"Cuddlesome"
by Nigel Fairs

The relaunch of the Cuddlesomes - furry pink vampire hamster toys originally available in the 1980s - coincides with an unprecedented number of people being admitted to hospital with avian flu. When the Fifth Doctor arrives, and meets Angela Wisher (whose boyfriend has fallen victim to a Cuddlesome-gone-wrong), the pair investigate, and find that reclusive Cuddlesome-creator Ronald Turvey has many secrets to hide, in this hour-long special audio adventure released free with Doctor Who Magazine.

The central concept is endearingly silly, and the script is peppered with humorous moments, so there was a risk that Cuddlesome could descend into farce. It's largely the talent and skill of the cast members which stops that from happening - with Timothy West as Turvey making a somewhat-pathetic backstory believable and heart-wrenching, and even managing to make the line, "Mr Tinghus likes his baths" sound threatening.

Roberta Taylor who, as Angela, fills the companion role for this adventure, is an absolute joy, making the most of her character as a brave and headstrong woman who's more than a match for the Fifth Doctor. Presumably, that incarnation of the Doctor was chosen to cash in on the success of Time Crash, so it's strange that he feels a bit under-used, appearing very little at the start of the story and making little impression at the end. Both leads perform excellently, though, and their relationship is a lovely one - if Angela were to return, she'd be more than welcome.

The title and opening scenes lull the listener into a sense of false security - what's ostensibly a nice fluffy little story lacking in depth becomes something engrossing, tautly-plotted and excitingly-executed. Moments such as the revelation of Miranda Evenden's fate are genuinely horrifying, and some parts of the script probably wouldn't have made it to TV if this had been a New Series episode.

The sound design too, with some fantastic menacing music underscoring an increasingly-threatening Turvey in his main confrontation with the Doctor, is superb. The only unsuccessful element of this play is the relaunched Cuddlesomes, whose voices are designed to be cheesy, but just come across as grating and seem misjudged.

Great writing, outstanding performances - Cuddlesome is a brilliant play, and makes for a good solid listen.