Subterfuge was the two hundred and sixty second story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Helen Goldwyn and featured Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor, Ian McNeice as Winston Churchill and Rufus Hound as the Monk. It was the third in a trilogy of stories pitting the Seventh Doctor against another rogue Time Lord.

Set during the 1945 general election, the story was released just four months after the general election in 2019. Cast and crew observed a certain contemporary vibe present in the script. Samuel Clemens, the director, noted that, while the story doesn't necessarily pass specific comments or judgements, it used its historical setting to reflect aspects of the real-world political climate as it was around the time of release. (BFX: Subterfuge)

Publisher's summary[]

London, 1945. Winston Churchill campaigns for re-election. His new strategic adviser assures him that Britain has a bright future under his continued leadership. It’s a vote he can’t possibly lose. But the Doctor knows that he must.

The Monk is meddling, altering history for his own selfish ends. With spies and aliens in the mix, Winston realises victory may not be so simple. But at least he can trust his old friend... can’t he?

Plot[]

Part one[]

to be added

Part two[]

to be added

Part three[]

to be added

Part four[]

to be added

Cast[]

• The Doctor - Sylvester McCoy
• Winston Churchill - Ian McNeice
• The Meddling Monk - Rufus Hound
• Lesley Kulcade - Brian Capron
• Alicia Dowan / Churchill's Secretary - Mimi Ndiweni
• Edward Dowan - Philip Labey
• Policeman / Mugger / Broadcaster / System - Jonathan Forbes
• Secretary 2 / Landlord / Borstal Boy / Driver - James Joyce

Crew[]

• Cover Art - Simon Holub
• Director - Samuel Clemens
• Executive Producers - Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs
• Music and Sound Design - Steve Foxon
• Producers - Emma Haigh and David Richardson
• Script Editor - Matt Fitton
• Writer - Helen Goldwyn

Worldbuilding[]

• The outcome of the 1945 general election is a fixed point in time.

Notes[]

• This features the first and only appearance for both Winston Churchill and Rufus Hound's Monk in Big Finish's monthly range, although each had previously made numerous appearances in other ranges.
• From Churchill's perspective, the story acts as a kind of sequel to Churchill Victorious, the final story in The Churchill Years: Volume Two.
• No precise date is given in-universe but the Doctor's mention of Japan indicates that the Pacific War is still going on. In the real world, the polls opened on 5 July 1945 - thereby setting the bulk of the story on 4 July - and the result was declared on 26 July. The story at least acknowledges this period of delay.
• Director Sam Clemens also had a role in directing Churchill's following audio appearance, Operation: Hellfire in The Third Doctor Adventures: Volume Six, released two months later. Although Hellfire was primarily directed by Nicholas Briggs, Ian McNeice recorded his lines at a separate date from the rest of the cast under Clemens' direction. Clemens also voiced the character of Hegley in that story. (BFX: Operation: Hellfire)
• This story was recorded on 10 & 11 September 2019 and 13 January 2020 at The Moat Studios and WideBuddah.

Continuity[]

• Churchill and the Doctor both note that, from the latter's perspective, their previous meeting was in 1936 during "that business with Mrs Simpson." (PROSE: The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill) Churchill, meanwhile, met many other Doctors between 1936 and the 1945 election:
  • The Third Doctor in 1943. (AUDIO: Operation: Hellfire)
  • The Sixth Doctor, also during the Simpson affair, (PROSE: Players) and subsequently in 1944. (PROSE: The Shadow in the Glass)
  • The Eighth Doctor in 1940. (AUDIO: Their Finest Hour)
  • The Ninth Doctor in 1939, (AUDIO: The Oncoming Storm) 1941, (AUDIO: Human Conflict) 1942. (AUDIO: I Was Churchill's Double) and on VE Day. (PROSE: The Lost Diaries of Winston Spencer Churchill)
  • The Tenth Doctor in 1941 (AUDIO: Hounded) and also on VE Day. (AUDIO: Churchill Victorious)
  • The Eleventh Doctor in 1936 (COMIC: The Eagle of the Reich) and 1941. (TV: Victory of the Daleks)
  • The Twelfth Doctor, via phone call, in 1941. (COMIC: The Instruments of War)
  • An unspecified incarnation, between the First and Sixth, after the Dunkirk evacuations in 1940. (AUDIO: The Ultimate Adventure)
• Churchill enters the election campaign full of confidence (AUDIO: Churchill Victorious) and is embittered by the result. (AUDIO: Living History)

External links[]

• Official Subterfuge page at bigfinish.com