1st, 2nd, 4th & 7th Doctor Novelisations

Doctor Who: The Second Earth Adventures Collection

A collection of five classic TV novelisations featuring the Doctor's hectic adventures on Earth. 
 
"Slick and polished...immersive productions of much-loved novelisations...long may we enjoy them." - Doctor Who Magazine 
 
In Planet of Giants present day England becomes a nightmare landscape when a freak accident causes the TARDIS and its occupants to be reduced to miniature size. 
 
In The Massacre the Doctor and Steven land in 16th Century Paris, where danger stalks the streets. 
 
In The Invasion present day London has been infiltrated by International Electromatics in collaboration with the Cybermen. 
 
In The Horror of Fang Rock the TARDIS lands on a foggy island beset by death and disaster. 
 
In Delta and the Bannermen the Doctor and Mel find themselves holed up in a remote Welsh holiday camp, where several of the holidaymakers are not what they first appear... 
 
Carole Ann Ford, Peter Purves, David Troughton, Louise Jameson and Bonnie Langford read these classic tales, first published as Target Books in the 1970s and 1980s. Nicholas Briggs provides the authentic voice of the Cybermen. 
 
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in along with the audio. 
 
(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Slick and polished...immersive productions of much-loved novelisations...long may we enjoy them

1st Doctor TV Soundtracks

Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two

Four more thrilling soundtrack adventures from the early days of Doctor Who, featuring serials lost from the TV archive. 
 
The pictures may be lost, but each of these stories survives as a soundtrack recording. Remastered, and with additional linking narration, they can be enjoyed once more. 
 
 In The Daleks' Master Plan, the Daleks have stolen the Time Destructor, and are threatening to destroy the fabric of Time itself. Pursued across Time and Space, the TARDIS crew are in grave danger. 
 
In The Massacre, the TARDIS materialises in Paris, 1572, a time of danger and religious strife. When Steven witnesses an execution, he believes the Doctor has been executed in front of his eyes. 
 
In The Celestial Toymaker, the travellers arrive in the domain of the Toymaker, where failure to win a series of games could result in them becoming playthings for eternity. 
 
In The Savages, the TARDIS arrives on a distant and seemingly idyllic world, but the Doctor, Steven and Dodo discovers that it hides a terrible secret. 
 
Special linking narration is provided by Peter Purves, who also recalls his time making the original episodes in a bonus interview. Also included is an edition of BBC Radio's Archive on 4 from 2009. 
 
In 'Doctor Who -- The Lost Episodes' Shaun Ley investigates what happened to the missing episodes of Doctor Who from the 1960s. 
 
The CD editions also feature PDF files featuring high quality scans of the original BBC TV camera scripts. Duration: 10 hours 20 mins approx 
 
(P) &amp; © 2019 BBC Studios Distribution For cast and credits see accompanying PDF booklet available on purchase.

Narrated full-cast TV soundtracks

Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965

Five soundtrack adventures of stories lost from the TV archive

John Lucarotti (Author) 
John Lucarotti was born in England and spent nine years in the Royal Navy during and after the Second World War. He then went to North America to work for Imperial Oil. It was here that he began writing. Later, he scripted an eighteen-part radio series about the life of Marco Polo for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, but at one point found himself earning more money as an encyclopedia salesman than as a writer. Consequently he decided to focus on the US market. By the late Fifties he had taken Canadian citizenship, and then returned to England, where he became involved in TV work. 
 
He had recently moved to Majorca when, at Syndey Newman's suggestion, David Whitaker approached him to write for Doctor Who. Remembering his CBC series, he chose Marco Polo as his subject. Throughout the Sixties and Seventies, Lucarotti continued a successful TV career, creating the shows Operation Patch and The Ravelled Thread, among others, and contributing scripts to The Avengers, Doctor Who, Ghost Squad, Joe 90, The Man in Room 17, Murder Bag, New Scotland Yard, The Protectors, Moonbase 3, The Onedin Line, Star Maidens and Into the Labyrinth, his last credited screen work in 1981. He novelised his 1976 serial Operation Patch (Target, 1976) and the 1979/1980 series The Ravelled Thread (Puffin Books, 1979). He contributed the first Brief Encounter short story for Doctor Who Magazine in 1990, in which the author met the First Doctor in a French bar. The story was reprinted in the 1992 Doctor Who Yearbook (Marvel, 1991). John Lucarotti died in Paris, France, on 20 November 1994 aged 68. 
 
Dennis Spooner (Author) 
Dennis Spooner was script editor of Doctor Who during the William Hartnell era, and wrote several stories for the show, including The Reign of Terror and The Romans. He also wrote for the Gerry Anderson series' Supercar, Fireball XL5, Stingray and Thunderbirds, and co-created five espionage series' including Man in a Suitcase, Department S and The Adventurer. Spooner also created the cult detective series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). He died in September 1986. 
 
David Whitaker (Author) 
David Whitaker was the first Story Editor for Doctor Who, and was responsible for finding and commissioning writers, and it was Whitaker as much as anyone who defined the narrative shape of Doctor Who. He wrote for the Doctor Who annuals, novelised the first Dalek story and worked with Terry Nation on various Dalek-related material including the hugely successful comic strip The Daleks. David Whitaker died in 1980. 
 
William Emms (Author) 
William Emms was a scriptwriter who wrote for a variety of television programmes including The Revenue Men (1967-68), Callan (1969-70), Ace of Wands (1970), Z Cars (1965-71) and Crossroads (1980). In 1965, he wrote Galaxy 4, the first serial in the third season of Doctor Who. It was broadcast in four weekly parts from 11 September to 2 October. Emms wrote several further scripts for Doctor Who, but they were not commissioned. However, in 1985 his novelisation of Galaxy 4 was published as a Target book, and the following year, he wrote a novel in the Make Your Own Adventure with Doctor Who range of children's gamebooks, entitled Mission to Venus. He died in 1993.

Five thrilling soundtrack adventures from the early days of Doctor Who, featuring serials lost from the TV archive. 
 
The pictures may be lost, but each of these stories survives as a soundtrack recording. Remastered, and with additional linking narration, they can be enjoyed once more. 
 
In Marco Polo, the famous Venetian explorer plans to give the TARDIS to Kublai Khan - unless the Doctor and his companions can stop him. 
 
In The Reign of Terror, the Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan are caught up in the bloody events of the French Revolution. 
 
In The Crusade, the TARDIS materialises in the middle of a 12th Century holy war between Richard the Lionheart and the Saracen Saladin. 
 
In Galaxy 4, the Doctor, Steven and Vicki meet the Drahvins and the Rills on a planet just one day away from destruction. 
 
In The Myth Makers, the Doctor is hailed as the Greek god Zeus and forced to help defeat the Trojans. He forms the idea of a wooden horse… 
 
Special linking narration is provided by William Russell, Carole Ann Ford and Peter Purves, who also recall their time making the original episodes in a series of bonus interviews. 
 
(P) &amp; © 2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd t/as BBC Studios 
 
For cast and credits see accompanying PDF booklet available on purchase.

1st Doctor Novelisation

Doctor Who: Marco Polo

The captivating novelisation of an epic ‘lost’ historical TV adventure for the First Doctor.

Zienia Merton reads this captivating novelisation of an epic ‘lost’ historical TV adventure featuring the First Doctor. 
 
"Merton brings a lightness of touch to her reading that's quite delightful...It's a rewarding listen, and a fine tribute to its narrator." Doctor Who Magazine 
 
The young Venetian, Marco Polo, is on his way to the Emperor’s court in Peking when he meets four intrepid time travellers: the elderly Doctor, his granddaughter Susan, and their companions Ian and Barbara. 
 
The TARDIS has broken down whilst on Earth, in the year 1289. Marco Polo recognises in it a means of winning favour with the Emperor, and he insists that the travellers accompany his caravan to Cathay. 
 
The journey is fraught with sandstorms, drought, bandits, would-be assassins and many other hidden dangers. Even if they do arrive safely at the court of Kublai Khan, the Doctor and his friends have no guarantee of ever seeing the inside of the TARDIS again… 
 
Zienia Merton, who played Ping-Cho in the original BBC serial, reads John Lucarotti’s own novelisation of his 1964 TV adventure. 
 
Dedicated to the memory of Zienia Merton 
 
(p) &amp; © 2018 BBC Worldwide Ltd t/as BBC Studios 
Text © John Lucarotti 1984 
Cover illustration by David McAllister 
 
Reading produced by John Ainsworth 
Recorded at Ashwood Music 
Post-production by Ladbroke Studios 
Sound design by Simon Power for Meon Productions 
TARDIS sound effect composed by Brian Hodgson 
Executive producer: Michael Stevens

Five classic novelisations of TV adventures set in Earth’s history

Doctor Who: The History Collection

Five classic novelisations of TV adventures set in Earth’s history.

Five classic novelisations of TV adventures set in Earth’s history. 
 
In Doctor Who: The Aztecs the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan materialise in Mexico during the bloodthirsty Aztec civilisation. 
 
In Doctor Who and the Crusaders the First Doctor and his friends are embroiled in the 12th Century conflict between Richard the Lionheart and the Sultan Saladin. 
 
In Doctor Who: The Myth Makers the First Doctor, Steven and Vicki arrive on the plains of Ursa Minor, in the middle of the Greek and Trojan battlefields. 
 
In Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora, the Fourth Doctor and Sarah fight swords, sorcery and an alien influence in 15th Century Italy. 
 
In Doctor Who and the Visitation, the Fifth Doctor, Adric, Tegan and Nyssa materialise in 17th Century London and find themselves playing a key role in gruesome historical events… 
 
Read by William Russell, Stephen Thorne, Tim Pigott-Smith and Matthew Waterhouse. Duration: 23 hours approx. Each purchase is accompanied by a PDF booklet featuring full cast and credits, chapter-by-chapter navigation, and sleeve notes for each book by David J. Howe. 
 
“This range of classic Target audiobooks continues to go from strength to strength…” 
Doctor Who Magazine 
 
Sound design by Simon Power 
TARDIS sound effect by Brian Hodgson 
Executive producer: Michael Stevens 
Cover illustration by Andrew Skilleter 
 
(P) BBC Worldwide 2018 © BBC Worldwide 2018 
BBC logo © BBC 1996 
Doctor Who logo © BBC 2014 
A stereo recording 
MCPS 
 
Digital Edition Chapter Listing 
 
Doctor Who: The Aztecs 
Files 1-15 
 
Doctor Who and the Crusaders 
Files 16-25 
 
Doctor Who: The Myth Makers 
Files 26-53 
 
Doctor Who and the Masque of Mandragora 
Files 54-65 
 
Doctor Who and the Visitation 
Files 66-76

A 1st Doctor Novelisation

Doctor Who: The Massacre

An unabridged reading of John Lucarotti's novelisation of his classic First Doctor TV adventure.

John Lucarotti was a British screenwriter. He created the television series Operation Patch (later novelised), The Ravelled Thread, and The Panther's Leap. He wrote ten episodes for The Avengers, thirty-two episodes for The Troubleshooters and contributed fifteen episodes to the BBC's Doctor Who in the 1960s, the three serials Marco Polo, The Aztecs and The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve. He subsequently novelised his scripts for Target Books. He contributed a script for what ultimately became the 1975 serial The Ark in Space, but it was rewritten by script editor Robert Holmes and Lucarotti received no on-screen credit.

Peter Purves reads John Lucarotti's novelisation of his classic First Doctor TV adventure. The TARDIS lands in Paris on 19 August 1572. Driven by scientific curiosity, the Doctor goes to meet and exchange views with the apothecary, Charles Preslin. Before he disappears, he warns Steven to stay 'out of mischief, religion and politics'. But in 16th Century Paris it is impossible to remain a mere observer, and Steven soon finds himself involved with a group of Huguenots. The Protestant minority of France is being threatened by the Catholic hierarchy, and danger stalks the Paris streets. As Steven tries to find his way back to the TARDIS he discovers that one of the main persecutors of the Huguenots appears to be...the Doctor! Peter Purves, who played Steven in the original BBC TV series, reads this novelisation of a fondly remembered classic story, the original episodes of which are lost from the BBC archives.

Doctor Who: The Aztecs

William Russell reads this thrilling novelisation of a classic Doctor Who adventure.

The TARDIS materialises in Mexico during the Aztec civilisation. The Doctor and his companions step outside to discover they are inside a tomb - the tomb, it turns out, of Yetaxa, once High Priest of the Aztecs.   Barbara is hailed as Yetaxa's reincarnation by Autloc, High Priest of Knowledge, and Tlotoxl, High Priest of Sacrifice, when they find her in the precincts of the tomb wearing the bracelet of the deceased Priest, now revered as a god.   And she takes advantage of her position of unaccustomed power to try and dissuade the Aztecs from practising human sacrifice...   William Russell, who played the Doctor's companion Ian in the original TV serial, reads John Lucarotti's complete and unabridged novelisation, first published by Target Books in 1984.

Doctor Who: Marco Polo (TV Soundtrack)

First Doctor William Hartnell joins the legendary Venetian explorer in this 'lost' BBC TV adventure, with linking narration by William Russell.

THE PROGRAMME: When Doctor Who was born to BBC1 in 1963, its purpose in life was largely educational. The device of time travel would enable the Doctor and his companions to visit periods in history which any child might learn about in the course of his or her education. For the sake of variety, and because the programme's creators were well aware of children's fascination with space travel and science fiction, each historical adventure would alternate with one set in an alien or futuristic landscape. Commissioned under the working title A Journey to Cathay, Marco Polo was the fourth Doctor Who serial to be made and shown - although, at this point in the show's development, one serial flowed into another without overarching story names (the episodes were titled individually). So far the TARDIS, carrying the mysterious Doctor, his granddaughter Susan, and her two schoolteachers who had been practically kidnapped from Earth by the old man, had moved from 1963 London to prehistoric times, then to the planet Skaro, then Outer Space, and now to 1289 Cathay. Pre-filming, for modelwork and special effects scenes as well as the final episode's fight sequence between Polo and Tegana, took place at Ealing Film Studios in January 1964. Also filmed at this time were caption shots of a parchment map detailing the caravan's route, these would accompany Polo's journal narrative in each episode. Studio recording then proceeded from January to March, with one episode per week being recorded at the BBC's Lime Grove studios in west London. The transmission of Marco Polo occasioned the first Radio Times issue to devote its cover to Doctor Who, the number dated 20 February 1964 featuring Polo, Tegana and the Doctor on the front. The incidental music for the serial was composed by Tristram Cary for an ensemble of flute/alto flute, harp and timps/percussion. Certain elements were then combined and electronically treated to createe such atmospheric cues as those accompanying the scenes in the Cave of Five Hundred Eyes. Marco Polo has the unhappy distinction of being the earliest batch of Doctor Who episodes absent from the BBC television archives. The off-air soundtrack recording, and a wealth of photographic material from the studio recordings, are the only remnants of this classic serial known to exist.

When the TARDIS breaks down on the Roof of the World, Central Asia, in 1289, its occupants are met by the explorer Marco Polo. His mammoth undertaking is to cross the desert to Peking, and before long he has set his mind on presenting the TARDIS to the explorer Kublai Khan as a gift on his arrival. Unless they can persuade Polo otherwise, the Doctor and his companions will lose their only means to escape this moment in history. However, Polo isn’t the only one with designs on the TARDIS. The warlord Tegana will go to any lengths to steal the magical blue box - lengths which endanger the lives of the whole travelling party as they are beset by droughts, bandits and the merciless desert. And when the Doctor finally meets Kublai Khan himself, the precious Ship is his only collateral in a high-stakes game of backgammon - and the Khan is a master of the game... William Russell, who plays Ian in the story, narrates the soundtrack to this classic adventure which, long missing from the television archives, has itself gained legendary status as an example of Doctor Who at its finest. Hailing from the programme's first season (1963-4), it also stars Jacqueline Hill, Carole Ann Ford and Mark Eden as Marco Polo.

John Lucarotti

Ian Stuart Black

Terrance Dicks

Phillip Hinchcliffe

Zienia Merton

Michael Cochrane

Anneke Wills

Geoffrey Beevers

Michael Kilgarriff

1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Doctor Novelisations

A further collection of audio novelisations featuring the First, Second, Third and Fourth Doctors in thrilling adventures on Earth. 
 
In Marco Polo, by John Lucarotti, the TARDIS breaks down in Central Asia in the year 1289, causing the travellers to meet an intrepid Venetian explorer. In The War Machines, by Ian Stuart Black, the Doctor senses a powerful and sinister force around London's newly built Post Office Tower. In The Faceless Ones, by Terrance Dicks, the Doctor and his friends are drawn into a web of intrigue and deception at Gatwick Airport. In The Ambassadors of Death, by Terrance Dicks, the Doctor and Liz investigate the disappearance of three astronauts after their space capsule returns to Earth empty. In The Seeds of Doom, by Philip Hinchcliffe, botanical horror is unleashed when an alien pod is unearthed in Anarctica and incubated in the English countryside! 
 
Zienia Merton, Michael Cochrane, Anneke Wills, Geoffrey Beevers and Michael Kilgarriff read these exciting adaptations from the BBC TV series. 
 
Readings produced by John Ainsworth and Neil Gardner. 
Sound design by Simon Power. 
Executive Producer for BBC Audiobooks: Michael Stevens 
 
(P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd © 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

John Lucarotti

Books by John Lucarotti

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter