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With the BBC putting Doctor Who out to tender and new episodes potentially a couple of years away, fans are turning to alternative ways to get their Whovian fix. One of the most ambitious is Circuit Breaker — a multi-platform story arc following the Fugitive Doctor across comics, books, audio, games and online content.

What is Doctor Who: Circuit Breaker?

This will be a series of connected stories following the ‘Fugitive’ Doctor, told in a variety of formats such as comics, books, games, audio stories and online activity on the UNIT website, where the story starts. (For more on the Fugitive Doctor see below).

Who is the ‘Fugitive’ Doctor?

We were first introduced to this character in the 13^th Doctor story Fugitive of the Judoon. In that story, this version of the Doctor (played by Jo Martin) is one we were previously unaware of and did not know where they fitted into the Doctor’s personal timeline. By the end of series 12 we discover she is one of many incarnations that existed before the version that we first encountered in 1963 (played by William Hartnell), whose memories were wiped hence the first (and later) televised Doctors not being aware of their existence. As we are not able to giver a number (as describing Matt Smith’s incarnation as the 11^th Doctor), she is referred to as the ‘Fugitive’ Doctor.

The Circuit Breaker story

Being such an early version of the Doctor, who’s memories will be lost, brings story opportunities to give new interpretations on meeting classic foes such as the Daleks and Sontarens, and a new introduction to the human race.

“In the depths of UNIT’s most secure facility, the Black Archive, familiar objects have been pulled through time and space surrounded with a dangerous energy signature threatening to tear reality apart. With time running out, newly appointed Head of the Black Archive, Osgood and her assistant Andrew (Omari Douglas) turn to the only person who can help… the Doctor.

This is no ordinary crisis, and not the Time Lord they are familiar with. As the Doctor confronts her most infamous enemies such as the Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans and a rogue Weeping Angel, she is forced to complete a mission with an insidious presence lurking in the shadows.

Secrets begin to surface, and trust between UNIT and the Doctor begins to erode as those who idolise her start to question if she really is the Time Lord they thought they knew…”

What is the Circuit Breaker timeline?

Calling the Doctor (25 June)
UNIT website written by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson (Sunday Times Bestselling author of fantasy fiction (including the novelisation of the 15^th Doctor episode The Church on Ruby Road, and the original Doctor Who story The Moon Cruise) and was the inaugural winner of the Future World’s Prize (in 2020) for The Principle of Moments).

Adversary of the Daleks (8 July)
Titan Comics, written by Dan Watters (Nightwing) and his partner Dulce M. Montoya (making her writing debut), with stunning art from Roberta Ingranata (Amazing Spider-man), and some 13^th Doctor comics) and Sami Kivelä (Deer Editor, and 15^th Doctor comic The Prison Paradox).

The Honourable Society (23 July)
Doctor Who Magazine issue 632, written by Jason Quinn (actor, Hawaii Five-O, and author, Concrete Rainbow) and illustrated by Anthony Williams (2000AD).

The Deadliest Weapon (30 July)
BBC Audiobooks Audio Original written by Steve Lyons (writer of many original Doctor Who stories), narrated by Jo Martin with David Banks as the Cyber-Leader.

Dawn of the Daleks (4 August)
Titan Comics, written by Dulce M. Montoya and Dan Watters, with stunning art from Roberta Ingranata and Sami Kivelä

Castling (6 August)
East Side Games written by Mario Mentasti (Doctor Who:Lost in Time)

Don’t Blink! (17 August)
UNIT website written by Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson

The Doctor and the Three Witches (20 August)
Puffin book written by Janelle McCurdy (Mia and The Lightcasters [The Umbra Tales, Book 1])

Moment Mori (27 August)
East Side Games written by Mario Mentasti

The Black Archive Files (31 August)
Circuit Breaker Blu ray release

The Kaleidoscope (3 September)
Penguin Random House book written by Jo Martin

Full Circuit (22 September)
Big Finish audio story written by Robert Valentine (writer of many Doctor Who audio stories for Big Finish)

Short Circuits (24 September)
Big Finish audio story written by Robert Valentine

All this media has been written to be it’s own enclosed story, so you don’t need the entire series to enjoy it – however that is where the most satisfaction will be to be found.
To start the journey head to the Unit website, where you will find Calling the Doctor…….