Doctor Who star returns to narrate key Fugitive Doctor stories - with plot details unveiled

The Circuit Breaker saga is continuing to expand...

Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor in Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker

BBC Studios

Published: Friday, 31 July 2026 at 5:00 pm

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

Doctor Who’s upcoming story Circuit Breaker saga has some new additions, with a teaser about what lies ahead revealing another star from the series returning.

Ad

While the BBC series may be out to competitive tender, the universe is still expanding – with Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker becoming a multimedia crossover epic spanning across the show’s official magazine, audiobooks, novels and games this summer.

The finale, Full Circuit, is set to be released by Big Finish, and will see the story reach its conclusion with a two-hour audio drama – with Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor joining forces with both old faces and new.

Among those key to the tale are Ingrid Oliver who is back as scientist Osgood and Jemma Redgrave reprising her role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, while Omari Douglas joins the universe as Andrew, Osgood’s new assistant.

According to the synopsis, an intergalactic crisis is in effect as the story begins.

Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor in Doctor Who stands with arms open, wearing a dark blue, double-breasted coat over a mustard high-neck blouse, posed against a weathered, circular mural painted with geometric symbols and muted earth tones.

Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor in Doctor Who. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon

"Mysterious objects have been pulled through time, accompanied by a dangerous energy signature, and Osgood has locked down UNIT’s Black Archive," it reads.

"With time running out, perhaps literally, she’s called for help – from the Fugitive Doctor."

"The Doctor, Osgood and Andrew are joined by Kate Lethbridge Stewart. A final mysterious object is manifesting, this one at the pinnacle of UNIT Tower itself. A Time Bomb! Which threatens a dark future for all of the Doctor’s incarnations.

"Only this Doctor can save herself – and her other selves – from this intricately woven scheme."

The story is written by Robert Valentine, who said of the project: "I was thrilled to write the climactic episode of the Circuit Breaker saga, and it was quite the responsibility.

Osgood (Ingrid Oliver) in Doctor Who

Osgood (Ingrid Oliver) in Doctor Who. BBC

"The Doctor, Osgood and Andrew have been on this perilous journey together, and it all pays off at UNIT Tower, where Kate Lethbridge-Stewart is facing a massive threat to the safety of the planet, and only they can stop it.

"It was also huge fun pairing the Fugitive Doctor with Osgood and Kate, because Jo Martin’s Doctor is an irreverent, no-nonsense incarnation with no sentimental baggage about her UNIT allies, so her Doctor can say things to them that no other version of the Doctor could. And that was a blast to write!"

More names are set to be announced ahead of the finale's release on 22 September.

If that wasn’t enough, two audiobook mini-adventures called Circuit Breaker: Short Circuits – narrated by Sontaran actor Dan Starkey – are being added to the collection as well on 24 September.

Here's full list of release dates for the Circuit Breaker Saga, and where to find them:

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who's The Legend of Ruby Sunday standing with her hands on her hips

Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who's The Legend of Ruby Sunday. BBC STUDIOS 2023, Sophie Mutevelian

Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker will begin on 25 June on the UNIT website.

Add Doctor Who to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Ad

Check out more of our Sci-fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Tilly PearceFreelance Writer

Tilly Pearce is a freelance TV journalist whose coverage ranges from reality shows like Love Is Blind to sci-fi shows like Fallout. She is an NCTJ Gold Standard accredited journalist, who has previously worked as Deputy TV Editor (maternity cover) at Digital Spy, and Deputy TV & Showbiz Editor at Daily Express US.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...