History Trivia / BigFinishDoctorWho

** Averted with Creator/TomBaker and Creator/LallaWard as the two have always recorded their lines separately. The producers and writers tended to avoid the question if Baker and Ward perform together if asked at cons, so it's not clear if this is down to their turbulent past romance or other reasons (Baker's advanced age means he has to use a recording studio close to his home). Ward's relocation to Hong Kong in 2018 rendered this a moot point, as she now records her lines in a studio in Hong Kong, literally thousands of miles away from the rest of the cast, including Baker.

** Averted with Creator/TomBaker and Creator/LallaWard as the two record their lines separately. The producers and writers tend to avoid the question if Baker and Ward perform together if asked at cons, so it's not clear if this is down to their turbulent past romance or other reasons (Baker's advanced age means he has to use a recording studio close to his home).

** Averted with Tom Baker and Lalla Ward as the two record their lines separately. The producers and writers tend to avoid the question if Tom and Lalla perform together if asked at cons, so it's not clear if this is down to their turbulent past romance or other reasons (Baker's advanced age means he has to use a recording studio close to his home).

** Creator/ColinBaker gets to toy with this in [[Recap/BigFinishDoctorWho169TheWrongDoctors "The Wrong Doctors"]], where you have two versions of the Sixth Doctor 'onscreen' at the same time. Rumor has it they wanted a third, but the studio would have imploded from the awesome. Bonnie Langford also gets to play with this in "The Wrong Doctors", where two Mels are running around the story at the same time. However, unlike the Sixth Doctors, the two Mels are night and day.

** As mentioned above, Tom Baker had been a long-time holdout on appearing with Big Finish. It took both Creator/ElisasbethSladen and Creator/LouiseJameson continuing to persuade him for him to finally sign on to play the Fourth Doctor again. Baker finally signed in 2011, and was looking forward to a series of adventures where Baker and Sladen would portray the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane again. Tragically, Elisabeth Sladen died shortly after of cancer, and so the plans could not be realized.

** Tracey Childs (Klein) is another case in which the actor's character is reeling due to not knowing when to quit. There have been at least three points where her story could have come to a natural end (Nazi, {{tragic villain}}, companion, and now TykeBomb). Big Finish just enjoys working with Childs, but that isn't a strong reason in storytelling terms. Ironically, Klein was brought in as a companion because fans were tired of the Seven-Hex-Ace team.

* CreatorsFavourite: This situation is a frequent problem that occurs when the creators enjoy working with a particular actor/actress too much.
** In particular we're describing Creator/SophieAldred, India Fisher and Philip Olivier. So they keep using and re-using their characters long past their ability to generate decent stories. The result? A character that everybody remembers for sticking around too long, characters that would have had a much more memorable run if they'd gone out on a high, and left people wanting more.
** Tracey Childs is another character which is reeling due to not knowing when to quit. There have been at least three points where her story could have come to a natural end (Nazi, {{tragic villain}}, companion, and now {{tykebomb}}). Big Finish just enjoys working with Childs, but that isn't a strong reason in storytelling terms. Ironically, Klein was brought in as a companion because fans were tired of the Seven-Hex-Ace team.
** The favourite monster of Creator/NicholasBriggs is the Daleks, and it shows. Most of the stories he writes have something to do with Daleks, he plays all of the Daleks, he plays the Daleks in the revival series, he even played the Daleks in the DVD re-release of the Third Doctor story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E1DayOfTheDaleks Day of the Daleks]]", he does the Big Finish podcasts with his ring modulator at the ready slipping in and out of his Dalek voice, the first story he wrote for Tom Baker's much-hyped return was an attempt to give him a Dalek story with no Davros in it, the big event series ''Dark Eyes'' is all about Daleks, ''any'' event story he writes is all about Daleks... On the bright side, he is very, very, very good at it.

* CareerResurrection: Many of the actors who played the Doctor's companions have long since retired from acting (including Creator/SarahSutton, who works as a library attendant, and Creator/MarkStrickson, who is a documentary producer), but made an exception to regularly reprise their roles for Big Finish. Several of them are often cited as being much better actors than they ever were on television.

** Christopher Naylor had appeared in several Big Finish productions before he was cast as Harry Sullivan, taking over the role from the late Ian Marter.

** Likewise, since Creator/WilliamRussell doubles up as Ian and the Doctor, and Creator/CaroleAnnFord still plays Susan, Jemma Powell (who'd already played Jacqueline Hill/Barbara in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'') was cast as Barbara for new full-cast First Doctor adventures, until 2018, when she was joined by Creator/DavidBradley as the First Doctor along with the other recast actors from ''An Adventure In Space And Time''.

** Creator/TomBaker signed a deal with Big Finish to perform Fourth Doctor audio plays in late March or early April, 2011. When signed, among the ideas he mentioned he was interested in was doing new adventures alongside Creator/ElisabethSladen reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith. (Apparently, it was Lis and Creator/LouiseJameson who convinced him to come back at all.) [[ActorExistenceFailure Sadly, Elisabeth Sladen then passed away, putting those plans permanently in the "What Could Have Been" category.]] However, in 2021, Lis's daughter Sadie Miller took over as Sarah Jane.

* CareerResurrection: Many of the actors who played the Doctor's companions have long since retired from acting (including Creator/SarahSutton, who works as a library attendant, and Mark Strickson, who is a documentary producer), but made an exception to regularly reprise their roles for Big Finish. Several of them are often cited as being much better actors than they ever were on television.
* CreatorsFavorite: This situation is a frequent problem that occurs when the creators enjoy working with a particular actor/actress too much.

** Creator/TomBaker signed a deal with Big Finish to perform Fourth Doctor audio plays in late March or early April, 2011. When signed, among the ideas he mentioned he was interested in was doing new adventures alongside Creator/ElisabethSladen reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith. (Apparently, it was Lis and Louise Jameson who convinced him to come back at all.) [[ActorExistenceFailure Sadly, Elisabeth Sladen then passed away, putting those plans permanently in the "What Could Have Been" category.]] However, in 2021, Lis's daughter Sadie Miller took over as Sarah Jane.

** As mentioned above, Tom Baker had been a long-time holdout on appearing with Big Finish. It took both Lis Sladen and Louise Jameson continuing to persuade him for him to finally sign on to play the Fourth Doctor again. Baker finally signed in 2011, and was looking forward to a series of adventures where Baker and Sladen would portray the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane again. Tragically, Elisabeth Sladen died shortly after of cancer, and so the plans could not be realized.

** Since Creator/FrazerHines can play both the Second Doctor and Jamie, and Anneke Wills is still playing Polly, Elliot Chapman was cast as Ben to allow that particular TARDIS crew to have new full-cast adventures.

** Since Frazer Hines can play both the Second Doctor and Jamie, and Anneke Wills is still playing Polly, Elliot Chapman was cast as Ben to allow that particular TARDIS crew to have new full-cast adventures.
** Likewise, since Ian Russell doubles up as Ian and the Doctor, and Creator/CaroleAnnFord still plays Susan, Jemma Powell (who'd already played Jacqueline Hill/Barbara in ''Film/AnAdventureInSpaceAndTime'') was cast as Barbara for new full-cast First Doctor adventures, until 2018, when she was joined by Creator/DavidBradley as the First Doctor along with the other recast actors from ''An Adventure In Space And Time''.

** Frazer Hines now voices the Second Doctor - it started with him doing the Doctor's voice in narrated stories, but his impression of Pat is so spot-on (and fan reception so positive) they eventually transitioned to doing full-cast stories where Frazer doubles up as both the Doctor and Jamie. William Russell also does a rather good Creator/WilliamHartnell, which scripts have also taken advantage of.

** Creator/TomBaker signed a deal with Big Finish to perform Fourth Doctor audio plays in late March or early April, 2011. When signed, among the ideas he mentioned he was interested in was doing new adventures alongside Creator/ElisabethSladen reprising her role as Sarah Jane Smith. (Apparently, it was Lis and Louise Jameson who convinced him to come back at all) [[ActorExistenceFailure Sadly, Elisabeth Sladen then passed away, putting those plans permanently in the "What Could Have Been" category.]]
*** However, in 2021, a new Four/Sarah adventure (The Lost Stories adventure ''Return of the Cybermen'' will be released, with Sadie Miller taking over as Sarah, fitting as she is the daughter of Creator/ElisabethSladen, who originated the role. Miller will also be playing Sarah alongside Tim Treolar's Third Doctor.

* CareerResurrection: Many of the actors who played the Doctor's companions have long since retired from acting (including Sarah Sutton, who works as a library attendant, and Mark Strickson, who is a documentary producer), but made an exception to regularly reprise their roles for Big Finish. Several of them are often cited as being much better actors than they ever were on television.

** Eight's companions get in a few snide remarks about his poncy hair, notably when Lucie asks if it's even real. Paul [=McGann=] wore a wig when he played the Doctor on TV, since he shaved his head after his audition.

* RecursiveAdaptation: Big Finish has produced audio versions of the two major ''Doctor Who'' stage plays, ''The Ultimate Adventure'' (with Colin Baker) and ''The Seven Keys to Doomsday'' (with Trevor Martin reprising his stage role as a non-TV Doctor).

** The CliffHanger between Zagreus' first appearance and the subsequent episode lasted ''a year and a half''. Close to the end of that release gap, in the audio "Omega", Zagreus is prominently listed in the credits. [[spoiler: It's an in-story actor playing Zagreus on a Gallifrey-themed cruise ship. He has one line.]]

** As mentioned above, Tom Baker had been a long-time holdout on appearing with Big Finish. It took both Lis Sladen and Louise Jameson continuing to persuade him for him to finally sign on to play the Fourth Doctor again. Baker finally signed in 2011, and was looking forward to a series of adventures where Baker and Sladen would portray the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane again. [[AuthorExistenceFailure Tragically, Elisabeth Sladen died shortly after of cancer, and so the plans could not be realized.]]

* YouLookFamiliar: A number of actors who've appeared in the show have also been in Big Finish (or were in Big Finish before the revival). These include Derek Jacobi, David Tennant, Anthony Head, Bernard Cribbins, Simon Pegg, Toby Jones, Dan Starkey, and Nicholas Briggs.

** Before his death in 2004, Creator/AnthonyAinley was approached about returning as the Master, but they couldn't agree on terms. So Big Finish approached Geoffrey Beevers instead, paving the way for Beevers to become the primary Master for Big Finish Doctor Who.

* GenreRelaunch: The TV series gave up on "historicals" (serials with no SF elements outside the Doctor and friends showing up in a time machine) in 1967. Big Finish brought the format back with a number of quite successful serials focused purely on non-SF adventures in history, such as "The Marian Conspiracy" (Mary I), "The Council of Nicaea" ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin... guess]]), "The Church and the Crown" (Louis XIII, Cardinal Richlieu and the Musketeers), "Wrath of the Iceni" (Boudicca) and "Son Of The Dragon" (the ''real'' Dracula).

* GenreResurrection: The TV series gave up on "historicals" (serials with no SF elements outside the Doctor and friends showing up in a time machine) in 1967. Big Finish brought the format back with a number of quite successful serials focused purely on non-SF adventures in history, such as "The Marian Conspiracy" (Mary I), "The Council of Nicaea" ([[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin... guess]]), "The Church and the Crown" (Louis XIII, Cardinal Richlieu and the Musketeers), "Wrath of the Iceni" (Boudicca) and "Son Of The Dragon" (the ''real'' Dracula).

** In most stories, Frazer Hines voices the Second Doctor, and most fans say it's a spot-on impression - so good, in fact, that they've progressively given him more and more chances to actually, properly play the Doctor in the audios. William Russell also does a rather good Creator/WilliamHartnell, which scripts have also taken advantage of.

** Before his death in 2004, Anthony Ainley was approached about returning as the Master, but they couldn't agree on terms. So Big Finish approached Geoffrey Beevers instead, paving the way for Beevers to become the primary Master for Big Finish Doctor Who.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: James Dreyfus was announced as playing the very first incarnation of the Master to much fanfare, with the promise that he would play the character on a semi-regular basis. However, there was much controversy when transphobic comments he'd made on social media came to light, which he proceeded to double down on. Whilst it has not been expressly stated that he has been dropped, it appears that the only stories he will appear in are ones which were recorded before his comments came to light, which are being released as quietly as possible, with no mention of his role in promotional material. As further evidence a story titled Masterful has been announced that sets to unite all the surviving tv actors with the actors who played incarnations exclusive to Big Finish, except for Dreyfus.

* RoleEndingMisdemeanor: James Dreyfus was announced as playing the very first incarnation of the Master to much fanfare, with the promise that he would play the character on a semi-regular basis. However, there was much controversy when transphobic comments he'd made on social media came to light, which he proceeded to double down on. Whilst it has not been expressly stated that he has been dropped, it appears that the only stories he will appear in are ones which were recorded before his comments came to light, which are being released as quietly as possible, with no mention of his role in promotional material.

** Before Creator/TomBaker finally signed, Four was briefly played by [[Series/DeadRingers famous impersonator Jon Culshaw]] for a recording in "The Kingmaker".
** Tim Treloar's rather good impression of Creator/JonPertwee has led to him getting more opportunities to play the character.
** Since Frazer Hines can play both the Doctor and Jamie, and Anneke Wills is still playing Polly, Elliot Chapman was cast as Ben to allow that particular TARDIS crew to have new full-cast adventures.

** Molly O'Sullivan would've had a larger role in "Dark Eyes 3" if Ruth Bradley didn't have other commitments. Likewise, she was kept out of "Dark Eyes 4" for the same reason, and was eventually recast with another actress.

** Creator/StevenMoffat was asked to write audio plays when the idea started. He was interested, but the only Doctor he wanted to write for was Eight and Creator/PaulMcGann hadn't signed on yet, so he passed.

** As mentioned above, Tom Baker had been a long-time holdout on appearing with Big Finish. It took both Lis Sladen and Louise Jameson continuing to persuade him for him to finally sign on to play the Fourth Doctor again. Baker finally signed in 2011, and was looking forward to a series of adventures where Baker and Sladen would portray Four and Sarah Jane again. [[AuthorExistenceFailure Tragically, Elisabeth Sladen died shortly after of cancer, and so the plans could not be realized.]]