Review by Daniel Mansfield

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In the absence of a Doctor Who Christmas special on TV this year, it’s down to Big Finish to celebrate the season, and what better way than with a four-part audio anthology of festive delights?

Opening story Unholy Night by Noga Flaishon sees Michelle Gomez‘s Missy thrust into a Hallmark movie… with added monsters, sacrifices and murderous townsfolk, natch. Gomez is hilarious as the Scrooge to the sugarplum-sweet folk of Noël Falls, getting more and more frustrated as she’s forced to celebrate Christmas with them despite trying very, very hard to kill them. So convincing is she in her role as this bloodthirsty Grinch, and so cloying are the side characters, that you’re almost rooting for her to bump them all off and ruin Christmas. A quirky but solid start.

Next up is Legacy of Blood, a decidedly more sombre affair that sees the Sixth Doctor meet up with old friend Ellie Higson (of Jago and Litefoot fame) to face vampires in a sleepy English village. Add to that a blistering turn from Louise Jameson as Leela, a surprise returning villain and some fond remembrances of some dear, departed friends, and you get a spooky, brooding, emotional story that feels more of a piece with October’s Halloween boxset than this festive collection.

Presents of Mind ramps up the Yuletide spirit as Sarah Jane, Harry, K-9 and Aunt Lavinia get trapped on a train on their way to celebrate Christmas in the countryside. Sadie Miller and Christopher Naylor continue to impress in their roles as two beloved companions, while Annette Badland is surprisingly acerbic as an Aunt Lavinia who very much resents being dragged into all this nonsense. After the success of the first Sullivan and Smith boxset earlier this year, it’s a joy to hear this gang back together; this one really feels like spending Christmas with old friends.

Finally, the titular story by Jonathan S Powell takes us to a mining colony in the middle of the Time War, where the Eighth Doctor becomes guardian angel to a man seeing visions of Daleks. Red and green Daleks, all decked out for the season. This is a timey-wimey story, make no mistake about it, but one rooted in humanity, with a kicker of a twist and some beautiful moments underscored by emotional music from David Roocroft. It’s oft been said that Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Eighth Doctor, and after this you’d be hard pressed to disagree.

Overall, this is a sumptuous selection box of festive treats with something for everyone, whether you fancy Christmassy schmaltz, wintertime hauntings or an emotional story about the importance of hope in the darkest of times. Merry Christmas indeed!

It’s A Wonderful War and Other Stories is available on CD or as a download from http://www.bigfinish.com