Doctor Who: Home Truths

A First Doctor story told from the perspective of the late Sara Kingdom.

Sara, of course, presents a couple of problems for the Companion Chronicles, which typically feature an older version of the companion recounting an unseen tale between two of her broadcast ones: she only has one TV story, and she dies at the end of it. Getting round the first problem is easy enough, since the story in question includes trips in the TARDIS, so that there are potentially gaps within it. How they solve the second problem is the meat of Home Truths.

Here, the framing device is intimately connected with the story itself, with the second actor playing the part of the audience, rather than the villain, as is more common. This gives the listener more of a sense that they are actually hearing somebody recounting an old adventure, but it also adds a depth that is often lacking in this series.

The story itself is a sort of ghost story, with the Doctor and companions exploring a mysterious house. It's claustrophobic, creepy, and brilliantly brought to life by Jean Marsh. Even the framing device is subtly done, as the nature and motives of the in-play “audience” are slowly revealed.

Indisputably the best Companion Chronicle I've listened to so far.