turlough.

Writing, The Church and the Crown was a particular pleasure for many reasons.  Firstly, Mark got to write for his favourite Doctor (Cav got to do that last time), along with Peri, one of the missed opportunities for a Doctor/companion team.  Secondly, we were able to play in a world of swashbuckling adventure, romance and double cross, a real love since first watching Richard Lester's filmic spin on The Three Musketeers in our youth.

Finally, The Church and the Crown sees Caroline Morris as cosmopolitan Pharaoh around town, Erimem, embarking on her first adventure as a member of the TARDIS crew proper, and the Fifth Doctor finally getting two companions who can stand to be in the same room together, lain, we hope we did your girl proud.

Oh, and for those wondering, the vampires don't turn up until the end of episode three this time.

Calvin Scott & Mark Wright, September 2002