''The Diary of River Song'' is an

audio play Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine t ...

series from

Big Finish Productions Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays (released straight to compact disc and for download in MP3 and m4b format) based, primarily, on cult science fiction properties. These include ''Doctor Who'', the ...

Alex Kingston Alexandra Elizabeth Kingston (born 11 March 1963) is an English actress. Active from the early 1980s, Kingston became noted for her television work in both Britain and the US in the 1990s, including her regular role as Dr. Elizabeth Corday in ...

reprises her character River Song from the television series ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

''.

Background

The series is one of the first to prominently feature elements from the revived era (2005 on) of the show; the character of River Song was introduced in "

Silence in the Library "Silence in the Library" is the eighth episode of the fourth series of the revived British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 31 May 2008. It is the first of a two-part story; the second part, ...

" (2008) as a time traveller with a mysterious connection to the

Tenth Doctor The Tenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the main protagonist of the BBC science fiction television franchise ''Doctor Who''. He is played by David Tennant in three series as well as nine specials. As with previous incarnations of the ...

, who does not recognize her. ''The Rulers of the Universe'', the fourth episode of Series 1, sees River crossing paths with the

Eighth Doctor The Eighth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Paul McGann. The character was introduced in the 1996 TV film ''Doctor Who'', a back-door pilo ...

, a still younger incarnation. River would appear, again, alongside The Eighth Doctor starting with '' Doom Coalition 2'' and concluding in '' Doom Coalition 4''. The second series of ''The Diary of River Song'' features encounters with both the Sixth and

Seventh Doctor The Seventh Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', and the final incarnation of the original Doctor Who series. He is portrayed by Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy. W ...

s. The third series, announced September 2017, features an encounter with the

Fifth Doctor The Fifth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Peter Davison. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord from t ...

with

Frances Barber Frances Barber (née Brookes, born 13 May 1958) is an English actress. She received Olivier Award nominations for her work in the plays '' Camille'' (1985), and ''Uncle Vanya'' (1997). Her film appearances include three collaborations with Gar ...

reprising her role of

Madame Kovarian This is a list of villains from the long-running British science fiction television series '' Doctor Who''. For other, related lists, see below. See also * List of ''Doctor Who'' supporting characters * List of ''Doctor Who'' henchmen * Li ...

. Announced in October 2017, Big Finish confirmed that River Song would return for a fourth and fifth series to be released in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The fourth series features an encounter with the

Fourth Doctor The Fourth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Tom Baker. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord from the ...

; whilst the fifth series features encounters with multiple versions of The Master. Big Finish subsequently renewed ''The Diary of River Song'' in October 2018, for a further two more series (the sixth and seventh) to be released in 2019 and 2020. In August 2020, the series was confirmed as renewed for its eighth series. Big Finish Productions revealed in July 2021 a ninth series, uniting River with the

Third Doctor The Third Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord fro ...

UNIT Unit may refer to: Arts and entertainment * UNIT, a fictional military organization in the science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' * Unit of action, a discrete piece of action (or beat) in a theatrical presentation Music * ''Unit'' (alb ...

and

Liz Shaw Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw is a fictional character played by Caroline John in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-offs. A civilian member of UNIT, an international organisation that defends Earth fro ...

, would debut in October 2021. A tenth series was revealed by Big Finish in March 2022 to debut in July 2022.

Cast

Notable guests

* Alexander Vlahos as Bertie Potts *

Joanna Horton Joanna Horton is an English actress, notable for her stage and television work, including an episode of ''Robin Hood'' (series 1 episode 4), ''Father Brown'', '' Spooks'' and ''Foyle's War''. In 2009, Horton played Hannah in ''Days of Significanc ...

Nina Toussaint-White Nina Toussaint-White is an English actress who has acted in '' Casualty,'' ''The Bill, and EastEnders.'' Early life Toussaint-White was raised in Plumstead, south east London, Toussaint-White was educated at Plumstead Manor School and Negus Six ...

as Brooke *

as Madame Kovarian *

Michelle Gomez Michelle Gomez (born 23 November 1966) is a Scottish actress. She gained recognition for her roles in the comedy series ''The Book Group'' (2002–2003), ''Green Wing'' (2004–2007), and '' Bad Education'' (2012–2013). She went on to appear ...

as Missy *

Geoffrey Beevers Geoffrey Beevers (born 15 January 1941) is a British actor who has appeared in many different stage and screen roles. Career Theatre Beevers has worked extensively at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond upon Thames, both as an actor (including ...

Eric Roberts Eric Anthony Roberts (born April 18, 1956) is an American actor. His career began with a leading role in ''King of the Gypsies'' (1978) for which he received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. He was nominated again at the Golden Globes fo ...

Derek Jacobi Sir Derek George Jacobi (; born 22 October 1938) is an English actor. He has appeared in various stage productions of William Shakespeare such as ''Hamlet'', ''Much Ado About Nothing'', ''Macbeth'', ''Twelfth Night'', ''The Tempest'', ''King ...

as The Master *Claudia Grant as

Susan Foreman Susan Foreman (also known as Susan Campbell in spin-off media) is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The granddaughter and original companion of the First Doctor, she was played by actress Caro ...

Jamie Glover Jamie Blair Glover (born 10 July 1969) is an English actor. He is best known for being cast as Harry Potter in the second cast of the West-End production of ''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' in 2017. He portrayed Deputy Head Andrew Treneman ...

Ian Chesterton Ian Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction on television, science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and a companion (Doctor Who), companion of the First Doctor. He was played in the series by William Russell ( ...

Jemma Powell Jemma Powell (born 25 July 1980) is a British actress. She is known for portraying Barbara Wright in several Doctor Who audio stories. Career Powell made her screen debut in 2001, in '' The Hole''. She is known for her roles in films such as F ...

as Barbara Wright * Ralph Watson as Captain Knight * Christopher Benjamin as

Henry Gordon Jago Henry Gordon Jago is a character who appeared in the 1977 '' Doctor Who'' television serial, '' The Talons of Weng-Chiang''. He was played by Christopher Benjamin. He worked so well with Trevor Baxter's character, Professor George Litefoot, ...

John Leeson John Francis Christopher Ducker (born 16 March 1943), known professionally as John Leeson, is an English actor, voice artist and freelance wine educator. He is known for portraying Bungle in ''Rainbow'' and voicing K9 in ''Doctor Who'' and s ...

as K9 *

Jane Slavin Jane Slavin (born 11 March 1970) is an English actress and novelist. Slavin was the winner of the 1989 BBC Radio Drama Carleton Hobbs Award. She has appeared on television in ''Lewis'', '' Doctors'' as Gayle Buckley, ''Peak Practice'', ''Alway ...

as Anya Kingdom * Joe Sims as Mark Seven * Jon Culshaw as The Brigadier & The Master *Daisy Ashford as

* Mimî M. Khayisa as Other River Song * Harry Peacock as Proper Dave *

Isla Blair Isla Blair Glover (born 29 September 1944) is a British actress and singer. She made her first stage appearance in 1963 as Philia in the London debut of '' A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum''. Early life and education Isla Blair w ...

as Older Mary Mortimer *

Wendy Craig Anne Gwendolyn "Wendy" Craig (born 20 June 1934) is an English actress who is best known for her appearances in the sitcoms ''Not in Front of the Children (TV series), Not in Front of the Children'', ''...And Mother Makes Three'', ''...And M ...

as Older Maddie Mortimer *

Jemima Rooper Jemima Rooper (born 24 October 1981) is a British actress. Having started as a child actress in television series, she has appeared in numerous film and theatre roles. Background Born in Hammersmith, London, Rooper is the daughter of TV journ ...

as Mary Mortimer

Episodes

Series 1 (2015)

Series 2 (2016)

Series 3 (2018)

Series 4 (2018)

Series 5 (2019)

Series 6 (2019)

Series 7 (2020)

Series 8 (2021)

Series 9: ''New Recruit'' (2021)

Series 10: ''Two Rivers and a Firewall'' (2022)

Series 11: ''Friend of the Family'' (2023)

Awards and nominations

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diary of River Song, The Audio plays based on Doctor Who Big Finish Productions Doctor Who spin-offs