Big Finish announces new spin-off series

[23skidoo]

As one spin-off ends on TV (Sarah Jane - or possibly two depending who you listen to re: Torchwood), Big Finish continues to expand the Doctor Who audience universe. They've just announced a new spin-off series launching in 2012 called Counter-Measures, featuring Capt. Gilmore, Rachel, Allison and other characters from Remembrance of the Daleks. The concept is the adventures of the Counter-Measures group, which appears to be a sort of proto-UNIT.

http://bigfinish.com/news/New-Doctor-Who-Spin-off-Counter-Measures

The first stories come out next summer, though they've been recorded.

It will be interesting to see where this goes. For one thing, Remembrance established that Bernard Quatermass and the British Rocket Group exist in the Whoniverse (something hinted at in Planet of the Dead). It'll be interesting to see if BF will attempt a crossover. Plus, both Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred continue to record stories for BF, so I'm sure we'll see a return engagement for the Seventh Doctor if the series continues.

This is the second major spin-off BF has done based on one-off characters. Their Jago & Litefoot series (featuring the guys from Talons of Weng-Chiang) has been going strong for a couple years now, and they even brought in Louise Jameson to reprise Leela for a few of those.

Alex

 

[The Nth Doctor]

It's been awhile since I've seen Remembrance of the Daleks but I barely remember those characters (as oppose to Jago & Litefoot) so I have to say I'm not at all keen on this.

 

[OmahaStar]

It's been awhile since I've seen Remembrance of the Daleks but I barely remember those characters (as oppose to Jago & Litefoot) so I have to say I'm not at all keen on this.

I barely remember it ... Just that there was the hovering Dalek, and it was supposed to be set at the same place and time as An Unearthly Child.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Look at the plot... "UNIT" in 1963.

I just wish they were allowed to make Countermeasures vs. Torchwood.

But...

Did UNIT naturally grow out Countermeasures or was it Thunderdome?

Either way, we'll be seeing a wet behind the ears 20 something Alistair lethbridge Stewart who is either the heir or the murderer of Countermeasures.

Then of course I just want to see humans using exotic weaponry, which if it didn't happen in UNIT over the next 50 years, is unlikely to be happening in 1963.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

It's been awhile since I've seen Remembrance of the Daleks but I barely remember those characters (as oppose to Jago & Litefoot) so I have to say I'm not at all keen on this.

I barely remember it ... Just that there was the hovering Dalek, and it was supposed to be set at the same place and time as An Unearthly Child.

See, that's the thing. I love Remembrance of the Daleks (it's my favorite McCoy story along with Ghost Light), but I barely remember those particular characters. I find it rather surprising that Big Finish had decided to spin-off these characters. Jago & Litefoot, I understand because they've always been fan favorites (including me).

 

[Captain Crow]

How long until we get a spin-off with the Concorde crew from "Time Flight"?

 

[OmahaStar]

How long until we get a spin-off with the Concorde crew from "Time Flight"?

It came out last Tuesday.

 

[23skidoo]

I must have been the only one who bought the special edition of Remembrance, or the only one who remembered the Madame Vastra-like calls of "spinoff! spinoff!" when the show first aired back in 88.

Group Captain Gilmore? Rachel and Allison? These were characters who arrived fully formed and the whole thing felt like a backdoor pilot for them. Also, there was the direct connection made between them and Quatermass. Frankly I'd have chosen these characters over Jago & Litefoot first if given the choice.

I take it no one here is a supporter of that Minister of Chance spin-off that's being made based upon a character who appeared in Death Comes to Time? If there's good stories to be told, and actors willing to play them, I don't give a sh*t if the character appeared for 4 seconds in the background of episode 3 of the Australian edit of The Smugglers in 1966...

Alex

 

[Kelso]

Cool. I like those characters.

 

[Starkers]

How long until we get a spin-off with the Concorde crew from "Time Flight"?

It came out last Tuesday.

Brilliant news!

Wonder if they've got Tegan as a guest air hostess on occasion?

 

[Stevil2001]

I liked the characters in Remembrance, but sheesh, this is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

 

[Rarewolf]

It will be interesting to see where this goes. For one thing, Remembrance established that Bernard Quatermass and the British Rocket Group exist in the Whoniverse (something hinted at in Planet of the Dead). It'll be interesting to see if BF will attempt a crossover.

Or it could be Malcolm in Planet Of The Dead was just a fan of the show.

I liked the characters in Remembrance, but sheesh, this is scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Not at all, Pamala Salem flew in from her home in the US especially.

It seems such an obvious idea it's suprising no one thought of it sooner.

 

[Starkers]

Yeah I think Malcom was just a fan.

 

[Lonemagpie]

It's been awhile since I've seen Remembrance of the Daleks but I barely remember those characters (as oppose to Jago & Litefoot) so I have to say I'm not at all keen on this.

They're getting desperate, aren't they?

They should just have done them as prequels in the UNIT series, so it sounds kind of like they're thinking of a more family-friendly Torchwood equivalent, perhaps?